TV SERIES · 2016–2022 · USA
This Is Us
- Created by
- Dan Fogelman
- Network
- NBC
- Seasons
- 6
- Episodes
- 105
- Studio
- 20th Century Fox Television, Rhode Island Ave. Productions, Zaftig Films
165 archived facts 8 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Follows the lives and families of three adults living and growing up in the United States of America in present and past times. As their paths cross and their life stories intertwine in curious ways, we find that several of them share the same birthday - and so much more than anyone would expect.
165 Interesting Facts About This Is Us
Interesting Facts (23)
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Eris Baker was 11 years old when producers approached her about Tess Pearson's queer storyline. She reportedly said yes on the spot. "I had conversations with my parents, conversations with friends who came out to me, and had a diary. I wrote as Tess in my diary and the thoughts that she would be having when she came out. Fear, worry, and if she was going to be accepted. I did research and read stories of people just like Tess who were afraid to come out because they were afraid that their family wouldn't accept them."
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According to casting director Josh Einsohn, one of the reasons Sylvester Stallone's guest role was possible was his connection to star Milo Ventimiglia, with whom he had worked on Rocky Balboa (2006). Ron Howard, a fan of the series, had to shoot one of its Los Angeles-like scenes in the UK.
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In an interview on The Graham Norton Show (2007), Sterling K. Brown said: "People come up to me… if they're usually This Is Us fans, the first thing they want is a hug. They'll talk about how the show changed their lives or gave them some kind of catharsis while they were going through something… I've met women who came up to me with adopted babies and said, 'I adopted this child because of you.'".
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Eris Baker was 11 years old when the producers approached her about Tess Pearson's unusual storyline. She reportedly said yes on the spot. "I talked with my mom and dad, I talked with my friends who came over, and I had a journal. I wrote in my journal as Tess and what she would be thinking when she came out. I looked into things like fear, worry and whether she would be accepted, and I read stories of people who were afraid to come out because, just like Tess, they were afraid their families wouldn't accept them."
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Production Story (54)
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Contains a major spoiler — show
According to casting director Josh Einsohn, a reason that made Sylvester Stallone's guest role possible was his connections with star Milo Ventimiglia, with whom he had worked with on Rocky Balboa (2006). A fan of the show, Ron Howard had to film one of his scenes in England, made to look like Los Angeles.
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According to casting director Josh Einsohn, one of the reasons Sylvester Stallone's guest appearance was possible was his connection to Milo Ventimiglia, with whom he had worked on Rocky Balboa (2006). Ron Howard, a fan of the series, had to shoot one of his scenes in the UK so that it would look like Los Angeles.
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Eris Baker was 11 years old when the producers approached her about Tess Pearson's queer story. She reportedly accepted immediately: 'I talked to my family, to my friends who came out to me, and I kept a diary. As Tess, I wrote in my diary the thoughts she would have when she came out. Fear, worry and whether she would be accepted. I did research and read stories of people who were afraid to come out because they feared their families wouldn't accept them, like Tess.'
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Justin Hartley and Jennifer Morrison, who play Kevin and Cassidy, turned out to be distant relatives in real life, beyond being friends on screen. Both have ancestors among Dutch and French immigrants who settled in New York in the 1600s; their shared family tree includes several Dutch couples such as Cornelius Von Slecht and his wife.
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Sterling K. Brown said the following in an interview on The Graham Norton Show (2007): 'People come up to me... usually if they're a This Is Us fan, the first thing they want is a hug. They tell me how the show changed their lives or how it gave them a catharsis while going through something... I've had women come up to me with adopted babies, saying, 'I adopted this child because of you.'
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Superman connections and references: Nicky Pearson is nicknamed Clark Kent/Superman and tells his protective older brother Jack that he is 'Lois Lane'. Justin Hartley (the character through whom Kevin learns of Nicky's past under the alias 'Clark Kent') is famous for playing the superhero Oliver Queen/Green Arrow in Smallville (2001). Additionally, Nicky and Jack's grandfather is played by Michael Ironside, who played Lois Lane's father Sam Lane in that series. Toby's persona is named Kara and has the nickname 'LadyKryptonite'.
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Behind the Scenes (14)
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Although still appearing youthful, it took 3 hours of make-up to transform Mandy Moore into the older Rebecca for all of the current-day scenes. In reality, Mandy is 8 years younger than Sterling K. Brown, 7 years younger than Justin Hartley and 4 years younger than Chrissy Metz, who play her children.
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Despite her youthful appearance, Mandy Moore's transformation into the older Rebecca in the present-day scenes required 3 hours of makeup. In reality, Mandy is 8 years younger than Sterling K. Brown, 7 years younger than Justin Hartley and 4 years younger than Chrissy Metz, who play her children.
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According to casting director Josh Einsohn, one of the reasons Sylvester Stallone's guest appearance was possible was his connection to Milo Ventimiglia, with whom he worked on Rocky Balboa (2006). Ron Howard, a fan of the series, had to shoot one of his scenes in England so it would look like Los Angeles.
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Characters & Cast (39)
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Sterling K. Brown and Susan Kelechi Watson both also appeared on Third Watch (1999) and they have known each other since grad school.
This Is Us (2016): Susan Kelechi Watson, Sterling K. Brown and Milo Ventimiglia on stageImage: Wikimedia Commons · Chris Roth, CC BY-SA 2.0 - #098
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Eris Baker was 11 years old when the producers approached her about Tess Pearson's queer story. She reportedly accepted immediately: 'I talked with my family, with friends who came out to me, and I kept a journal. As Tess, I wrote in my journal the thoughts she would have when she came out. Fear, worry and whether she would be accepted. I did research and read stories of people who were afraid to come out because they feared their families wouldn't accept them, like Tess.'
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The second character played by Justin Hartley transforms from an arrogant and intimidating attitude into a more affectionate and friendly personality in adulthood. The character Oliver Queen, portrayed as a bully in his youth on Smallville (2001), transforms into the well-meaning outlaw Green Arrow.
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Justin Hartley and Jennifer Morrison, who play Kevin and Cassidy, turned out to be distant relatives in real life, beyond being friends on screen. Both have ancestors among Dutch and French immigrants who settled in New York in the 1600s; their shared family trees include several Dutch couples, such as Cornelius Von Slecht and his wife.
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Easter Eggs & References (13)
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Contains a major spoiler — show
Superman connections and references: Nicky Pearson is nicknamed Clark Kent/Superman and mentions being a "Lois Lane" to his protective brother Jack. Justin Hartley (whose character Kevin finds out about Nicky's past under the alias of "Clark Kent") is famous for the superhero role of Oliver Queen/Green Arrow in Smallville (2001). Furthermore, Nicky and Jack's grandfather is played by Michael Ironside, who portrayed Lois Lane's father Sam Lane in that series. Tobey's contact is named Kara and nicknamed "LadyKryptonite".
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Contains a major spoiler — show
There are a few hints in the pilot that Kevin and Kate are twins and that Randall is their brother. For example, in the scene where Randall gets an email saying that they found his biological father, an email entitled "It's Our Birthday Bro" can be seen in his inbox from Kevin.
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Deeper Meaning (9)
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Sterling K. Brown said in an interview on The Graham Norton Show (2007): 'People come up to me... usually if they're a fan of This Is Us, the first thing they want is a hug. They tell me how the show changed their lives or how it gave them some kind of catharsis while they were going through something... I've had women come up to me with adopted babies, saying, 'I adopted this child because of you.''
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In the pilot episode there are several hints that Kevin and Kate are twins and that Randall is their brother. For example, in the scene where Randall receives an email saying they found his biological father, an email from Kevin with the subject 'Happy Birthday Brother' can be seen in his inbox.
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As an adult, Kate mentions that she is a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997). As a teenager, a poster for the film Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) hangs on her bedroom wall. 'This Is Us' was filmed in the same California areas where 'Buffy' was shot, so some filming locations are shared.
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Superman connections and references: Nicky Pearson is nicknamed Clark Kent/Superman and tells his protective older brother Jack that he is 'Lois Lane.' Justin Hartley (the character through whom Kevin learns about Nicky's past under the alias 'Clark Kent') is famous for playing the superhero Oliver Queen/Green Arrow in the series Smallville (2001). Also, Nicky and Jack's grandfather is played by Michael Ironside, who played Lois Lane's father, Sam Lane, in that series. Toby's persona is named Kara and has the nickname 'LadyKryptonite.'
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Career & Awards (6)
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In an interview on The Graham Norton Show (2007), Sterling K. Brown said, "People come up to me... usually if they're This Is Us fans, the first thing they want is a hug. They'll talk about how the show changed their lives or just provided them with some form of catharsis as they were going through something... I've had women come up to me with adopted babies saying, 'I adopted this child because of you.'"
This Is Us (2016): Sterling K. Brown on a panel with microphonesImage: Wikimedia Commons · Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 - #158
Life & Family (7)
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Justin Hartley and Jennifer Morrison who play Kevin and Cassidy who become friends are actually related distantly to each other in real life. Both have Dutch and French ancestors who settled in what is now New York City and are both descendants of several Dutch couples in the 1600s including Cornelius Von Slecht and his wife
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When Mandy Moore had her son Gus to share pictures of him she made a #thisisgus on her Twitter and Instagram pages.
This Is Us (2016): Mandy Moore smiling in a black dress and large earringsImage: Wikimedia Commons · Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV from Culver City, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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