Paul Walter Hauser opens up about how his weight has affected the types of roles he’s played.
The 37-year-old actor first rose to fame playing Shawn Eckhardt in the 2017 biopic I, Tonya and as the title character in 2019’s Richard Jewell.
‘I lost 40 pounds to play the role in Black Bird. I regained some of that weight and now I’m losing it,” he said in a new interview with People.
He added that he is “trying to get back down to 246,” which is due to his new commitment to professional wrestling.
The actor also added that his highly anticipated Chris Farley biopic will be his last role as a “heavy” person.
Paul Walter Hauser Opens Up About How His Weight Has Affected the Types of Roles He’s Played
‘I lost 40 pounds to play the role in Black Bird. I gained some of that weight back and now I’m losing it,” she said in a new interview with People.
Hauser said the 246-pound mark is “a good fighting weight for me, for my size and the things they throw at me.”
“Slowly but surely, I’m going to get better at that,” he insisted, adding: “I’ve played all kinds of fat, misguided people.” “I don’t need to play 900 more.”
‘“Chris Farley will be my last very heavy role where I’m visually overweight on paper,” Hauser said.
“I have every intention of losing weight, like Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen and all these other guys who have done it,” Hauser said.
“I’m done with that version of that character and I hope I’m healthy,” he continued.
The actor is also the father of two children with his wife Amy Boland, and added that being healthy means he will be around “for a long time for my kids and my wife.”
While he said staying healthy is “incredibly important to me,” he admitted, “it’s also been very elusive, very difficult for me.”
He added that he has been sober since October 26, 2021, celebrating “over two and a half years of sobriety.”
Hauser said the 246-pound mark is “a good fighting weight for me, for my size and the things they throw at me.”
“Slowly but surely, I’m going to get better at that,” he insisted, adding: “I’ve played all kinds of fat, misguided people.” I don’t need to play 900 more’
“Chris Farley will be my last very heavy role where I’m visually overweight on paper,” Hauser said.
“I’m done with that version of that character and I hope I’m healthy,” he continued.
The biggest problem in his fight for health and well-being is food, which, he said, “continues to be something that becomes a comfort or an outlet.”
And unfortunately everyone eats! “You have to eat a couple of times a day, so it’s always there, whereas I can’t buy marijuana or alcohol, and that feels very distant,” she admitted.
The biggest advantage of losing weight is that it will allow you to see “what else I can do” as an actor, without limiting yourself to roles played by larger men.
‘(Let’s see) if I can compete with the Ben Fosters and the Ryan Goslings!’ he maintained.