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NEED TO KNOW
- Ryan Guzman told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview that he is grateful to his TV son, Gavin McHugh, for preparing him for fatherhood
- Guzman, 38, and McHugh, 15, have starred together in ABC’s 9-1-1 since season 2, which came out in 2018
- Season 9 of 9-1-1 premiered on Oct. 9
Ryan Guzman is always in “dad mode” — on-screen and off-screen.
But before the actor, 38, became a real-life dad, he only played a fictional father on 9-1-1, the hit ABC series in which he has starred as firefighter and paramedic Edmundo “Eddie” Díaz since season 2 came out in 2018.
Now, in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the dad of two and former MMA fighter expressed his gratitude to Gavin McHugh, the actor who plays his TV son Christopher, for helping him “live as a father” on the show.
“It’s a pleasure to work with him, and it’s a pleasure to call him my work son,” said Guzman, who welcomed son Mateo in 2019 and daughter Genevieve in 2021 with their mother Chrysti Ane.
He continued, “In so many ways, I’ve been able to live as a father with him prior to actually being a father, and it’s taught me a lot.”
Christopher Willard/Disney via Getty
Guzman and McHugh, 15, have starred in 9-1-1 together for eight years, with their journey continuing in season 9, which premiered on Oct. 9.
“He’s literally a young man now,” Guzman said. “His voice is deeper now, which throws me every single time. He’s grown, probably, I don’t know, a foot. He’s got the heart of America for a reason, because that’s what he is — he’s truly a pure, unique individual with a golden heart.”
The actor added, “The kid is incredible. Well, sorry, the young man is incredible. Gavin is somebody that I see a bright future for, and it’s been just a pleasure and an honor to call him my work son for so long.”
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FOX Image Collection via Getty
Off-screen, Guzman is gearing up for Halloween with his two children.
“Right now, my daughter is so ready to be Mira from KPop Demon Hunters — same thing with my son, he’s going to be Jinu, I think,” he explains. “They’re excited. Yeah, it’s one of the best times of the year for us.”
9-1-1 airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC, with episodes are available to stream the following day on Hulu.