Shemar Moore on the Future of More Seasons of S.W.A.T.: ‘You Have to Talk to My Knees’ (Exclusive)

Shemar Moore knows how to get a win.

Like when the star sends a beanbag flying 30 ft. through the air in his backyard, sinking it right into its target. “That’s what I’m talking about, baby, yeah!” the actor and 2023 Superhole cornhole champion exclaims, showing off his skills during his recent PEOPLE shoot for this week’s issue.

At 54, the first-time dad to 21-month-old daughter Frankie (with girlfriend Jesiree Dizon) has figured out what it takes to make magic happen in more ways than one. “It’s skill, it’s hunger, it’s determination, it’s passion, it’s humility and a whole bunch of luck,” he says, “It has to be a perfect storm, and I’m a product of exactly that.”

Recently the star and perennial heartthrob used that special sauce to help rescue S.W.A.T., the CBS police procedural he’s led since 2017, from extinction.

“To get canceled twice in a row and to get uncanceled twice in a row, I give kudos to me running my mouth on social media,” he says. “Nothing lasts forever, but I fight.”

Now Moore has suited up again as Sergeant Hondo for season 8. “I’m the leader of this team, which I’m very proud of,” he says. 

“Everybody at S.W.A.T. wants season 13. And I’m like, “You’ve got to talk to my knees, boy. It ain’t no joke,” he says with a laugh. “Hey, I’m 54. It ain’t like it was. It’s harder and harder running around, jumping over cars and playing tough guy and trying to keep that six-pack together.”

That said, he’s still loving every bit of it. When he recently got the news that S.W.A.T. would be alive for another season, “I partied like a rock star,” he says of hosting a cast and crew celebration. “Doors closing and then kicking down doors is a very scary, fun thing. And that’s how I live life.”

New episodes of S.W.A.T. premiere on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.