Courtney B. Vance Says 'Wonderful' Travis Kelce JoiningGrotesquerieShows the 'Power of Ryan Murphy': 'Nice Choice' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Courtney B. Vance (left); Travis Kelce.Photo:Leon Bennett/Getty; JC Olivera/Getty

Leon Bennett/Getty; JC Olivera/Getty

Courtney B. Vancewas likely as surprised as most fans were to learn thatTravis Kelcewas joiningGrotesquerie. But in his mind, it’s emblematic of just one thing.

“It just lets you know the power ofRyan Murphy,” Vance, 64, tells PEOPLE of the mind behind the new FX thriller. “[He] just made a phone call and said, ‘Come on down.'”

Vance, who plays Marshall Tryon, the comatose husband ofNiecy Nash-Betts’ Detective Lois Tryon, inGrotesquerie, echoes what his onscreen wife said of Kelce’s acting chops — and how ready he was every day on set.

“He was very wonderful. [It was] not a surprise, he was just prepared. He was just good. And if he needed some help, he was open.”

Courtney B. Vance attend FX’s “Grotesquerie” New York Premiere at Spring Studios on September 23, 2024 in New York City.Arturo Holmes/Getty

Arturo Holmes/Getty

Vance also jokes that Kelce, 34, “asked me if we wanted to go to return to favor and go to the football field,” but he had a sarcastic response.

“‘I don’t know. Kelce, I thank you for the invitation. Let’s just get these lines down, okay?'” Vance jokes. “I turned him down. I just had a little too much to do that day.”

Travis Kelce, Niecy Nash-Betts on set of ‘Grotesquerie’.Prashant Gupta/FX

Prashant Gupta/FX

Nash-Betts, 54, had equally high praise for Kelce, whoshe told PEOPLE was “very professional” and “always came prepared” to set.

“Travis was very open. He was very open on if there was a note given or a suggestion given. So amenable. ‘Tell me what I don’t know. Tell me what your thought is on this,'” she told PEOPLE. “I love that he didn’t come in trying to act like, ‘I know everything and I know it all.'”

She teased also that “fans are going to find him very charming in this role.”

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Grotesqueriepremieres Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX and streams the next day on Hulu.

source: people.com