Five Fast Facts About This Is Us Star Chris Sullivan

Chris Sullivan has been playing that lovable lug Toby Damon on This Is Us for three seasons, but the actor just snagged his first Emmy nomination for his performance this week!

In honor of his amazing work, it’s time to learn a little more about the man behind the character. From his first acting job to his personal life, here are five fast facts you need to know about This Is Us star, Chris Sullivan.

Frugal Living
Long before he got the role of Toby on This Is Us, Sullivan worked for practically pennies. In fact, his first acting job was in a show at a church in which he made $150 a week. In order to live off such a small salary, Sullivan solely ate burritos for almost an entire year.

Stranger Than Fiction
Many people forget this, but Sullivan appeared in Netflix sensation Stranger Things. He was featured in the first season and played the character of Benny Hammond, who found Eleven after she escaped. Unfortunately — spoiler alert! — he was killed after two episodes, but it was a great short-lived character.

This Is Us Controversy
Sullivan’s character on This Is Us, Toby, struggles with his weight and meets his wife, Kate Pearson (Chrissy Metz), at a support group for people who are trying to lose weight. However, Sullivan wore a fat suit in order to make him look larger, which some fans had a problem with. They believed they should’ve cast an overweight actor.

New Home Owner
Now that he’s been on a very successful show for three seasons and counting, it makes sense he wants to put some of that television money into real estate. Sullivan purchased a $2 million home in Venice, California this past January. The house is described as a ‘50s era bungalow.

Married Man
While Toby is married onscreen to Kate, Sullivan is married off-screen to Rachel Sullivan, a short-film producer! The couple has been married for eight years, and they are also very good friends with Sullivan’s co-star Mandy Moore (Rebecca) and her husband, Taylor Goldsmith.