Travis Kelce is chiefly recognized for two accomplishments: he is the multiple world record-holding NFL tight end who has played a pivotal role in the Kansas City Chiefs’ three Super Bowl victories, and he has also captured public attention as the boyfriend, now fiancé, of renowned pop superstar and box office sensation Taylor Swift. However, in 2024, Kelce ventured into a new domain of stardom by making his acting debut in Ryan Murphy’s horror series “Grotesquerie.”

Kelce was not a newcomer to the camera prior to this role, having appeared in the Prime Video documentary “Kelce” about his brother, Jason, also an NFL player, and having portrayed himself in an episode of the Showtime sci-fi comedy series “Moonbase 8.” He has also served as the host of the game show “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?” Perhaps most notably, he starred in his own reality series, “Catching Kelce,” which focused entirely on his quest for a girlfriend. However, “Grotesquerie” represents his first screen role in a TV drama where he isn’t portraying himself.

“Grotesquerie” is a horror series conceived by Ryan Murphy, who co-created “American Horror Story” and “Scream Queens.” In its debut and currently sole season (with no confirmation on the series’ continuation as of this writing), “Grotesquerie” centers on a small-town detective named Lois Tryon (played by Niecy Nash-Betts), who delves into mysterious occurrences in the area, with neither she nor the audience expecting what unfolds.

Travis Kelce portrays Ed Lachlan, an orderly at the hospital where Lois’s husband receives treatment. Disclosing more details would give away the many twists and turns that make “Grotesquerie” such an engaging experience, not to mention the show’s complex, layered narrative that cannot be distilled into a brief summary. It’s notable that Ed exists in two different “versions,” each sharing some foundational traits while also exhibiting stark differences. Again, to explain why there are two versions of him and how they differ would divulge too much.

Although it isn’t quite an example of an actor playing multiple distinct roles in the same series, as it’s technically two iterations of the same character, it’s a commendable achievement, especially for someone new to acting. While some athletes who attempt to transition into acting do not succeed, Kelce seems to be beginning on a promising note.