Xavier Beloved Steps Into New Role with HBO’s Rooster
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Xavier Beloved Joins Heartfelt Sitcom
HBO’s new comedy series Rooster premieres Sundays at 10/9c on HBO and streams on HBO Max. The 10-episode series, produced by Warner Bros. Television, comes from co-showrunners and executive producers Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses. Steve Carell leads the cast and also serves as an executive producer.
Life at Ludlow College
Set at Ludlow College, the story follows Greg Russo, a well-known author who accepts a writer-in-residence position at the invitation of the school’s president. His daughter, Katie, works there as a professor managing a separation from her husband, Archie, who has left her for a graduate student named Sunny.
Xavier Beloved as George Heitman
Xavier Beloved joins the show as George Heitman, an athlete known for his quiet strength and generosity. Despite his size, George stands out for his compassion rather than his competitiveness. Beloved says the role pushed him to explore vulnerability and emotional honesty in new ways, which made the experience especially rewarding.
From Fan to Collaborator
Beloved grew up watching Bill Lawrence’s earlier series Scrubs and Clone High. During the pandemic, Ted Lasso had a deep impact on him, strengthening his respect for the kind of humor and sincerity Lawrence brings to television. Acting on one of his productions now feels “surreal,” he says, but also “a major learning experience.”
Learning from Steve Carell
Working with Steve Carell added another layer of meaning. “He has this warmth that immediately calms the room,” Beloved says. “You stop being nervous because he makes you feel included.” He recalls addressing the actor as “Mr. Carell” on the first day, until Carell quickly corrected him. “He told me, ‘We’re equals, call me Steve.’ That moment changed everything. It helped me relax and focus on the work.”
A Story About Renewal
Beloved calls the series both funny and grounded. Each episode balances humor with themes of renewal, connection, and the courage to start fresh. He believes viewers will see themselves in the characters’ efforts to rebuild and grow. “It’s about honest relationships and those small transitions people face,” he explains.
Beyond the Laughs
Rooster encourages self-reflection through its humor. Beneath the surface, it delivers a reminder that there is no deadline for reinvention. The cast also includes Charly Clive, Danielle Deadwyler, Phil Dunster, John C. McGinley, Lauren Tsai, and Connie Britton.
Where to Watch
Watch the official trailer below and on HBO MAX.
Audiences tuning into the series will see that Rooster offers an honest, layered look at growth, combining strong performances with thoughtful writing that lingers long after the humor fades.
About Xavier Beloved: Xavier Beloved is an actor, rapper, and creative from Carson, California. A graduate of Dillard University’s theatre program, he is known for roles in Boneyard and HBO’s Rooster, where he plays George Heitman. Dillard University, home to the oldest HBCU degree-granting theatre program in the country, is a program known for rigorous training and for preparing students for careers in acting and other performance fields. Follow Xavier Beloved across social platforms including Instagram.