Paul Walter Hauser Says Weight Has Impacted His Career: 'I've Played Every Chubby, Misguided Person' (Exclusive)

Paul Walter Hauser reflects on how his weight affects his acting roles.

“I lost 40 pounds to play the role Black bird,” the 37-year-old actor says of his Emmy-winning work as Larry Hall in the 2022 miniseries. “I put some of that weight back on, and now I’m putting it back on.”

Thanks to his commitment to getting into the wrestling ring — now at the professional level — “trying to get back to 246 [lbs.]” is a realistic goal, Hauser tells PEOPLE. “It’s a good fight weight for me, for my size and the things I’m involved in.”

Like most actors, Hauser is aware of how much his weight affects the roles he is offered. That’s why he set his sights on that 246 lb. goal. “Slowly but surely, I’ll get rid of it.”

Paul Walter Hauser calls late costar Ray Liotta ‘Rolex’ in moving, poetic Emmy acceptance for Black bird

Paul Walter Hauser.

Sam Crim

Hauser has been playing duds — sometimes endearing, sometimes not so much — since his breakout role in the I, Tonya and leading Clint Eastwood’s Richard Jewell. As he notes with characteristic honesty, since Cobra Kai at Spike Lee’s BlackKkKlansman and Yes 5 Bloods, “I’ve played every kind of chubby, deluded person. I don’t need to play another 900.”

Along with the debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Fantastic FourHauser is also set to star as Chris Farley in Josh Gad’s directorial debut, a biopic about the late comedian.

“Chris Farley will be my last very difficult role where I’m physically and visually fat. I have every intention of cutting weight, like Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen and all the other guys who have done it,” he explains. “I’m done with that version of that character and I’m looking forward to being healthy.”

Chris Farley once started a ‘huge’ food fight at O’Hare Airport, a relative reveals

Paul Walter Hauser January 24th.

Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In addition, his role as the father of two boys, along with his wife Amy Boland Hauser, is his most significant role. Hauser intends to “be there for my kids and wife for a long time,” he says.

Maintaining a healthy weight and a healthy lifestyle is “incredibly important to me,” she says, adding that in the past, “it was also very inscrutable, very difficult.” I got sober on October 26, 2021, so I have over two and a half years of sobriety.”

But food, says Hauser, “is still what becomes a comfort or a way out. And unfortunately, everyone eats! You have to eat several times a day, so it’s always there – until I can’t buy marijuana and I can’t buy alcohol, and that seems very far away.”

The ultimate bonus of losing weight, Hauser says, is “seeing what else I can do” in terms of roles on the Hollywood screen. “[Let’s] see if I can compete with the Ben Fosters and Ryan Goslings!”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education