In USA TODAY’s The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether at home, on the set, or on the road.
“Tracker” Justin Hartley only plays a lone wolf survivalist mercenary on TV.
In reality, network heartthrob Hartley, 41, who is rolling in his second hit season as rugged Colter Shaw on CBS’ action drama, loves the company of his wife, Sofia Pernas. The one-time “Young and the Restless” co-stars are the complete package since their March 2021 marriage (Hartley’s third, following his split from Chrishell Stause).
While Pernas shoots her recurring “Suits LA” role near their shared Los Angeles home, and Hartley’s Shaw hustles for reward money on the Vancouver “Tracker” set, the couple spends every moment possible together. Executive producer Hartley is even pleased to see Pernas’ “Tracker” character, Shaw’s rival rewardist and onetime lover Billie Matalon, in more action with another episode airing March 30 (CBS Sundays 8 EDT/PDT).
“I don’t know if I’d call it a love story, but there’s a romantic spark and chemistry between the two,” says Hartley. “I enjoy being around her. I’m having the time of my life with this show. I love it. To be able to share it with the people you love makes it even better.”
Here are Hartley’s real-life “Tracker” essentials.
Justin Hartley as ‘Tracker’ Colter Shaw seeking missing person
“Tracker” Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) travels to New York City to find a woman who vanished in the dressing room of an upscale clothing store.
The couple watch TV series together on home theater; straying is allowed
The couple do their TV watching right.
Their ideal is together in their home theater. “I figure, turn on all the sound in the dark room and get the whole immersive experience. That’s how these shows were designed to be watched,” says Hartley. They watch a lot of friends’ shows, viewing “Paradise” together (featuring “This Is Us” alums Sterling K. Brown and Dan Fogelman).
They loved Netflix’s “Night Agent” and watch “Tracker,” too, focusing on experiencing it as an audience. And if the couple is separated mid-series-binge, they are permitted TV stray and go solo. “I don’t have a problem if my wife tells me, ‘I watched six episodes’ of whatever we’re watching. It doesn’t bother me.”
Hartley has resisted the ‘Tracker’ Airstream, but travels cross-country in SUV comfort
“Tracker” has extolled the virtues of Shaw’s open-road lifestyle in an enviable customized Airstream. Thus far, Hartley has held off on purchasing his own Airstream for his and Pernas’ frequent road trips. “It is tempting, though,” says Hartley. Instead, the duo and their beloved golden doodle Paisley travel the country visiting Major League Baseball parks in an SUV that’s “nothing extravagant, just four tires,” says Hartley.
“We have this really high-maintenance dog that doesn’t fly. So we put the dog in the back and drive, and then we stay at hotels. I love the game of baseball, and this gives me an excuse to go around the country and realize how big it is and see the different walks of life.”
Hartley and Shaw make a case for no iPhone case
For a guy who takes a lot of tumbles, Shaw doesn’t use a protective case for his spotless iPhone. That’s Hartley’s call.
“I was like, ‘I’m not putting a case on the iPhone, because I don’t have a case on my phone.’ And if I’m holding a phone with a case on it, it doesn’t feel right,” he says. “They built the phone in a certain way that it’s supposed to look. I want Colter streamlined. No extra stuff.” Not surprisingly, Hartley’s phone doesn’t look as good as Shaw’s. “I tend to drop my phone a lot. My phone is cracked all the time. There’s a big crack in the back right now.”
Hartley lights up for his Maglites
Shaw is never in the dark the way he works his flashlights on “Tracker” (there’s even a Reddit discussion page on which device) – Hartley is a Maglite fan.
“I have them stashed throughout the house,” he says. “They are not just a source of light, they can also be used as a weapon if you need it. They’re basically a big metal wand with a light at the end, which is wonderful.”
Hartley loves watches, but Shaw keeps it shockingly simple
Shaw started “Tracker” wearing a pricey Omega Seamaster, which is something the watch enthusiast Hartley might wear. But the show switched Shaw’s watch to a less-pricey, more durable G-Shock. “His watch is going to get broken all the time, there’s no sense in wearing a really expensive one. And the G-Shock is a solid utility watch that if it gets broken, no big deal. It’s a couple hundred bucks.”
Hartley’s personal choice is the Omega Speedmaster (“It’s pretty cool”), the über pricey Rolex Daytona or the new generation of Timex watches (“I’m a Timex guy, actually”).
“I always wear a watch,” Hartley says. “I don’t have many, but I love them all.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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