Justin Hartley is an American actor, television producer, and director best known for playing Kevin Pearson on This Is Us, Oliver Queen / Green Arrow on Smallville, Fox Crane on Passions, and Colter Shaw on Tracker. Born in Knoxville, Illinois, on January 29, 1977, and raised in Orland Park, Illinois, he has worked in television for more than two decades, with his career documented across major industry references such as Wikipedia.
His full name is Justin Scott Hartley. He entered television in 2002 on the NBC daytime soap Passions and went on to become a regular presence in prime time, from Smallville and This Is Us to his current CBS series Tracker, where he also holds an executive producer credit. NBC later devoted a career retrospective to his move from daytime to prime time.
In 2026, Hartley returned to the news cycle over Tracker’s reported season 4 relocation. AOL quotes him as saying the change affects the series in terms of tone and character, though full production details have not been announced.
Who Is Justin Hartley?
Justin Scott Hartley was born on January 29, 1977, in Knoxville, Illinois, and grew up in Orland Park, Illinois, with one brother and two sisters. He studied history and theater at Southern Illinois University and the University of Illinois at Chicago, according to his TV Guide biography. His screen career began in 2002 on the daytime soap Passions, where he played Fox Crane until 2006.
Justin Hartley at a Glance
| Who | American actor, television producer, and director |
|---|---|
| Born | January 29, 1977 |
| Known For | Tracker, This Is Us, Smallville, and Passions |
| Why Now | Commenting on Tracker’s season 4 relocation |
Key facts
- Justin Scott Hartley was born on January 29, 1977, in Knoxville, Illinois.
- He started in daytime television as Fox Crane on Passions before moving to prime time.
- As Oliver Queen / Green Arrow on Smallville, he became part of the Superman universe.
- His role as Kevin Pearson on This Is Us earned multiple Critics’ Choice Television Award nominations.
- He now leads the CBS drama Tracker as Colter Shaw and serves as an executive producer.
- His television career moves across four distinct genres: daytime soap, superhero drama, family saga, and network thriller.
Career snapshot
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Justin Scott Hartley |
| Born | |
| Birthplace | Knoxville, Illinois, USA |
| Raised in | Orland Park, Illinois, USA |
| Education | Southern Illinois University; University of Illinois at Chicago (history and theater) |
| Occupation | Actor, television producer, director |
| First major role | Fox Crane on Passions (2002–2006) |
| Notable TV roles | Fox Crane, Oliver Queen / Green Arrow, Adam Newman, Kevin Pearson, Colter Shaw |
| Notable film credits | A Bad Moms Christmas, The Noel Diary, The Hunt, Senior Year, Injustice (voice) |
| Major nominations | Daytime Emmy; Critics’ Choice Television Awards |
| Current series | Tracker, as Colter Shaw |
What Is Justin Hartley Known For?
Hartley’s filmography is a mix of long-running serials, network dramas, and feature films. His most recognized roles are the ones most frequently cited in public biographies.
Passions (2002–2006)
Hartley’s first major role was Fox Crane on NBC’s Passions, a daytime soap that blended traditional melodrama with supernatural elements. The part ran from 2002 to 2006 and established him in daytime television; Rotten Tomatoes cites it as the beginning of his screen career.
Smallville (2006–2011)
Hartley joined Smallville in 2006 as Oliver Queen / Green Arrow, starting as a recurring character and eventually becoming a regular. The series placed him inside the Superman mythology. Alongside Tom Welling, he became one of the show’s most recognizable figures.
The Young and the Restless (2014–2016)
From 2014 to 2016, Hartley played Adam Newman on The Young and the Restless. The performance earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination and brought him back to the serialized format where he had started.
This Is Us (2016–2022)
Hartley starred as Kevin Pearson on NBC’s This Is Us from 2016 to 2022. The role earned multiple Critics’ Choice Television Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and remains one of his most recognized credits, according to The Movie Database.
Tracker (2024–present)
In Tracker, Hartley stars as Colter Shaw, the lead role in the CBS drama. He is also listed as an executive producer on the project, per his All American Speakers biography. The series is the main reason for his current news profile.
Film work
His feature credits include The Challenger, released in 2016, A Bad Moms Christmas, The Noel Diary, The Hunt, and Senior Year. He also provided voice work for the animated film Injustice.
Multiple career profiles emphasize Hartley’s move from soap operas into prime-time television, followed by producing and directing work. NBC’s own retrospective traced the same arc from Passions to This Is Us.
What Did Justin Hartley Say About Tracker’s Season 4 Relocation?
Tracker is the main reason Hartley is in the news in 2026. The coverage centers on a reported change of location for the CBS drama’s fourth season.
What the AOL report says
AOL’s report, titled “Justin Hartley Breaks Silence on Tracker’s Surprise Relocation Change,” says Hartley has commented publicly on the show’s move for season 4. The available coverage does not confirm the new filming location.
What Hartley said
In his remarks, Hartley addressed how the relocation would shape the series. AOL quotes him as saying the change matters “in terms of tone and character.” The quote circulates in shortened form, and the full sentence has not been reproduced in the available summaries.
What remains unconfirmed
The same coverage leaves several questions open: where Tracker would move, when season 4 would premiere, and how the shift would affect storylines. The official CBS Tracker page remains the network’s primary reference for season information.
The exact production details of Tracker’s season 4 relocation, including any new filming location, cannot be confirmed from the available coverage. Premiere dates and plot specifics should come from official CBS or Paramount announcements.
Was Justin Hartley Married to Chrishell Stause?
Yes. Hartley and Chrishell Stause met while working on The Young and the Restless, married in 2017, and separated in 2019; their divorce was finalized in 2021. The relationship is part of a personal history documented in public profiles such as Gala’s biography of Hartley.
Lindsay Korman (2004–2012)
Hartley married actress Lindsay Korman in 2004. The couple divorced in 2012 and share a daughter, Isabella Justice Hartley.
Chrishell Stause (2017–2021)
Stause and Hartley met on the set of The Young and the Restless. They married in 2017, separated in 2019, and completed their divorce in 2021. The relationship drew wide celebrity coverage.
Sofia Pernas (2021–present)
Hartley married actress Sofia Pernas in 2021.
Public profiles document Hartley’s marriages to Lindsay Korman (2004–2012), Chrishell Stause (2017–2021), and Sofia Pernas (2021). No additional personal details are included in the available sources.
Where Can I Watch Justin Hartley’s Movies and TV Shows?
Hartley’s television work has aired on major networks: Passions on NBC, Smallville on The CW, This Is Us on NBC, and Tracker on CBS. His film credits include A Bad Moms Christmas, The Noel Diary, The Hunt, Senior Year, and the animated Injustice, in which he performs a voice role.
For a complete list of credits, his IMDb profile is the standard industry reference. His movies and TV shows are also cataloged on his Apple TV page, which includes streaming availability where applicable.
How Did Justin Hartley’s Career Develop Over Time?
The main stages of Hartley’s career are consistent across public references including Wikipedia, IMDb, and NBC.
- 1977: Justin Scott Hartley is born on January 29 in Knoxville, Illinois.
- 2002–2006: He plays Fox Crane on NBC’s Passions.
- 2006–2011: He plays Oliver Queen / Green Arrow on The CW’s Smallville.
- 2014–2016: He plays Adam Newman on The Young and the Restless and receives a Daytime Emmy nomination.
- 2016–2022: He stars as Kevin Pearson on NBC’s This Is Us.
- 2024–present: He leads the CBS drama Tracker as Colter Shaw.
- 2026: He comments on Tracker’s season 4 relocation, creating a fresh news cycle.
Together, these stages trace a path from daytime serials to prime-time network drama.
What Is Confirmed About Justin Hartley and What Still Needs Verification?
Most biographical facts about Hartley are consistent across multiple reference sources. The Tracker season 4 news, by contrast, is still developing.
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Justin Hartley is an American actor, television producer, and director. | The exact production details of Tracker’s season 4 relocation, including any new filming location, have not been confirmed by CBS or Paramount. |
| His full name is Justin Scott Hartley, and he was born on January 29, 1977. | The publication date of the AOL article about the relocation, listed as May 27, 2026 in some records, has not been independently verified. |
| He is known for Tracker, This Is Us, Smallville, and Passions. | Season 4 premiere dates and plot details have not been announced officially. |
| He was previously married to Chrishell Stause. | The full text of Hartley’s quote about the relocation has not been reproduced in the available summaries. |
Why Does Justin Hartley’s Career Matter?
Hartley’s trajectory through American television is unusual in one important way: it moves from daytime soap opera to prime-time network drama. He started on Passions, spent years inside the Superman story on Smallville, returned to daytime for The Young and the Restless, and then landed on This Is Us, the NBC drama that brought him his widest recognition.
The consistency of his public record is striking. Wikipedia, IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, TV Guide, and NBC all point to the same core roles: Fox Crane on Passions, Oliver Queen on Smallville, Adam Newman on The Young and the Restless, Kevin Pearson on This Is Us, and Colter Shaw on Tracker.
His early work in daily serials connects him to a longer tradition of actors shaped by serialized television, a group that includes performers such as William Roache. Hartley’s own path, however, led away from daily episodes and toward prime-time network drama, with producer responsibilities on his current series.
Where Do the Details About Justin Hartley Come From?
Public references for Hartley’s career include Wikipedia, IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, TV Guide, NBC, and celebrity profile pages. The Tracker news is documented mainly through AOL and Yahoo Entertainment.
AOL quotes Hartley directly on the season 4 relocation. The passage that circulates in summaries is shortened:
“In terms of tone and character, …”
AOL — “Justin Hartley Breaks Silence on Tracker’s Surprise Relocation Change”
Yahoo Entertainment published a separate video interview on May 5, 2026, titled “Assisted Interview with Justin Hartley.” In the video, Jimmy gives Hartley some help with pre-written answers.
What Is the Bottom Line on Justin Hartley?
Justin Hartley has built a durable television career spanning daytime soap operas, superhero drama, and prime-time network series, from Passions to Smallville, The Young and the Restless, This Is Us, and now Tracker. His current news moment centers on Tracker’s reported season 4 relocation, a change he says affects the show’s tone and character. The biographical record is well established; the production details of the move are not, and they will remain unclear until CBS or Paramount makes an official announcement.
What Are the Most Common Questions About Justin Hartley?
Why is Justin Hartley in the news?
Justin Hartley recently commented on Tracker’s season 4 relocation, saying the change affects the show’s tone and character. The story was covered by AOL and Yahoo Entertainment.
What was Justin Hartley’s interview on Yahoo?
Yahoo Entertainment published a video interview titled “Assisted Interview with Justin Hartley” on May 5, 2026, in which Jimmy gives Hartley some help with pre-written answers.
What happened between Justin Hartley and Chrishell Stause?
Justin Hartley and Chrishell Stause married in 2017 after meeting on The Young and the Restless, separated in 2019, and divorced in 2021. Hartley later married Sofia Pernas.
What is Justin Hartley’s full name?
Justin Scott Hartley. He was born on January 29, 1977, in Knoxville, Illinois, and raised in Orland Park, Illinois.
Is Justin Hartley an actor, producer, and director?
Yes. Public profiles describe him as an actor, television producer, and director. He currently serves as an executive producer on the CBS drama Tracker.
What role does Justin Hartley play in Tracker?
He plays Colter Shaw, the lead role in the CBS drama Tracker, and is also listed as an executive producer on the series.
Does Justin Hartley have an IMDb page?
Yes. His television and film credits are cataloged on IMDb, including Passions, Smallville, This Is Us, and Tracker.
When was Justin Hartley born?
Justin Hartley was born on January 29, 1977, in Knoxville, Illinois.
Olivia Hartley is Business & Economy Correspondent at DailyCity.co.uk, reporting on the city economy, property, retail, hospitality and employment.