Whether football fans have been watchingthe Kansas City Chiefs tight endfor years or people who love Taylor Swift have learned more about him, there is no doubt that Travis Kelce has been in the spotlight since beginning this famous relationship. While Kelce’s sports career is ongoing and impressive, he has recently been in the news thanks tohis starring role onRyan Murphy’s latest horror series,Grotesquerie.
While Murphy’s work has touched on creepy events in small towns,Grotesquerietruly leans into this beloved and classic horror setting and seesDetective Lois Tyron (Niecy Nash) investigating murders. Murphy’s TV series often include a star-studded cast, from Sarah Paulson to Jessica Lange and Emma Roberts, andGrostequerieis no different. What character does Travis Kelce play and what other projects has he acted in?
Who Does Travis Kelce Play In Grotesquerie?
Travis Kelce plays Ed Laclan, who goes by Eddie and is an orderly at the hospital. Ed and Lois have an interesting relationship that is based on the fact that they’re both struggling with alcohol abuse. In season 1, episode 3, Ed sees Lois drinking and tells her that she shouldn’t drive herself back. After she does and gets into a terrible car crash, they go to AA together in episode 4. While Murphy’s other projects have clear villains, likethe endlessly creepy Twisty the Clown,the evil inGrotesqueriewill likely be revealed later on. It’s compelling watching Lois and Ed’s romance develop and Kelce does a great job with the part. There’s no doubt that some people will tune into the horror series because they’re curious about the athlete can act, but chances are that most viewers will be pleased. There’s also the question of whether Ed is hiding a mysterious secret or if he’s really as nice and caring as he appears. This is a Murphy horror series, after all.
Murphy saidGrotesqueriewas “different"from other horror TV shows that fans know him for, from the incredibly darkAmerican Horror Storyto its spinoffAmerican Horror Stories, which is starting up again soon.
Kelce has talked about filmingGrotesquerieand shared some fun details. According toUs Weekly, said on Instagram that he ate 10 meatballs for one scene that took place at a restaurant. But while he appears to have enjoyed the experience, he took it seriously as well. In an interview withE! News, Ryan Murphy said Kelce was a hard worker who “knew everybody’s lines.” Murphy said:
“A star is a star is a star—and he’s a star. He’s so charismatic, and he’s so smart, he’s lovely. He had a window of time. He asked me to work up something for him. I did. It was an honor.”
Has Travis Kelce Acted Before?
Ed inGrostequerieis Travis Kelce’s first acting role, but he has been on fans' TV screens before. In 2023, he hosted an episode ofSaturday Night Live, and he also appeared in the 2023 Netflix seriesQuarterback. Whilesome have wondered ifSNLwill end, it’s always fun to see what celebrities are going to take over hosting duties. Fans might also be familiar withKelce’sdating reality series,Catching Kelce, which aired for one season in 2016.
Although some might have expected Kelce to star in a biopic or sports drama, it’s fun to see him in a horror TV series since it’s so unexpected. LikeAmerican Horror Storyseason 12 with its high death count,Grotesqueriedoesn’t shy away from darkness, and it’s interesting to see how Kelce’s character Ed fits into the story.
Travis Kelce’s Other Projects
Besides his football career keeping him busy, Travis Kelce is moving into the movie producing space. According toVariety, he is an executive producer on the dark comedy/dramaMy Dead Friend Zoe.
Travis Kelce alsohosts the popular podcastNew Heightswith his brother Jason Kelce. In August 2024,Varietyreported that they signed a deal with Wondery that would last three years and add up to over $100 million. The podcast is incredibly successful and fans enjoy tuning in and hearing this funny sibling dynamic.
In fact, Travis Kelce talked about starring inGrotesquerieon an episode of hisNew Heightspodcast. According toABC News, he said Murphy is an “unbelievable writer, director, producer, all of the above.” He continued:
“everybody’s just been so helpful in making me feel comfortable and … giving me kinda the direction I need and the coaching I need to portray this part that I’m in.”
