Paul Walter Hauser is an industry legend who brings humorous flair and versatility to every role he’s in. Hauster was already doing stand-up and writing screenplays at the age of 16. With a strong background in comedy, improv, and theater, he started appearing in supporting guest roles in shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Key & Peele.
Paul Walter Hauser went on to have a very successful career, showcasing his acting range in both dramatic and comedic roles. For his 39th birthday, we recount seven roles that he went absolutely bonkers with.
7. Shawn Eckardt in I, Tonya
Paul Walter Hauser played the delusional real-life bodyguard to Margot Robbie’s Tonya in this dark comedy biopic of a skater. As a basement-dweller, Hauser’s Shawn Eckardt boasted of being a secret agent while orchestrating a botched attack on the skater Nancy Kerrigan.
Hauser’s performance brought an oddball charm to the tragicomic figure of Shawn, showing us a deep-rooted insecurity underneath delusions of grandeur. Newsweek said he “stole every scene,” and The Florida Project director Sean Baker tweeted in January that Hauser was “getting nowhere near the attention he should be for his work in I, Tonya.”
6. Ivanhoe in BlacKkKlansman
In the Oscar-winning Spike Lee film, Hauser portrays a foul-mouthed member of the Ku Klux Klan who brings a foreboding message to black folk. Despite being in a supportive role, his performance is not understated and memorable for reflecting the views of most Americans of that age.
5. Larry Hall in Black Bird
Paul Walter Hauser’s performance in Black Bird is perhaps his most chilling and acclaimed role to date, portraying the serial killer Larry Hall in this Apple TV+ series. Larry Hall befriends an inmate in prison to extract a confession from him, in a cunning, madman manner with twists and turns you won’t see coming.
4. Himself in Major League Wrestling
Hauser has entered the world of pro wrestling, showcasing his unpredictable theatrical flair when it comes to entertaining audiences. He made his wrestling debut at Pro Wrestling REVOLVER in Los Angeles in November 2023, where he won his first match. He refers to himself and his goals as the “reverse Dwayne Johnson” (via Major League Wrestling). You can find him in major pro wrestling events like MLW, AEW, and Ring of Honor.
3. Richard Jewell in Richard Jewell
Richard Jewell is perhaps my favourite role of Hauser’s, in this Clint Eastwood biopic that follows the story of a security guard who discovers a bomb at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Hauser plays the role of Jewell with a naivety that draws heartbreaking sympathy for his character as he is being hounded by the press and citizens for mistakenly thinking he was the one who planted it.
2. Mole Man in The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Paul Walter Hauser joined the MCU in The Fantastic Four: First Steps as Mole Man, the Fantastic Four’s very first comic book villain. In this retrofuturistic Earth-828, Mole Man is a subterranean anti-hero who helps the Fantastic Four in their fight against the big baddie Galactus. Hauser’s sympathetic portrayal of Mole Man earns him brownie points for bringing authenticity to a character that develops feelings for Sue Storm.
1. Stingray in Cobra Kai
The Cobra Kai universe gave us many memorable characters, with Raymond “Stingray” Porter being one of the most absurd ones of the lot. Much like the theme of the show, Hauser portrays Stingray, a grown man still clinging to his child-like dreams of being a karate master, by joining a Dojo filled with kids. His character transformed from being bumbling comic relief to a significant anti-hero.
Here is a summary of all the roles mentioned.
Paul Walter Hauser has established himself as a powerhouse in Hollywood, with a huge portfolio of roles that see him act with auteur directors as well as new ones.
What is your favourite Paul Walter Houser role? Let us know in the comments.
