That’s a pretty fun fact.
Rob Gronkowski revealed that his close friend and body double in his commercials, Laith Wallschleger, is the same actor who plays him in “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez” — the FX limited series about the rise and fall of his former Patriots teammate, who killed himself in prison in 2017 after being convicted of murder.
Gronkowski shared the story during an appearance on FanDuel’s “Up & Adams” show on Thursday, when host Kay Adams played a viral clip from the show, which featured his character, played by Wallschleger, meeting Hernandez, played by Josh Andres Rivera.
What?? 🤯 It turns out the actor portraying @RobGronkowski on FX’s “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez” is Rob’s friend and acting double Laith. 😂
Laith got us DYING over his accuracy of Gronk’s laugh. 🤣 💀@heykayadams pic.twitter.com/Cf3J0zhaef
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) October 10, 2024
“It was definitely over the top,” Gronkowski said said. “And [do] you want to know a fun fact, Kay, — that is my good friend Laith [Wallschleger], who is playing me. I’ve known him for about 14 years.
“And he definitely went over the top and I feel like it just fit the show perfectly though, especially with all of the other characters, and coach [Bill] Belichick and just seeing [Patriots owner] Robert Kraft in this show as well.”
“I feel like definitely like I said, over the top — a little exaggerated, that’s for sure. But it played the part in how this show was produced from all the clips that I saw.”
Belichick and the Patriots parted ways in January after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl titles together.
Gronkowski explained that Wallschleger nailed his laugh in the Ryan Murphy-produced series.
“He’s actually a good friend of mine and he plays all my doubles in all my other commercials and kind of everything else I do,” Gronkowski said.
“… He’s been my double. He’s shorter though than me, he’s not as jacked as me either that’s for sure. And he’s not as sweet either as me, but he’s all right. He does have the laugh down.”
