Shemar Moore Admits Staying in “S.W.A.T.” Shape Is ‘Getting Harder and Harder’ at 56 but ‘I Ain’t Quitting’ (Exclusive)

Deirdre DurkanThu, September 24, 2026 at 3:45 PM UTC

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Shemar Moore; Shemar Moore in ‘S.W.A.T.Credit: Shemar Moore/Instagram; Sonja Flemming/CBS -

Shemar Moore says maintaining his physique for S.W.A.T. Exiles is more challenging at 56 but remains a priority

The actor emphasizes the physical demands of the role, including stunts and long filming schedules

Moore spoke with PEOPLE about how the spinoff explores new sides of his character, Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson

Shemar Moore isn’t letting age slow down Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson.

The S.W.A.T. Exiles star, 56, tells PEOPLE that maintaining the physique required to play Hondo is becoming more challenging after nearly a decade in the physically demanding role — but he has no plans to stop anytime soon.

“I ain’t gonna lie. I’m very — you know, in real life, I’m 56 years old, trying to move and look like I’m 30,” Moore says.

With season 2 of S.W.A.T. Exiles already on the horizon, the actor says he’s already back to work preparing his body for another round of action. “S.W.A.T. Exiles season 2 is coming real soon. Real soon. So I’m in the gym right now. I’m eating right,” he says. “You know, I gotta put that Hondo physique, the Hondo presence, back together.”

Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson in ‘S.W.A.T. Exiles’Credit: Kit Karzen/Sony Pictures Television

Moore admits that maintaining that routine isn’t as effortless as it once was. “It was a lot easier 15 years ago,” he says, adding that he works with a trainer he’s had for 20 years who is currently “kicking my butt to get it all together.”

While Moore jokes that he wants “the homies, the fans and the baby girls” to like what they see onscreen, he says his fitness routine is about far more than appearances.

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“I owe it to Hondo to look a certain way and move a certain way,” he explains. “But also, to be honest, you have to be in shape to do this job. Like, it’s not just vanity.”

According to Moore, the production schedule of the spinoff alone requires him to keep up his strength and endurance. Each episode takes about eight days to film, he explains, with an average of “three or four days of action.”

He’s “running around, chasing people, fighting, jumping off fire escapes, hanging off a helicopter,” all of which can be taxing, Moore says. The actor adds that having a strong core, legs and stamina is essential to keeping up with those demands, and he emphasized that to his new S.W.A.T. Exiles costars.

Shemar Moore in ‘S.W.A.T.’Credit: Bill Inoshita/Sony Pictures Television/CBS

“This isn’t just an acting game,” Moore recalls telling the cast. “Yes, we’re having fun. We’re entertaining the people. But we gotta show respect to the men and women of law enforcement that do this for real, that leave their houses and don’t know if they’re coming home to their families. We want to emulate that as much as we can and bring as much truth to that as we can to show respect.”

Moore has been playing Hondo since S.W.A.T. premiered in 2017. After eight seasons with the original ensemble, he’s carrying the character into S.W.A.T. Exiles, which finds Hondo navigating a dramatically different chapter of his life. The actor also told PEOPLE that saying goodbye to his longtime costars was “hard,” but the spinoff gave him the opportunity to explore new sides of the character.

“It’s still Hondo, but now you’re gonna see a more human element of perseverance and finding purpose,” he says.

Keeping up with Hondo has become tougher with time, but Moore isn’t ready to hang up his tactical gear anytime soon. “I gotta do it,” he says. “I ain’t quitting. I ain’t quitting until Father Time just says, ‘Hey, sit down somewhere.’”

S.W.A.T. Exiles premieres Friday, Sept. 25 on STARZ.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”