Nathan Lane Believes Homophobia Price Him a Position in Area Jam

Actor Nathan Lane was handed over for a task within the 1996 film Area Jam, a choice he feels was doubtless as a consequence of homophobia. Nevertheless, it is not the “function that obtained away” for Lane, as he says he really felt relieved that he did not must do the movie.

Lane addressed his near-casting in Area Jam throughout a brand new interview with Self-importance Truthful. He was requested about how a lot homophobia may need impacted his profession throughout that period, and that had the actor remembering the scenario with Area Jam. As Lane defined, he was in consideration to play Stan Podolak, Michael Jordan’s assistant, who was finally performed by Wayne Knight. Lane additionally mentioned he’d been informed that the movie’s director, Joe Pytka, thought he was “too homosexual” for the function.

“I don’t know what goes on behind closed doorways, however I can’t assist however assume that [homophobia] performed an element [in limiting movie roles],” he mentioned. “I used to be informed it did affect a film that I didn’t actually care about: Area Jam. I used to be up for the half that the man from Seinfeld wound up enjoying.”

He continued, “I used to be up for that half. Apparently the director noticed me internet hosting the Tony Awards and thought that prompt I used to be too homosexual to play the half. So thank God, I didn’t must do Area Jam. [Laughs] However I don’t know. I’ll by no means know what folks say. Homophobia is alive and properly nonetheless.”

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“Earlier than I die, it could be beautiful to get to play a juicy, critical supporting function in some movie,” Lane continued. “That’s why I’m very grateful to Ryan Murphy. He let me play Dominick Dunne [in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story] and F. Lee Bailey [in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story]. I imply, issues are nice. [Laughs] I don’t need it to appear like I don’t have a extremely terrific, enviable profession.”

Robin Williams Helped Shield Nathan Lane Throughout That Period

On the time of Area Jam‘s launch, Lane was not out publicly. The actor got here out in 1999, and in 2015, he married his longtime companion of 18 years, Devlin Elliott. Earlier than he was prepared to return out, Lane expressed to Robin Williams, his co-star from 1996’s The Birdcage, that he was involved about being prodded about his orientation throughout an interview with Oprah Winfrey to advertise the movie. As anticipated, Winfrey broached the topic, however Williams swooped in to steer the dialog away rapidly in order to not put Lane on the spot.

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“I had expressed my fears beforehand to the late, nice Robin Williams, who kindly mentioned to me, ‘Don’t fret, Nathan. You do not have to debate it should you’re not prepared.’ And he went on to guard me each time he might, all through the awkward moments,” Lane mentioned final 12 months, through Individuals. “[Oprah] was like, ‘How come you’re so good at that girlie stuff? Are you nervous about being typecast?’ After which Robin type of swoops in and diverts Oprah, goes off on a tangent and protects me as a result of he was a saint.”

Area Jam is streaming on Netflix, whereas Nathan Lane’s new present, Mid-Century Trendy, will premiere on Hulu on March 28, 2025.

Supply: Self-importance Truthful

Area Jam

Launch Date

November 15, 1996

Runtime

88 Minutes

Director

Joe Pytka