Taylor Kitsch Reflects on His Homelessness Before 'Friday Night Lights' Fame

Taylor Kitsch looks back on his time spent homeless before achieving fame with "Friday Night Lights." The actor, now 43, moved from Canada to New York City in 2002 to pursue modeling and acting. This transition was not easy. He recalls, "I was literally sleeping on the subway," indicating how tough those early days were for him, PEOPLE reported.

Kitsch's fortunes changed when he had a chance meeting with a talent manager. "She was like, ‘What do you want to do?’ I said, ‘Character pieces,’" he remembers. The manager agreed to take a risk on him, and they have partnered professionally ever since.

"All I’ve ever wanted to do is disappear into different characters," Kitsch explains. His journey month through hardships brought him to the widely loved role of Tim Riggins in "Friday Night Lights" in 2006. "People, for some reason or another, just really gravitated to Riggins," he shares. This role significantly influenced his life in positive ways.

While working on "Friday Night Lights," Kitsch also transitioned to film, notably as Gambit in 2009's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." He reflects on the differences between theater and the film industry, stating, "They didn't want me to do improv like on FNL," highlighting the adjustments actors must make.

 Kitsch continued to build his career over the years, except for a two-year break when he cared for his sister, Shelby Kitsch-Best. During this difficult time, she struggled with opioid addiction. "Probably the proudest thing I've done in my life is sticking with her," Kitsch remarks. Today, Shelby is sober and works as a traveling nurse.

After her recovery, Shelby served as an advisor on the 2023 Netflix drama "Painkiller," where Kitsch played an opioid addict. He describes the experience as "really cathartic," affirming that it was a special project for him.

 Kitsch aims to support others in recovery by developing a nature retreat on his 22 acres in Bozeman, Montana. He moved here in 2021 after fifteen years in Austin, Texas. "I didn’t even know sober escapes existed until I had the crash course with my sis," he emphasizes. Kitsch envisions the retreat as a way for people to reconnect with nature.

His upcoming Netflix Western, "American Primeval," promotes significant themes while allowing Kitsch to unwind outside. When not filming, Kitsch enjoys donning his adventure van for fly-fishing or wildlife photography. "There’s no better place for that," he says, valuing the rejuvenation that the Montana landscapes provide.

 Despite revisiting old memories from "Friday Night Lights," Kitsch is mindful of a reboot announced last month. He has firm opinions about returning as Riggins in any capacity. "A visiting coach with two lines, that would be the most I would do, because I love the way we left it," he explains. About new characters, he wishes for strong connections, saying he hopes "they create some characters that people f---ing fall for, just like we did."

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