Does Benjamin Bratt Play A White Dude In “The Cleaner”?
15 July 2008, 9:00 AM. By Guanabee Staff
A&E’s new drug addict rescue drama, “The Cleaner,” described as “Intervention meets Mission Impossible,” by one of its cast members, stars Benjamin Bratt as William Banks a recovering heroin addict who helps save other addicts through unconventional means. The character is based on real-life “radical addiction counselor” Warren Boyd (pictured at right) who has counseled such high profile clients as Courtney Love, Whitney Houston and Mel Gibson amongst others. (Not exactly glowing references, but hey, at least they’re not dead yet, right?)
The interesting thing to us, cuz drug addicts are so passe, is that neither the character nor the real life guy he’s based on seem to be hispanic while Bratt is. In fact, the two young actors playing Bratt’s kids on the show don’t appear to have a trace of cafe in their leche, either. Which is fine, but kind of weird when producers do that sort of thing. (See Jennifer Lopez playing an Italian in The Wedding Planner.) We mean, it’s fine if the actor is, say, Emilio Estevez, or Cameron Diaz. You know, totally white. But when an actor is clearly as indio as huitlacoche, it’s kind of an elephant in the room not to explain it, no? Then again, maybe they will. We haven’t seen an episode yet because it premieres tonight at 10 eastern. But it could also be indicative of a kind of loose storytelling that’s earning it its mixed reviews from the media. And with Boyd playing Co-Executive Producer along with, amongst others, his former client Jay Silverman, this show will either be really realistic or really sentimental.
The Cleaner Production Credits [A&E]
A&E drama “The Cleaner” off to a dreary start [Reuters]
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Good point. You totally called out Jlo in the Wedding Planner — that Italian thing was weird. But don’t forget Alba playing the blond SUE STORM in Fantastic Four. Not only does she look like shit with platinum blond hair and blue eye color contacts, but the character was obviously not a Latina, and the character’s brother, the Human Torch was totally white. Made no sense, producers really didn’t explain that.
I Concur but I love me some Benjamin Bratt!… he likes playing those Heroin addicts doesn’t he?
Maybe the show’s working title was “The Bleacher,” and they thought Señor Bratt would be the “before” pic?
Any chance that the Human Torch will be the “after” pic? And they both appear at the same time, in hot The Cleaner action? They could Clean each other real goood.
I guess that would be a different series….
I think of him(BB) as a good Actor not what or who he is or not.That’s his job.Too many times I’ve heard “too Mexican” or “not Mexican enough”.I’d rather see him than another Black.
…and I’D rather see the best, most talented actor for the job - Black, white, hispanic, or whatever. Perhaps I’m alone in that sentiment. sheeesh…
But all things considered, BB is a wonderful actor, and very nice on the eyes. Can’t wait to see him again!
So what? How many times have white actors been used to play Latino roles?
I say PAYBACK bitches!
As far as I’m concerned, BB can play a Romanian grandmother & it would still be brilliant.
If BB is playing a Romanian grandmother, then I don’t want to see him make out with the Human Torch.
That would just be gross.
WHO CARES? actors play other people. so according to you, latinos should only allowed to play latinos? what about english people playing americans? or chinese playing japanese? or whoa - what about east indians who grew up in london? let benjamin play whomever he wants, he is a good actor. stop looking for stuff and just judge him for his work as an actor regardless of his skin color or that of his character.