Ryan Murphy is back with another installment in his “American Story” series. The long-awaited “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez” follows the rise and fall of former NFL star Aaron Hernandez.
Three years have passed since the series was first announced in August 2021. Now that the cast is set and production is complete, the project is about to arrive in a living room near you. Josh Rivera, who came out of West Side Story and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, plays Hernandez and makes his television debut here.
The series premieres Tuesday, September 17, on FX. Here’s a list of the cast and the real-life characters they play.
Josh Rivera as Aaron Rodriguez
Josh Rivera plays the late New England Patriots tight end Aaron Rodriguez, who played three seasons for the team before being arrested and convicted of the murder of Odin Lloyd.
“American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez” is Rivera’s television debut. He has previously appeared in films such as “West Side Story,” “Cat Person,” “Vegas High” and others.
Jaylen Barron as Shayanna Jenkins
Jaylen Barron plays Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, the ex-fiancée of Aaron Hernandez.
Barron’s previous works include Free Rein, Good Luck Charlie, Shameless and Blindspotting.
Lindsay Mendez as Tanya Singleton
Lindsay Mendez plays Hernandez’s cousin Tanya Singleton, who was accused of helping to cover up his alleged crimes during her battle with terminal cancer.
Before “American Sports Story,” Mendez appeared in “All Rise,” “The Grotto” and others, but she is best known for her stage work, for which she won a Tony Award in 2018 for the revival of “Carousel” and starred in the blockbuster musical “Merrily We Roll Along” last season.
Ean Castellanos as DJ Hernandez
Ean Castellanos plays Dennis “DJ” Hernandez, the older brother of Aaron Hernandez.
Castellanos can be seen in several projects, including “Five Days at Memorial,” “Tommy,” “Burn,” and “High Maintenance.”
Tammy Blanchard as Terri Hernandez
Tammy Blanchard plays Hernandez’s mother Terri Hernandez.
Blanchard rose to fame after playing the role of teenage Judy Garland in “Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows.” She then landed roles in “The Invitation,” “Sybil,” “Bella,” “Tallulah” and “Burning Blue.”
Tony Yazbeck as Urban Meyer
Tony Yazbeck plays sports reporter and former football coach Urban Meyer, who recruited and coached Hernandez during the late professional basketball player’s time at the University of Florida.
Actor and singer Tony Yazbeck has appeared in “Meet Dave” and “The Right Girl,” among others.
Patrick Schwarzenegger as Tim Tebow
Patrick Schwarzenegger plays former football player Tim Tebow, who was quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the NFL for three seasons. Tebow and Hernandez played together at the University of Florida.
Schwarzenegger, son of Arnold Schwarzenegger, previously starred in “Gen V” and can be seen in the upcoming third season of “The White Lotus.”
Norbert Leo Butz as Bill Belichick
Norbert Leo Butz will play former New England Patriots General Manager Bill Belichick.
Before “American Sports Story,” the actor and singer appeared in “Bloodline,” “Debris,” and “Give or Take.”
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