Six Tv Shows And Movies You Forgot Justin Hartley Was In

Okay, let's be honest. We all have those actors. The ones who become SO famous for one role, it's like they were beamed directly into our lives via that one show or movie. And then, poof! Everything else they've ever done just… vanishes from our brains like a magician's rabbit. Today, we're talking about one of those guys. You know the one. The one with the ridiculously charming smile and the ability to make even the most dramatic scenes feel somehow relatable. We're talking about Justin Hartley. Yep, the man, the myth, the… well, the guy from This Is Us. But before Randall, before Kevin Pearson took over your Wednesday nights (or Tuesdays, or Thursdays… it's been a journey, hasn't it?), he was out there, doing the acting thing. And some of those gigs? They're the kind of things you see and think, "Wait, that was him? No way!" So, grab your popcorn, settle in, and let's revisit some of those surprisingly forgotten Justin Hartley appearances.

First up, and this one might send a few of you spiraling down a rabbit hole of teen angst and questionable fashion choices:

The CW's Smallville. Yes, the show that asked "What if Superman was a brooding teenager with a cell phone?" Justin Hartley played Oliver Queen. You know, the guy who eventually becomes Green Arrow. Remember that? He was this super-rich, philanthropic guy who was also a vigilante. Kind of a big deal. He was around for a decent chunk of the later seasons. He even had a romantic storyline that involved, get this, secret identities. Shocking, I know. It’s easy to forget because, well, Smallville had a lot of characters. And let’s be real, by the later seasons, it felt like they were just throwing everyone from the DC universe at the wall to see what stuck. But nope, there he was, flexing those early acting muscles. Who knew our favorite fictional therapist was once a bow-wielding superhero? Wild, right?

Next on our "wait, that was him?" tour is a show that was basically a staple for anyone who owned a television in the early 2000s. It was the land of daytime drama, where secrets were spilled faster than coffee on a Monday morning. We're talking about

The Young and the Restless. Before he was a Pearson, before he was a superhero, Justin Hartley was rocking the daytime soap opera look. He played Adam Newman. Now, if you're not a soap opera person, Adam Newman is… complicated. Think of a character who has been through more plot twists than a pretzel factory. He was the son of a legendary soap opera villain, and let's just say he inherited the family charm. And the family… methods. He was involved in all sorts of dramatic shenanigans, betrayals, and maybe even a questionable amnesia plotline or two. He was a major player for a good few years. If you were a dedicated viewer back then, this might be a more solid memory. But for the rest of us, who mostly just heard about the drama secondhand, seeing him in this role is a genuine "aha!" moment. He was practically born for the dramatic pauses and the intense stares.

Alright, let's switch gears from super-rich vigilantes and scandalous soap operas to something a little more… well, let's just say it was a different kind of ensemble. Remember that show where a bunch of doctors were constantly saving lives and having complicated personal relationships?

Yes, it's ER. Before it was cool to cry over the Pearson family, Justin Hartley popped up on the legendary medical drama. He played a character named Will Chase. Not a lead role, mind you, but a recurring guest spot. He was a medical student, or maybe a resident. The details get a little fuzzy when you’re facing down a TV hospital’s workload. He was there for a few episodes in the final season. Think of it as a brief, intense cameo in the twilight years of a television titan. It's like finding a rare collectible in a dusty attic. You know it's valuable, but you almost missed it entirely. A little blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in the grand scheme of things.

Now, this next one is a bit of a curveball. It's a show that was, shall we say, bold. It tackled some pretty heavy themes with a unique visual style. If you were brave enough to tune in, you might recognize him from

Aquarius. This show was set in the late 1960s and followed a LAPD sergeant investigating a charming but dangerous cult leader. And who was that cult leader? None other than Charles Manson himself. And playing him?

Justin Hartley.

Yep. Our beloved Kevin Pearson, playing one of the most notorious criminals in history. This was definitely a more intense, darker role for him, and it’s easy to forget because, well, it was Charles Manson. It’s a performance that sticks with you for its chilling portrayal, and perhaps because of that, it's a role that feels worlds away from the warm, fuzzy feelings we associate with his later work. It’s a testament to his range, though. From charming dad to cult leader, he’s done it all.

Moving on to something a little lighter, but still a place where you might have seen his face without quite putting it together. Picture this: a classic sitcom with a quirky premise and a whole lot of heart.

Parks and Recreation. You might be thinking, "Wait, did he play Ben Wyatt?" Nope, that was the ever-lovable Adam Scott. But Justin Hartley did have a guest role on Parks and Rec. He played a character named Jake Peralta. No, not that Jake Peralta from Brooklyn Nine-Nine. This was a different Jake Peralta. A much, much smaller Peralta. He was Leslie Knope's ex-boyfriend. Remember that brief, awkward period where Leslie was dating someone other than Ben? Yeah, that was him. A quick, memorable appearance that helped add to the comedic tapestry of Pawnee. It's like seeing a familiar face at a party you weren't expecting to see them at – a pleasant surprise that might take you a second to place.

And finally, a movie that’s a bit of a cult favorite for those who appreciate a good, slightly bizarre comedy. If you were a fan of that specific brand of humor, you might have seen him in

The Last Supper. This is an older one, from the late 90s. It’s about a group of grad students who decide to invite a conservative student over for dinner each night, with the intention of debating and, well, eventually killing him. It’s dark humor, to say the least. Justin Hartley plays one of the grad students, a character named Milo. He’s part of the group that’s orchestrating these… dinner parties. It's a very early role for him, and it's definitely not what you'd expect. If you've seen it, you’re probably in a very small, very discerning club. It’s the kind of movie that, once you see him in it, you can’t unsee it. And you’ll probably spend the rest of the movie trying to reconcile that serious, slightly unsettling role with the charming actor you know today.

So there you have it. Six roles that might have slipped your mind when thinking about Justin Hartley. It's a fun little reminder that even our favorite stars have a whole career before they become the icons we know and love. Makes you wonder what other forgotten gems are out there, doesn't it? Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go rewatch Smallville and stare intently at Oliver Queen. For research purposes, of course.