Mandy Moore as Beth?

Sterling K. Brown as Kevin?

But youre about to.

This-Is-Us-Casting

Ron Batzdorff/NBC (4)

Its one of those characters thats an actors dream and I know Sterling feels the same way.

And also because [Randall] is African-American theres an immediate connection to that character.

So theres a lineage connection as well as a cultural and historical and ethnic connection."

RON-CEPHAS-JONES-Randall

Maarten de Boer/NBC/NBC via Getty Images; Inset: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

I know it caused some flack in people.

Theyre like, Would he really leave his opening night?

And it makes me weep like a baby.

STERLING-K-BROWN-Kevin

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic; Inset: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

Kevins an actor, and so I can relate very easily to his journey.

She quietly makes everyone around her step up and be better.

Shes the real hero of the show, in a way.

MANDY-MOORE-Beth

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Inset: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

She an outsider in that family and she can really hold her own.

Yeah, reincarnate as Kate.

But obviously Im not Gerald McRaney.

SUSAN-KELECHI-WATSON-Kate

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic; Inset: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

Im not a legend.

“Just his appreciation of the world and the small moments and thats maybe just me as me.

But I strangely have no desire but to fill the shoes of Jack.

JUSTIN-HARTLEY-Rebecca

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Inset: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

I like being Jack.

CHRIS-SULLIVAN-Dr-K

Amanda Edwards/WireImage; Inset: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

MILO-VENITIMIGLIA-William

David Livingston/Getty Images; Inset: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

CHRISSY-METZ-Kevin

Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images; Inset: Ron Batzdorff/NBC