How This Hollywood Star Roots Himself in Christ Every Day

Published: August 14, 2025

By Gavin Boyle

Actor Tony Hale recently opened up about his morning routine that allows him to connect with God every day and remain rooted in his faith, no matter what the day brings.

“I wake up around six. I start my day journaling. I also read [Christian] devotional books, and books that are encouraging and inspiring,” Hale told The Wall Street Journal. “I love Henri Nouwen, who was a Catholic priest, and his book The Inner Voice of Love. If you see my desk, it looks like a serial killer’s because I have these written notes that I’ve taped up on the wall.”

Though Hale has been a mainstay in Hollywood for decades, the industry can be brutal. Whether it be inconsistent work, difficult hours or the trials of fame, the actor finds peace knowing that the Lord is on his side through it all.

“It’s a very uncertain career. Knowing that I can go to God and trust that He sees the bigger picture is very comforting to me,” he said several years ago, explaining how fixing his eyes on Christ alleviates his stress. “Christ talks a lot about looking around us and noticing the suffering of others and loving the orphans and the widows and being other centered. I mean, obviously I’m in probably the most narcissistic careers you could have. To be able to get my eyes off myself is a gift. I think it’s a gift to all of us to do that, so I think that’s definitely a principle of the faith.”

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This has been especially important for Hale who has struggled with anxiety all his life.

Growing up, he always worried about making people like him which paralyzed him at times. However, now that he finds his worth in Christ, rather than in what others think of him, he goes through his day with much less to worry about.

“When I was a kid, I was very anxious. I was an asthmatic kid, and I had a lot of anxiety around that. And I think when I was a kid, I just wanted everybody to like me and a lot of people-pleasing stuff,” Hale said.

“So even though that sucked walking through that as a kid, it’s been nice to kind of bring it into your work. Like, I know what a panic attack feels like. I know, I know what severe anxiety can [do,] how that can manifest,” he added, explaining how the Lord uses all things for good. “And so it’s nice to kind of have that history, even though it’s not something that I struggle with as much as I used to.”

He recently starred in SKETCH, which Movieguide® gave a -1 content score. The review reads:

Overall, SKETCH is a funny and creative exploration of the way grief affects people differently, with a strong moral worldview stressing family and friendship. The father is devoted to his children and tries to help them deal with their mother’s death. Also, his children and their friend bond together and stick by each other. However, the movie has some magical thinking, foul language and violence. Also, SKETCH has many scary scenes that might frighten children. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children.

It is amazing to see how rooting himself in Christ has transformed Hale’s life and allows him to stay humble and others oriented even as he works in a self-centered industry.