Paul Walter Hauser | |
|---|---|
 Hauser in 2025 | |
| Born | (1986-10-15)October 15, 1986 (age 39) Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| Other names | Paul Hauser |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
Paul Walter Hauser (born October 15, 1986) is an American actor and professional wrestler. He starred as murdererLarry Hall in the 2022true crime miniseriesBlack Bird, for which he won aGolden Globe Award and aPrimetime Emmy Award, and is also known for his portrayal of Stingray in theNetflix seriesCobra Kai. His breakout performance was as thetitle character inClint Eastwood's drama filmRichard Jewell in 2019. He has also provided the voice of Embarrassment inPixar'sInside Out 2 in 2024. The following year, he portrayedBruce Springsteen's recording engineer inSpringsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere and supervillainHarvey Elder / Mole Man inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. As an occasionalprofessional wrestler, Hauser is signed toMajor League Wrestling.
Hauser was raised inSaginaw,Michigan. His parents are Deborah and Rev. Paul Hauser, aLutheran minister.[1][2]
He attendedValley Lutheran High School, aprivateparochial school in Saginaw.[2][1] He attendedConcordia University Chicago before dropping out to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.[3]
Hauser portrayedShawn Eckhardt in the 2017 filmI, Tonya, Dale in the 2010 filmVirginia, and Keith in the television seriesKingdom. Hauser was initially cast as an extra forVirginia as his acting debut, and complimented directorDustin Lance Black for his speech after winning theAcademy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2009 forMilk (2008); this led to Black writing him a larger role in the movie.[4]
He had the recurring role of Deshawn in the Amazon web seriesBetas, and in 2018 appeared as Lonnie Laloush inSuper Troopers 2 and as Ivanhoe inBlacKkKlansman.[5][6] He has also appeared as a guest star on the television seriesUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,The Night Shift,Superstore,Key & Peele,It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,Community,Blunt Talk,I Think You Should Leave,Bupkis, andCobra Kai. In 2019, he starred inClint Eastwood'sRichard Jewell, portraying the title role,Richard Jewell, the real life security guard who spotted the bomb at theCentennial Olympic Park bombing.[7] In 2020, he starred inSongbird, a film based on theCOVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Hauser played Horace Badun in the crime comedy-dramaCruella, aDisney live-action prequel/spin-off ofOne Hundred and One Dalmatians.[8]
Hauser also starred as Raymond Porter, better known by his nickname Stingray, inCobra Kai. He appeared as a recurring character in Season 2, and a major anti-hero in Seasons 4 & 5.[9]
Although known for his comedic turns, Hauser gained broad recognition and critical praise for his portrayal of the serial killerLarry Hall in the 2022Apple TV+true crime miniseriesBlack Bird, adapted from James Keene's memoirIn with the Devil. Critic Nick Schager wrote of Hauser's performance, "even in a sea of maniacal villains, his Larry Hall stands out as a uniquely cunning madman, so unpredictable and unnerving as to be downright unforgettable."[10]
In 2024, he voiced a lead role in theDreamWorks Animation filmOrion and the Dark and the role of Embarrassment in thePixar filmInside Out 2.
In 2024, Hauser became attached to the true-crime dramaFruitcake alongsideJennifer Garner;[11] the lead role in a bio-pic about actor-comedianChris Farley;[12] areboot ofThe Naked Gun franchise;[13] theMarvel Cinematic Universe filmThe Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025);[14] a biographical film aboutBruce Springsteen titledSpringsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere in the role of recording engineer and guitar tech Mike Batlan;[15] and the comedyBalls Up alongsideMark Wahlberg.[16] The same year, he starredThe Luckiest Man in America, in which he playsMichael Larson, a contestantaccused of cheating on the game showPress Your Luck in 1984.[17]
In 2022, Hauser debuted as a rapper under the moniker Signet Ringer. He released his first EP,Murder for Higher, on July 8, 2022.[18]
Hauser made his professional wrestling debut at Pro Wrestling REVOLVER in Los Angeles in November 2023 defeating Matthew Palmer.[19][20] His next appearance with the promotion was in a Slammy Vs. Emmy Winner Take All match where he defeatedMatt Cardona in March 2024.[21] Hauser has made sporadic appearances forAll Elite Wrestling (AEW) as well on theindependent circuit.[22][23] He signed withMajor League Wrestling (MLW) in May 2024.[24][25] He facedDanhausen to a no contest at Pro Wrestling REVOLVER in June 2024.[26] In February 2025, he made his debut withDefy Wrestling in Seattle Street Fight defeatingJoey Janela withAubrey Edwards as the special guest referee.[27] Hauser won his first title in wrestling by capturing thePROGRESS Wrestling Proteus Title at PROGRESS Chapter 179: PROGRESS Las Vegas on April 17, 2025, where he defeated the championSimon Miller,Adam Priest, Charles Crowley, andEffy in a five way match.[28] In July 2025, Hauser wore his PROGRESS Proteus Title belt to the World premiere ofThe Fantastic Four: First Steps in Los Angeles.[29] Hauser was a special guest commentator for AEW on their August 9, 2025, episode ofCollision.[30] On August 29, 2025, atRing of Honor (ROH)Death Before Dishonor, he wrestledQT Marshall in aFight Without Honor.[31]
Hauser married Amy Elizabeth Boland on July 23, 2020. They have three children.[32]
Hauser is aChristian.[4][33] He and his wife Amy were featured in a video series for online Christian multimedia movementI Am Second.[33]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Virginia | Dale | |
| 2011 | Demoted | Bothered Salesman | Uncredited[citation needed] |
| 2013 | iSteve | Pastey Jones | |
| 2017 | I, Tonya | Shawn Eckhardt | |
| 2018 | Super Troopers 2 | Lonnie Laloush | |
| BlacKkKlansman | Ivanhoe | ||
| 2019 | Late Night | Eugene Mancuso | |
| Beats | Terrence | ||
| Richard Jewell | Richard Jewell | ||
| 2020 | Adam | Trent | |
| Da 5 Bloods | Simon | ||
| Eat Wheaties! | James Fisk | ||
| Songbird | Michael Dozer | ||
| 2021 | Silk Road | Curtis Clark Green | |
| Cruella | Horace Badun | ||
| Queenpins | Ken Miller | ||
| 2022 | Delia's Gone | Bo | |
| Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm | Elmer (voice) | ||
| 2023 | Americana | Lefty Ledbetter | |
| Old Dads | Tracy | ||
| 2024 | Orion and the Dark | The Dark (voice) | |
| Inside Out 2 | Embarrassment (voice) | ||
| The Instigators | Booch | ||
| The Luckiest Man in America | Michael Larson | Also executive producer | |
| 2025 | The Fantastic Four: First Steps | Harvey Elder / Mole Man | |
| The Naked Gun | Capt. Ed Hocken Jr. | ||
| Playdate | Zack Galifinack-ish | Uncredited | |
| Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere | Mike Batlan | ||
| 2026 | Balls Up† | Post-production | |
| Resident Evil† | Filming | ||
| TBA | Deep Eddy†[34] | Pug Browder | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Too Late with Adam Carolla | Various roles (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Community | Student #3 | Episode: "Messianic Myths and Ancient Peoples" |
| It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Richie | Episode: "Dee Reynolds: Shaping America's Youth" | |
| 2013 | Key & Peele | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 2013–2014 | Betas | Dashawn | 4 episodes |
| 2014–2017 | Kingdom | Keith | Recurring role, 27 episodes |
| 2015 | The Night Shift | Oren Edwards | Episode: "Ghosts" |
| Blunt Talk | Audience Member | Episode: "Who Kisses So Early in the Morning?" | |
| 2017 | Superstore | Vince | Episode: "Rebranding" |
| A Midsummer's Nightmare | Nick Bottoms | Television film | |
| 2018–2019 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Tripp Knob | 2 episodes |
| 2019–2025 | Cobra Kai | Raymond "Stingray" Porter | Recurring role, 15 episodes (seasons 2, 4–6) |
| 2019 | WWE Smackdown | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2020 | Reno 911! | Jeffy Renee Chisholm | Recurring role, 6 episodes |
| 2021 | Calls | Floyd (voice) | Episode: "Me, Myself, and Darlene" |
| I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson | Scott | Episode: "Everyone just needs to be more in the moment." | |
| 2022 | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert | No One (voice) | 1 episode |
| Black Bird | Larry Hall | Miniseries, 6 episodes | |
| 2023 | AEW Dynamite | Himself | 1 episode |
| AEW Rampage | 1 episode | ||
| The Afterparty | Travis Gladrise | Main role, 10 episodes (Season 2) | |
| Bupkis | Hauser | Episode: "Show Me the Way" | |
| 2025– present | The Chosen Adventures | Sheep | Voice only, 14 episodes |
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