Roxie Roker, the original Helen Willis, had one of the first high profile real-life interracial marriages in Hollywood. She was married to TV executive Sy Kravitz for 23 years; she was the mother of (yes) musician Lenny Kravitz. Kerry Washington was ok (I think a little hoity toity is appropriate for Helen), but Roker lived the role.
Will Ferrell's Tom is another case where the actor's physical presence changes a scene. In the original, Franklin Cover towers over Sherman Hemsley, and you think Tom is going to pound George in the ground if he keeps pushing. Will Ferrell is not going to intimidate Jamie Foxx, so the scene almost has to play out differently.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2019-05-27 03:44 pm (UTC)Roxie Roker, the original Helen Willis, had one of the first high profile real-life interracial marriages in Hollywood. She was married to TV executive Sy Kravitz for 23 years; she was the mother of (yes) musician Lenny Kravitz. Kerry Washington was ok (I think a little hoity toity is appropriate for Helen), but Roker lived the role.
Will Ferrell's Tom is another case where the actor's physical presence changes a scene. In the original, Franklin Cover towers over Sherman Hemsley, and you think Tom is going to pound George in the ground if he keeps pushing. Will Ferrell is not going to intimidate Jamie Foxx, so the scene almost has to play out differently.