![\"Hudson](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sabrina-Lantos-HBO-Max-1-1200x800.jpg\")
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie in \u2018Heated Rivalry.\u2019 Photo Credit: Sabrina Lantos, Max.<\/p>\nDylan Walsh in ‘Heated Rivalry.’ Photo Credit: Sabrina Lantos, Max.<\/p>\n
Veteran actor Dylan Walsh (\u201cNip\/Tuck\u201d) chatted about starring in the sports drama series \u201cHeated Rivalry\u201d on Max, where he plays David Hollander (the father of Hudson Williams\u2019 character).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe important thing in life is not victory but combat; it is not to have vanquished but to have fought well,\u201d said Pierre de Coubertin, French Educator who was primarily responsible for the revival of the Olympic Games in 1894. This quote applies to actor Dylan Walsh.<\/p>\n
The synopsis is: Two rival hockey players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) are at the top of their game yet they face an unexpected challenge when they develop feelings for each other (and forbidden love), which complicates their hockey careers, and the sport\u2019s expectations.<\/p>\n
\u2018Heated Rivalry\u2019 experience<\/p>\n
In the hit sports drama series \u201cHeated Rivalry,\u201d Walsh portrays David Hollander, the father of Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams).<\/p>\n
On being a part of this television show, which has become a global phenom, Walsh said, \u201cWell, we had no idea it was going to become the success that it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of us going into it thought it was going to have a select audience,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was great to work with all of these great people! I will say that when I got there and I saw the boys, they were so committed and so good\u2026 I was hoping it would catch on,\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill, I couldn\u2019t imagine that it would become what it has become,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Playing David Hollander in \u2018Heated Rivalry\u2019<\/p>\n
On playing David Hollander, Walsh said, \u201cWell, it\u2019s funny because Jacob Tierney, the writer and director, said that he cast me because he loved \u2018Nip\/Tuck.\u2019 He told me that he wasn\u2019t asking me to do anything crazy in this series.\u201d<\/p>\n
Working with Jacob Tierney as showrunner<\/p>\n
Walsh praised Jacob Tierney, the writer, director and creator, for his artistic vision in bringing this series to life.<\/p>\n
\u201cJacob told me what he needed is some normalcy and for my character to just process what was going on without any outrage. I think that\u2019s part of the success of the show,\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the love story, and there\u2019s a context that is somewhat safe. As Shane\u2019s father, he is lucky because I\u2019m told by a lot of people (who come up to me and comment on this) that there is usually some trouble. It\u2019s not easy to come out,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cJacob Tierney really made a decision to not do a clich\u00e9 response, and I think that has worked out,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie in \u2018Heated Rivalry.\u2019 Photo Credit: Sabrina Lantos, Max.<\/p>\n
Working with Hudson Williams as his on-screen son<\/p>\n
On working with Hudson Williams as his on-screen son, Walsh said, \u201cFirst of all, Hudson is a real easy guy and he is so much fun to be around. There are no pretensions but he is also not a pushover.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHudson is who he is. He\u2019s got some idiosyncrasies with how he dresses and his sense of humor, but he is a lot of fun. I just adore him. Hudson was great as Shane, and I also like who he is as a person,\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe same holds true for Connor. Both actors stayed in character the whole time. Connor always spoke with a Russian accent, and both of them had to stay on that level of being together in this,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Working with Connor Storrie<\/strong> as Ilya Rozanov<\/p>\n On working with Connor Storrie, Walsh said, \u201cConnor is an excellent actor. He had to speak a lot of Russian, and he really, really learned it right up until the end. He was still studying it and could actually speak Russian on his own with the accent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cConnor never broke from the accent except for short periods of time, such as when we were having dinner. He is really talented actor,\u201d Walsh added.<\/p>\n Working with Christina Chang as his on-screen wife<\/p>\n On working with Christina Chang as his on-screen wife, Yuna, Walsh said, \u201cChristina was wonderful. She nailed that scene outside with Hudson\u2026 she was fantastic!\u201d<\/p>\n The digital age<\/strong><\/p>\n On being an actor in the digital age, Walsh said, \u201cWell, I\u2019m a little slow on it. I\u2019m old school in terms of promoting myself. It wasn\u2019t something that I came up doing. It\u2019s something I\u2019m a little sluggish about.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI still just wait around for offers, but that\u2019s not enough anymore. These days, I\u2019m catching up. My kids are way ahead of me technologically, so I rely on them,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n \u201cThe digital age has changed the entertainment industry considerably,\u201d Walsh added.<\/p>\n Lessons learned from the \u2018Heated Rivalry\u2019 screenplay<\/p>\n On the lessons learned from the \u201cHeated Rivalry\u201d screenplay, Walsh reflected, \u201cWell, it taught me that although I don\u2019t think I\u2019m narrow minded, I think that a good portion of the country still is. I expected the reaction to be kind of fragmented, and I also expected some backlash.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo my surprise, people\u2019s positive comments were very reassuring. All kinds of people have responded to this series, and they are very excited about it,\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had people share their stories to me about being gay and coming out. I was very reassured by those responses especially from the younger generation,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Advice for young and aspiring actors<\/p>\n For young and emerging actors, Walsh encouraged them \u201cto study.\u201d \u201cActing is not something you just walk into, and it starts happening. Even if it does happen to you that way, go study, and take classes,\u201d Walsh said.<\/p>\n \u201cI would recommend such places as New York or Los Angeles because that\u2019s where all the great acting teachers are,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n \u201cAlso, you\u2019ve got to have some moxie. You\u2019ve got to have some gumption. You\u2019ve got to go for it. You can\u2019t be passive. That\u2019s why Hudson and Connor are great,\u201d he exclaimed. <\/p>\n \u201cThere are no pretensions. There are no egos, and they are such big stars now. Most importantly, they are both good people,\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\n Success<\/strong><\/p>\n Regarding his definition of the word success, Walsh said, \u201cSuccess can mean different things. I do try to stress to people, that you can do everything you\u2019re committed to, you may work hard in your craft, but you never know what is going to happen, and \u2018Heated Rivalry\u2019 is a perfect example of that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve done so many other things that I thought would move the dial, and then I did \u2018Heated Rivalry,\u2019 where I expected a small audience, but it became so huge. So, just do what you can do,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n Message for his fans<\/strong><\/p>\n For his fans and supporters, Walsh said, \u201cWell, it takes a village. I would thank the fans for following me. Thanks for embracing all the different things I do, because as an actor, that\u2019s what I always look for. At the end of the day, I\u2019m just an actor and I appreciate them following me.\u201d<\/p>\n Closing thoughts on \u2018Heated Rivalry\u2019<\/p>\n Regarding the show \u201cHeated Rivalry,\u201d Walsh expressed, \u201cWhat I want people to get out of this series, is that it\u2019s not about sex. It\u2019s about love, and if it was a heterosexual couple, love would lead to some kind of physical manifestation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn this case, the characters are gay, and there is no real difference. I hope what the fans get out of it, is the audacity that Jacob Tierney had in shooting this series, but also just know that this love story can be safe,\u201d Walsh concluded.<\/p>\n![\"Hudson](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sabrina-Lantos-Max-1-1200x800.jpg\")
Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie, Dylan Walsh and Christina Chang in \u2018Heated Rivalry.\u2019 Photo Credit: Sabrina Lantos, Max.<\/p>\n![\"Connor](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sabrina-Lantos-Max-1200x675.jpg\")
Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams in \u2018Heated Rivalry.\u2019 Photo Credit: Sabrina Lantos, Max.<\/p>\n