Rob Gronkowski Says Actor Portraying Him in American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez Is a ‘Good Friend’ of 14 Years

Former NFL star Rob Gronkowski shared a fun fact regarding the actor who currently stars as him on the Ryan Murphy-helmed limited series American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez.

In an interview with Kay Adams on the Up & Adams show on Thursday, Oct. 10, the retired tight-end revealed that actor Laith Wallschleger is actually his “good friend” of almost 15 years who has frequently acted as his double in multiple projects.

“It was definitely over the top,” Gronkowski stated about Wallschleger’s portrayal of him. “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,” he said.

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Gronkowski continued by noting, “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.”

“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,” the four-time Super Bowl champion said.

Although the two are friends, Gronkowski had a bit of good-natured fun and commented that Wallschleger was a little “exaggerated” in his portrayal.

“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,” he said.

“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,” Gronkowski added.

American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez airs Tuesday nights on FX and episodes are also available to stream on Hulu.