Sterling K. Brown Reveals Surprising Legal Run-In from His Youth: ‘Ya Boy Had Warrants at 19’

"From teenage traffic tickets to Hollywood stardom, Sterling K. Brown shares an unexpected legal mishap and reflects on his career journey."

From a mistaken ticket to an unexpected arrest warrant, the “This Is Us” star opens up about his teenage mishap and reflects on his journey to Hollywood.

In a lighthearted and candid moment on Good Morning America, Sterling K. Brown shared an unexpected story from his youth, revealing how he unknowingly had a warrant out for his arrest at the age of 19. The This Is Us star, who is currently promoting his new Hulu thriller Paradise, recounted a college-era encounter with the law that he laughed about in hindsight, though it left him with a lasting memory.

Brown explained that the incident occurred when he was driving with a friend, who had tossed a cigarette out of the car window, unknowingly setting off a series of events. A motorcycle cop pulled them over, and while Brown initially had no idea why, the officer soon explained that the ticket was issued due to his friend’s action. Though the friend promised to pay the fine, Brown would later discover, upon returning to college, that the ticket had gone unpaid—and it had led to a warrant being issued for his arrest.

“I go off to college, I come home to renew my license—I had a warrant out for [my arrest],” Brown laughed. “Ya boy had warrants at 19! That’s not a good feeling, I’m not that dude.” He added humorously, “I never paid it off.” As for the friend who had promised to pay the ticket, Brown revealed, “We kind of stopped talking.”

Brown also reflected on his career, noting that his long-standing partnership with This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman had given him a unique opportunity to explore various roles in film, from Black Panther to Waves. Brown credited Fogelman with helping him build the career he has today, particularly through his willingness to let Brown pursue projects outside of This Is Us. Fogelman, for his part, expressed complete confidence in Brown’s abilities, declaring, “There’s nothing I don’t think Sterling can do.”

The first three episodes of Paradise are now streaming on Hulu, marking yet another thrilling chapter in Brown’s impressive career.