Chrissy Metz ‘Devastated’ Over Death Of ‘This Is Us’ Dad, Talks Real-Life Bond With Milo Ventimiglia


Chrissy Metz was not happy about the recent death reveal on This is Us. Metz, who plays daughter Kate Pearson on the NBC hit, told Entertainment Weekly she was as upset as fans were when she found out that family patriarch Jack Pearson was dead in the present day.

“I was pissed. I was like, ‘That’s my dad,” Metz told EW. “It was emotional for me, and I was a little angry. I’m still working on it.”

Chrissy Metz previously told EW that, like viewers, she had a lot of questions when she first found out that Jack, played by Milo Ventimiglia, had died.

“And even watching the episode, I was sobbing,” Chrissy said. “For many, many reasons.”

“I was distraught,” Metz added. “I was like, ‘What the actual hell?’ And what does this mean? And then, we find that Rebecca [Mandy Moore] has married Miguel [Jon Huertas], who is obviously our stepfather for some time. Jack is everything to Kate and they have this really special bond — and so do Milo and I. So, it was heartbreaking.”

This is Us fans were heartbroken to find out that Ventimiglia’s character had died. The sad reveal came during the episode “The Game Plan” when Metz’ character, Kate, introduced her boyfriend Toby (Chris Sullivan) to her father by taking an urn full of ashes off of her mantle. In the scene, Kate revealed her ritual of watching her dad’s favorite football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, with his urn by her side.

It’s clear that Chrissy Metz’ character had a special bond with her dad. But Metz’ real-life bond with Ventimiglia is also special.

“I just have this affinity for Milo as Chrissy, and so then it translates in my performance. I hope, anyway,” Metz said of her off-camera relationship with her TV dad.

Indeed, this close-knit cast is not just acting as they work together on the set of the time-traveling NBC drama. In an interview posted by People, Metz said her co-star, who is only three years her senior in real life, acts like her dad in real life.

“I’m like, ‘What the hell?’ and he’s like, ‘I know. I know, honey,'” Chrissy said to Milo when they learned of Jack’s fate.

“Yeah, it’s a really sweet relationship that we have and obviously that Jack and Kate have,” Metz said of her bond with Ventimiglia. Chrissy added that her character and Milo’s character “will always have that really special bond that they’re always, always going to be in tune and in touch. He was everything to her.”

On the This Is Us aftershow, Metz talked about filming the emotional scene about Kate’s football tradition with Jack. Chrissy said the scene remains “near and dear to her heart” but that it was “challenging” for her because she doesn’t have a relationship with her real-life biological father.

“It’s honestly emotional and overwhelming because I’ve never had that, that I really do feel that connection to you,” Metz said to Milo on the digital after show. “As Chrissy and as Kate.”

Chrissy Metz also revealed that her buff TV dad has been giving her support as she deals with her real-life struggles with her weight.

“Milo actually works out with a really amazing trainer who does this thing called Rise, and Milo’s been doing it for seven years and he doesn’t look too bad,” Chrissy told People. “I’m really excited about starting that. I think it’s 35 to 40 minutes, and you don’t have to kill yourself to see results.”

Sadly, This is Us fans may never see Chrissy Metz and Milo Ventimiglia onscreen together. While the timing of Jack’s death has not yet been revealed, on the most recent episode, Kevin Pearson (Justin Hartley) revealed that his dad died a long time ago. That means Jack may have still been a young man when he met his maker, so a grown up Kate, played by Metz, may never share a scene with Ventimiglia.

Chrissy Metz stars on This Is Us Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

Take a look at the video below to see Chrissy Metz and Milo Ventimiglia talking about the episode “Career Days” with This is Us executive producer Ken Olin.

[Featured Image by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly]

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