Clifton Powell is unapologetically dropping the title of the agent who he alleges fired him for taking a task within the 2005 musical “The Gospel.”
“My agent on the time, and I’ll say his title, his title is Jeff Witjas at APA,” the veteran actor advised “The Artwork of Dialogue” final week on YouTube. “He referred to as me and stated, ‘You’re doing one other a type of little Black films?’ I stated, ‘You’re rattling proper. I received a household to feed’ and hung up the phone on his ass and so they let me go.”
Witjas didn’t reply instantly Friday to The Instances’ request for remark.
Certainly one of Hollywood’s well-known “Oh, that man” character actors is headed towards 300 credit in his prolific profession. Powell, 69, has appeared in Oscar-winning movies just like the 2004 biopic “Ray,” critically acclaimed movies just like the 1993 crime drama “Menace II Society” and field workplace juggernauts just like the 1998 buddy-cop comedy “Rush Hour.”
All through his profession, Powell stated he doesn’t let his illustration dictate the tasks he takes. When choosing his tasks, the actor follows recommendation given to him by Jamie Foxx years in the past.
“He stated, ‘Clif Powell, maintain one foot in…’ which means maintain one foot in together with your folks and I’m at all times going to be with the folks, as a result of African Individuals, and younger white children, younger Asians, Latinos and girls have made me a family title.”
Powell stated his mentality has paid dividends. The director of “The Gospel” later solid him in Peacock’s critically hailed crime drama “Struggle Evening: The Million Greenback Heist.”
His hiccup with a prime performing company didn’t decelerate his profession. Primarily based on his IMDb web page, Powell has remained a working actor and stored his household properly fed. However there are particular roles his private boundaries have dominated out: homosexual roles.
“It’s not militant. It’s simply that I’m — sure issues I’m simply not snug with,” Powell stated.
One position that did fall inside his zone of consolation was an element in 2Pac’s dystopian music video for “California Love,” the place his character is launched as “Monster” by a high-pitched Chris Tucker.
“Lots of people nonetheless don’t know that’s me … all people thinks that’s George Clinton,” Powell stated on “The Artwork of Dialogue.”
So shout his title subsequent time the video performs, as a substitute of claiming “That’s the man from ‘Rush Hour.’” That man’s title is Clifton Powell.
