The "Sons of Anarchy" star Ryan Hurst's weight loss has brought about a noticeable change in his looks. Ryan Hurst, also known as Gobind Seva Singh, is a renowned American actor whose remarkable physical transformation has captured significant attention. Despite his demanding schedule, he demonstrated how achievable weight loss can be when one is committed to fitness and healthy dietary choices. The actor’s straightforward methods and holistic approach to modifying his lifestyle helped him lose more than 100 pounds.
Who Is Ryan Hurst?
Ryan Hurst is a popular American actor known for his roles in "Remember the Titans" as Gerry Bertier and "Sons of Anarchy" as Opie Winston. He also portrayed the Norse god Thor in the 2022 video game "God of War Ragnarök".
Quick Facts:
- Date of Birth: June 19, 1976
- Age in 2023: 47
- Height: 6 feet 5 inches (197 cm)
- Weight: 194 pounds (88 kg)
Health Concerns and Hospitalization
Ryan Hurst’s weight loss was quite noticeable after his role as Beta in "The Walking Dead," sparking concern among fans. He shared a selfie from a hospital bed on social media, reassuring everyone that he was fine despite the pain. He advised fans to keep up but not to worry. He was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center due to intense filming conditions for a Zombie Apocalypse scene. Doctors believed his condition was due to heat exhaustion, likely caused by his thick costume for the role. The heavy leather coat he wore was two layers and not suitable for the hot Atlanta, Georgia weather where most of the scenes were filmed. While he didn't mind the heavy suit during filming, the scorching 110-degree Atlanta summer weather took a toll. Ryan shared several pictures from when he was leaving the hospital. In his post, he mentioned feeling pain and how it's sometimes connected to achieving success. He talked about facing pain to reach greater heights and it seems like Ryan is doing well now.
It's still unclear whether Ryan Hurst's illness and hospitalization caused this weight loss. He also hasn't directly addressed the rumors about his weight loss, but some believe it is to be due to his illness. Apart from that, he generally has a well-toned physique and lean muscle mass. Even his selfies with a six-pack indicate that he's shed weight and gained muscle. It's likely he achieved this through a combination of a strict diet and dedicated weight training.
Ryan Hurst's Weight Loss Diet Plan
A few years back, a friend of Ryan Hurst dropped by his place with a bunch of vegan foods. Initially, he was like, "Vegan food? Are you serious?" But this food changed his perspective entirely. The flavors were so amazing that it completely made him shift towards a vegan diet. He also mentioned that he loves to enjoy Thai vegan food at his favorite spot. He is a huge fan of Thai red curry, tofu, vegan chicken, vegan beef, and vegan spring rolls.
Read also: Comedy and Activism with Spaulding
Embracing a Vegan Lifestyle
Basically, it involves skipping animal products for various reasons, including ethics, health, and the environment. At first glance, it might seem complicated, but it's all about finding vegan alternatives to your favorite meals. You'd be surprised that many dishes you already enjoy are either vegan or can easily be tweaked to fit the bill.
More and more people are leaning toward plant-based diets to shed those extra pounds. Additionally, a vegan diet might bring benefits for type 2 diabetes and kidney function. Vegans often chow down on a variety of legumes, fruits, and veggies compared to non-vegans. This is why they might have a lower risk of developing cancer. So, there you have it - a tasty and ethical way to keep your body happy and healthy.
Ryan Hurst's Weight Loss Workout Plan
In person, those who've seen him can't help but be impressed by his towering 6-foot-5 height, even if he doesn't always flaunt his sculpted torso. Directors have often found ways to showcase his strength in roles despite his lean build. For fans, Ryan Hurst's physical strength and fitness have always been on point. Yet, he recently shared a poster that seemed to show a sudden onset of obesity. He was quick to clarify that it was a retouched image, maybe even a bad CGI job. Later, he posted a real and current photo online, revealing his toned upper body. Even in his late 40s, the actor stays fit through various physical activities. He is all about staying active and engaging in a mix of activities. From skating and skydiving to practicing yoga, he maintains a well-rounded fitness routine that keeps things interesting and keeps him in great shape.
Diverse Activities for a Well-Rounded Fitness Routine
- Skating: Originally hailing from Santa Monica, Ryan’s early days were closely intertwined with skateboarding. Rip City, located just a stone's throw away from his residence, used to be the ultimate hub for skating during his younger years. Although his skateboarding ventures have lessened as time has passed, he still makes occasional visits to Rip City. The foundation laid by those skateboarding years undeniably contributes to his muscle power and current physical well-being.
- Skydiving: For the past two decades, skydiving has been a constant passion for Ryan. Whenever he is in the mood for an adrenaline rush, he makes his way to Perris Valley. And on days when he is free from work, he flies down to Universal City Walk for some skydiving. He typically spends a solid two to three hours in this indoor skydiving facility. Also, a close friend of his, a four-time world champion skydiver, takes on the role of his trainer at this location. Ryan usually prefers skydiving which is characterized by a gymnastics-like approach featuring mid-air flips and maneuvers.
- Yoga: Yoga also holds a significant place in his routine, with a frequency of four sessions per week. Interestingly, Ryan holds the position of a Kundalini yoga instructor at Nine Treasures Yoga. What sets this yoga studio apart is its specialization in Kundalini yoga, a distinct variant with a historical legacy as the precursor to various other yoga styles. For Ryan Hurst, having something to do apart from his career is crucial and thus his role as a yoga teacher serves as his escape. It is a routine that involves constant chanting, breathing exercises, singing, and repetitive yoga poses. It's not just about the physical moves in Kundalini yoga; they're not the main point. This kind of yoga is really good at easing stress and anxiety. In a small study, people felt less stressed right after doing Kundalini yoga. And even after practicing for 3 more months, that feeling stuck around. Plus, it's been proven to boost cognitive skills like problem-solving, reasoning, and being flexible in your thoughts, among other things. Beyond being a physical workout, yoga holds spiritual significance for many. It's an ancient practice that impacts both the body and soul's energy, emotions, and movements. Interestingly, Ryan Hurst's yoga practice isn't as separate from his acting career as it might seem from this description. The classes he teaches are rather significant, often drawing celebrities. This way, Hurst manages to blend both aspects of his life.
Other Lifestyle Changes
Despite the intense violent roles he takes on, Hurst actually practices Sikhism and believes in peace and understanding. He even has a Sikh name - Gobind Seva Singh. When he's not acting, you'd find him spending time with his loved ones, meditating, and even doing yoga. It might be hard to imagine him in those serene moments considering how flawlessly he becomes his characters.
Facial Hair
In the entertainment world, most guys keep their facial hair in check, unless their roles require a beard. But Ryan Hurst goes against that norm. His impressive beard has become his signature look. While you might remember him clean-shaven from his early days like in Remember the Titans, you won't see those smooth cheeks again. He's had that majestic beard long before Sons of Anarchy days, and he's even turned down roles to keep it.
Read also: Weight Loss Guide Andalusia, AL
Health Update
Now, let's come back to Ryan Hurst's health. Despite the mild exhaustion, he didn’t face any serious illness and there is not much change in his appearance except for the weight loss. In the Walking Dead show, he plays Beta, the second-in-command of The Whisperers. These folks wear masks made from the skins of the dead. Thus he fitted the role perfectly with his looks. Though the hospital pics of his thinner looks raised concerns. However, Hurst hasn't commented on his weight loss situation and seemingly looks better and fit now.
The Enduring Bond of "Remember the Titans"
Wood Harris and Ryan Hurst, who played the film's football rivals turned blood brothers, discuss the film's still-resonant message. Near the end of Remember the Titans, star T. C. Williams High School linebacker Gerry Bertier spends a moment alone with his teammate Julius Campbell. It’s just before the state championship game, but Bertier is resting in a hospital bed, paralyzed from a recent car accident. It’s almost too much for Campbell to comprehend. Shaken and misty-eyed, the two gently talk about how much progress they’ve made-how, as former rivals, they learned to embrace each other while representing the first integrated high school in Virginia. “When all this is over, you and I are going to move out to the same neighborhood together,” Campbell tells his ailing captain. “We’ll get old, we’re going to get fat, there won’t be all this Black-white between us.” Bertier, crying, raises his arm. “Left side,” he whispers. “Strong side,” Campbell tells him, clasping his hand.
It’s a powerful moment, and in the 20 years since Boaz Yakin’s movie (which earned $136 million around the world) debuted, actors Ryan Hurst and Wood Harris have remained bonded by it. Their portrayals of Bertier and Campbell, respectively, supply the movie’s emotional center, and elevate a Disney-fied true story about school integration into a moving parable of tolerance, compassion, and friendship. In the shadow of Denzel Washington’s towering performance as T. C. Williams’s head coach, the relationship between Bertier and Campbell-from its chippy beginnings to unified conclusion-still induces goosebumps and requires tissues. It’s genuine, enhanced only by the pair's real-life chemistry. “There was a soul contract that was made between the two of us while we were shooting that movie,” Hurst tells me. “We're going to be in this together for a long time.”
Reflections on the Movie's Creation and Impact
On the occasion of the movie’s anniversary, left side and strong side-their defensive nicknames and motto-reunited for a rare joint phone interview with GQ to reflect on the project that helped shape their young careers and the relationship that emerged from it. Over the course of a two-hour conversation, the actors (who have continued working in and outside of Hollywood) shared previously untold stories about the classic’s creation and recall the moments that still impact them. Inspired by a year of immense moral reckoning, Harris eventually took over the second half of the conversation to preach about and engage with America’s history of racial injustice. It’s a subject he’s passionate about-and one he’s glad he can share meaningfully with an old friend he hasn’t spoken with in a while. “Though we might be racially different, I feel brotherly with Ryan,” Harris says. “I don't have a lot of cats in my life like that.”
GQ: How long has it been since you've talked? What's your relationship like now, 20 years later?
Wood Harris: Well, we communicate mostly through social media, because that's how people do it these days. I don't really talk to too many people from the cast. I did Blade Runner [2049] with [Ryan Gosling]-I call him "the other Ryan"-and I knew Donald Faison 10 years before we did the movie. Those are probably the only guys [from the movie] I chop it up with.
Read also: Beef jerky: A high-protein option for shedding pounds?
Ryan Hurst: Yeah, we hit each other up on social media every once in a while. There's nobody on this planet that I hold closer to my heart than Wood Harris.
GQ: How did you guys get involved with this project? What about it appealed to you?
RH: I read the script, and I wasn't too taken by it. The first couple of drafts I was like, “Eh.”
WH: It had a TV vibe to it. It was very sensitive. The cast really did some work with it. I know what you mean, Ryan.
RH: Yeah, I remember Wood and I talked about this having the capacity to affect people. So my agent said to read it again. I said, “Who's directing it?” She said, “Boaz Yakin.” I was like, “What?” Fresh was one of my favorite movies. “The guy who did Fresh is doing this?” I was like, “Sign me up.”
WH: I was excited to work with him. His track record of Fresh was all it took. And then Denzel. I mean, come on!
GQ: Wood, were you surprised you got the role as a 30-year-old playing a teenager?
WH: Nah, man. I've got that fresh shit going on. When I was 30, I pretty much was 18 anyway in my mentality. I basically felt like I could still go pro. [Laughs]
RH: About six months before I auditioned for the role-I've never told anybody this except Wood-I had this reoccurring dream that I was on a football field, running with a football, and then I ran up to the stands and I pointed at this Black man standing in the stands, and he pointed back to me.
WH: I do remember this story!
RH: [The dream] came back and it came back, and then it went away. I auditioned for the role. I actually wrote Boaz a letter, and I was like, “I'm supposed to play this role.” Four months went by. I’m at the premiere at the Rose Bowl, where they've flown in high school football teams from all over the United States. I walked into this stadium, turned around, and looked up into the stands. I look at all of these people, and the only person I see is Wood. I stand there, and I just reflexively point. And he pointed at me, and something left my body. I was like, “Am I still in a dream right now?” It was one of the most otherworldly experiences of my entire life.
WH: That's deep. I totally remember you pointing to me. I didn't put the two of them together.
GQ: Because this was a football movie, did you know what you were getting into from an athletic perspective?
WH: I assumed we'd be genuine to the sport, which means we're going to have to work out. I actually had to put on 20 pounds because I had just [played] Jimi Hendrix. I was skinny…. Ryan also lost so much weight. He lost like 100 pounds. He got in shape for the movie in such a way that was inspiring. We would go to the gym-this dude was curling 100 pounds on each arm, and I was like, “Get the fuck out of here.”
RH: We were in the gym together side-by-side. If I'm trying to take it off, Wood was putting it on. I remember being in the gym starving and looking over at Wood with an ice cream sundae.
GQ: Did you guys hit it off with each other right away? Did it take a little while to know how your characters would mesh?
WH: We instantly hit it off. It was brotherly right away. Chemistry is something that you can't explain all the time.
RH: The moment that I shook Wood's hand, I was like, “Wood is electric.” He has electricity, and it rebounds outward and outward. I met him, looked in his eyes, and was like, “Yo, who are you?” Wood is a poet, Wood is a musician. Wood does everything, and he does everything with passion.
WH: Ryan, send me your Cash App, I've got to get you some bread on this. [Laughs] For real, I felt like that too. I felt like this is a good guy, an undeniably good-stewarded person. I'm pretty quiet on the set. I don't really eat lunch with people. I tend to be by myself. Until there's one person when you're like, “That's my guy right there.” And that's kind of what happened…. The most unique part of the movie was really done by Ryan. No one talks about it. When you see the montage of the players and it’s in 16 millimeter [film] all of a sudden, we're sort of building camaraderie-Ryan created that.
RH: I'd shown [Yakin] a couple little short films that I made, and then he came up to me in the middle of shooting. He goes, “One piece of stage direction says, Montage of team winning.” He says, “I don't have the time to do this. Do you want to do it?” I was like, “Give me a budget and I'll [story]board the whole thing.” He said, “Here's your producer, here's your budget, go shoot whatever you want.” I was like, “Really?”
GQ: That’s amazing. I remember there's a scene in that montage where you and Earl Poitier are folding up waffles and scarfing them down.
RH: Yeah. [Laughs]
WH: Yeah, we smashed some cars and did this pep-rally stuff. Received all kinds of awards. It actually is very important to the film. It makes it look like we spent a lot of good time together. Not just on the field but off. It doesn't show that anywhere but there. It's brilliantly edited into the film.
RH: There were lots of little things that we just came up with. The whole “What kind of power? Soul power. How strong are you? Too strong!” That was us going to Boaz: "Just roll the camera, we've got something we want to try." None of that stuff was scripted.
WH: Also, when I go to the house to see your mom, no one scripts you to pick up his mom and swing her around. I was just supposed to cross the street, say hello to Ryan, and walk in the house.
RH: Boaz needs such a hardcore shout-out. This was a dude coming straight off of independent films, labors of love. He came into this giant studio film with Denzel Washington, and he still created this atmosphere of, "The best idea wins."
GQ: Ryan, there's a moment before the team's training camp starts, when Denzel addresses you by the bus, stares you down, and asks, "Who's your daddy?" What is it like going toe-to-toe with an actor like that?
RH: It was great. All you can hope, being a 20-year-old, is that you can keep up. People always make fun of that scene-Oh, he puts you in your place. But for me, it was a really pivotal, emotional moment for the trajectory of the character. If he couldn't be humbled in this moment, then there's no change in the character. I was really trying to get it right.
WH: I had met Denzel a couple of times. The way he treated me was kind of like a little brother. Later on, he came and saw me on Broadway doing A Streetcar Named Desire. He always made me feel like I could be an actor. When I first started seeing Denzel, I felt like I could do this. Spike Lee and Denzel made me feel like I could do this.
RH: [Denzel] kept everybody at a safe distance. He was just like, "I am playing the coach. The coach is going to be the unifying factor. You don't have to like me, you just have to do what I say.” He sort of stayed in character. And then right after shooting, I was like, "Well, it was really nice filming with you." He's like [in a joyous tone], "Hey!" and came up and gave me a hug.
GQ: One of the best scenes takes place when Coach Boone takes the team down to the Gettysburg battlefield-in the middle of the night-and gives a speech about coming together as one group. What was it like to watch that take shape?
RH: I remember reading that monologue and thinking, If this is not done right, it can come off as really soapbox-y. I remember both of us thinking that.
WH: The whole movie felt that way. It had a way of feeling campy at times.
RH: It was such a masterful move-he starts it with his back to everybody. It’s not like he's sitting there and preaching to these guys. He's including them in his experience. It was a tiny piece of blocking that he's talking over his shoulder at the beginning of it. I remember going, “Oh, that's why he's Denzel Washington. He's making those moves.”
WH: When we shot that scene, it was the middle of the night, probably early morning. The way Boaz shot it, you really felt like you were running through these areas, it really felt genuine to the mood you experienced.
GQ: The very next scene is when you start chanting, "Left side, strong side." It's one of the most quoted and recognized lines in the movie. What do you remember about that?
RH: To know that a couple of lines are resonating in thousands of people's heads-that they take with them a message of peace and unity. All it takes is you're walking down the street in New York and you hear somebody yell, "Left side!" And you're like, “I did my job.” I'll never get over that. I'm just so honored to have been a part of it, honoring the people who actually did this.
GQ: One of your last scenes together is in the hospital room. How did you approach such an emotional moment together?
RH: The scene was much longer. It kind of went off on a tangent that didn't quite work. We found the heart of the scene when we started talking like an old married couple, going to live in the same neighborhood and get fat and old together. That was the part that resonated the most. [Wood] and I rewrote part of the scene to honor that. Hopefully, at that point, we emotionally earned that place to land that.
WH: I had to come into the scene and discover that he was paralyzed. It was a scene that had a lot of fat on it. Me uttering “Superman” in the scene was something that triggered Ryan's response. I just let the floodgates go.
RH: Wood's performance when he walks through that door is the whole movie for me. It's the entire movie. Watching this stoic character who is hard as nails from the get-go. If you watch his performance, it's so nuanced, it's so brilliant, it's so eloquent. After those first couple lines, and you see this innocence and gentleness, it's master calligraphy brushstrokes. It's so beautiful.
GQ: Race obviously plays a big part in this movie-a lot of it revolves around white football players learning about the hardships that their Black teammates have to endure on a daily basis. With respect to the #BlackLivesMatter movement and recent protests within sports, what have you made of the discussions about race happening today?
WH: Sports really puts people together. Now, the business of sports is racist because we live in America, where the place is pretty much founded on racist principles. My older brother, Steve Harris, was born in 1965. That's only 100 years after slavery was abolished. There has not been a lot of time. It just seems like it because we've had a lot of technological changes and advancements…. If I'm a white guy, I can just watch Monday Night Football. I don't have to worry about a guy taking a knee for a cause of a culture that I'm not in. Those are the things that white people don't have to think about.
RH: A protest is a unifying factor to me. It brings people together against something else. I'm in full support of every sport that has been protesting in the way they have.
WH: Protests used to be associated with there being an issue or a problem. But even the word “protest” or “racist,” it's being weakened. They don't carry the same meaning. Most of the time, when you're looking at old footage, you're basically seeing municipalities like the police and fire departments hosing people down. You see them walking, peacefully protesting. Most protests have been in that vein. But they've done a good job at painting protesters as bad people, or rioters. I'm all for the right kind of protest.
RH: We both had a meeting [around shooting the movie] with this white woman, I won’t mention her name. And [Wood] said, “Just watch how she treats you, watch how she treats me.” We went in there, I sat down, and I was talking with her, and she was on her elbows leaning close to me. Then Wood walked over and she moved her chair back a little, leaned back, crossed her legs, crossed her arms, and Wood …