'This is Us' release date, spoilers: 'The Walking Dead' actress, 'Longmire' actor cast in recurring roles

The cast lineup for "This is Us" grows as the NBC drama adds two new characters who will be introduced in the latter part of season 1.

According to reports, "Longmire" actor Adam Bartley has been cast in a recurring role on the rookie dramedy. Bartley portrays the character of Duke, a man who works at a local horse stable. He enters the picture through Kate (Chrissy Metz) as he helps her get through one of the most difficult moments in her life. It has yet to be revealed if he will just be a friend for the Pearson sibling or if he will become a wedge in Kate and Toby's relationship.

Bartley is best known for playing the series regular role of Sheriff's Deputy Jim "the Ferg" Ferguson on Netflix's "Longmire." He also currently stars as a recurring character on the hit CBS procedural "NCIS: Los Angeles." Some of his most recent film acting stints include roles in "Under the Silver Lake" and "Annabelle 2."

It seems that Kate's problems will be tackled in a bigger storyline next year as another friend of hers will be introduced soon. "The Walking Dead" actress Alexandra Breckenridge will also be joining the NBC program as Sophie, one of Kate's childhood friends.

Similar to Bartley, Breckenridge has been tapped to recur on the drama. However, there's still no word on whether Sophie's re-entry into Kate's life will somehow influence her choice to undergo weight-loss surgery or not. Aside from playing the doomed Jessie in "The Walking Dead," Breckenridge is known for her role in "American Horror Story" season 1 as young Moira. Her other notable TV credits include "Dirt," "True Blood," and "Life Unexpected."

Metz revealed in an interview last month that losing weight for the role of Kate was required in her contract. However, the actress recently clarified her earlier statement, saying that the idea of Kate's weight loss journey was just pitched to her.

"It wasn't mandated in the contract, and I probably — if I ever said the word contract, I didn't mean it in that way," she explained. "I was pitched that the trajectory of Kate is that she's going to lose weight. That is who and what's going on," the actress went on to say.

The first season of "This is Us" returns to the airwaves on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.