Johnathon Schaech Shares How Tom Hanks Inspired Him and Gave Him ‘Hope’ in His Career

Johnathon Schaech, who recently relocated from Los Angeles to Nashville with his wife Julie Solomon and their two children, had initially thought his acting career was over. In a conversation with PEOPLE, Schaech admitted he felt regretful and anxious after leaving everything behind. “Every day I’d wake up in horror, wondering what I had done. I tried not to control it and hoped the universe and God would guide me back,” he shared. Fortunately, his luck changed when he landed a role in Prime Video’s new series ‘Blue Ridge’.

Schaech, who plays Sheriff Justin Wise in the series, noted that the show was inspired by his 2020 crime drama film. “While we were making the movie, it was clear it had the potential to become a series,” he explained. His enthusiasm for further exploring the character contributed to the film’s adaptation into a series.

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Reflecting on his return to acting, Schaech spoke about the influence Tom Hanks had on him during the filming of *That Thing You Do*. He credited Hanks with giving him a “sense of hope” and professionalism, which bolstered his confidence to lead a series. “I always believed I could carry a series and be a leading man like Hanks was,” Schaech said. He emphasized that Hanks’s influence helped him maintain his acting skills regardless of the level of work.

In a recent episode of‘Blue Ridge’, Schaech’s former ‘That Thing You Do!’ co-star Ethan Embry made a guest appearance. Schaech expressed his honor at working with Embry again, recalling their shared experience of tackling challenging material with a strong work ethic inspired by Hanks. “We both have an incredible work ethic, thanks to Tom Hanks,” Schaech noted.

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He reminisced about the deep bond and “brotherhood” formed during their previous collaboration, praising Embry’s performance on ‘Blue Ridge’. “The love we have for each other is profound, and he was fantastic—he blew everyone away,” Schaech added.

‘Blue Ridge’ is now available for streaming on OTT.

–Farheen Ali