Justin Hartley Tracker: Inside His Life with Wife Sofia Pernas and On-Set Secrets
While Hartley continues to capture audiences as Colter Shaw in “Tracker,” Sofia Pernas is making waves with her recurring role in “Suits LA.” Despite their busy schedules, the couple prioritizes quality time together. When they aren’t working on separate sets—Hartley in Vancouver and Pernas near their Los Angeles home—they enjoy cozy nights watching television in their home theater.
In a curious twist, the couple has a special rule regarding TV watching—deviation is permitted. “I don’t mind if my wife says to me, ‘I watched six shows’ of whatever we’re in the middle of watching,” Hartley confessed. “It doesn’t disturb me.”
While Colter Shaw roams the nation in a specially outfitted Airstream trailer on “Tracker,” Hartley and Pernas keep things more low-key. The pair and their favorite golden doodle, Paisley, roam America in an unadorned SUV. “We have this super high-maintenance dog that doesn’t fly,” Hartley said. “So, we put the dog in the back and drive.”
Among their favorite activities is going to Major League Baseball stadiums throughout the United States. “I adore the game of baseball,” Hartley said. “Traveling provides me with an opportunity to see the nation and realize just how different life actually is.”
Even if the Airstream trailer on “Tracker” is inviting, Hartley hasn’t jumped on that yet. “It is tempting, though,” he conceded. Their SUV is their go-to vehicle for these cross-country trips, for the moment.
Both on and off screen, Hartley prefers simplicity—down to his iPhone. Colter Shaw is notoriously phone-case-less in “Tracker,” and Hartley emulates that desire off screen.
“I am not going to case my iPhone because it does not feel right,” he said. “They designed the phone in a particular manner, and I want to keep it streamlined.”
But there’s a price to pay. “I drop my phone a lot. My phone is cracked all the time,” Hartley joked, showing that his current iPhone has a large crack on the back.
One of Colter Shaw’s favorite iconic tools in “Tracker” is his trusty flashlight, a feature which has generated fans’ online discourse. Notably, Hartley also has an equal fondness for these dominating devices.
“I have Maglites all around the house,” Hartley explained. “They’re not just a light source, but they can also be used as a self-defense tool if necessary. They’re essentially a large metal wand with light at the tip.”
This pragmatic thinking echoes Shaw’s ingenuity on the show, creating realism in Hartley’s performance of the character.
Although Shaw initially wore a pricey Omega Seamaster watch on “Tracker,” the crew later opted for a tougher G-Shock. Hartley, who is also a watch buff, wholeheartedly agrees with this move.
“His watch is going to get broken every day,” he said. “There’s no point in wearing a really costly one. The G-Shock is a great utility watch. If it gets broken, no big deal.”
Off-camera, Hartley is a sucker for high-end watches, such as the Omega Speedmaster and the legendary Rolex Daytona. He is also a fan of the new Timex generation of watches. “I always wear a watch. I don’t have a lot, but I adore them all,” he revealed.
“Tracker” has been a CBS breakout, with Hartley starring as Colter Shaw and also acting as an executive producer. The show, in which Shaw hunts missing persons for reward money, mixes high-intensity action with poignant storytelling.
In last week’s episode, which aired March 30, there will be even more of Shaw’s energetic interplay with Billie Matalon, a fellow rewardist and ex-flame played by Sofia Pernas. “I don’t know if I’d say it’s a love story,” Hartley teased, “but there’s certainly a romantic spark and chemistry between the two.”
The experience of working with his wife has been one of the highlights of Hartley’s “Tracker” experience. “I like being around her,” he said. “I’m having the best time of my life with this show. To be able to share that with the people you love is even more special.”
As “Tracker” keeps on gripping viewers, Justin Hartley is still grounded on the things he holds dearest—his loved ones, his interests, and the open-road escapades shared with Sofia Pernas and Paisley. On-screen and off-screen, Hartley showcases that living every moment to its fullest is life’s greatest adventure.
