Sterling K. Brown brings a specific presence to the screen in many of his roles, an intense vulnerability that is so effective partly because of his fit, muscular frame. The 43-year-old isn't too rough to look at, either, keeping up a solid six-pack that's been put to good use on This Is Us.

But Brown's high level of physical fitness isn't new. The former football player tells Men's Health he was once advised to cut down on the heavy weight training by his acting professors, so that he might be able to serve as a vessel for emotions onstage rather than "something that is heavily armored." After adjusting his attentions to focus more on cardio and bringing yoga into the regimen, Brown found a solid balance. Now, the actor keeps up a fitness routine that leans heavily on calisthenics and basketball to stay in shape—especially for those shirtless scenes. "Every once in a while your boy's gotta come out of his top," Brown admits. "Gotta do something to keep it tight, right?"