Billy Dee Williams, 87, tells Bill Maher that actors should be able to do ... trends now
Billy Dee Williams defended the right of actors to portray characters using Blackface while chatting with Bill Maher.
The 87-year-old Star Wars actor dropped by Maher's podcast Club Random in an episode released Sunday on its YouTube channel.
When the subject turned to Laurence Olivier's portrayal of the title role in the 1965 film adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello, Williams was delighted at what he saw as Olivier's parodies of stereotypes associated with Black people.
But the 68-year-old Real Time host — who allegedly refused to refrain from smoking pot for one episodes to interview the sober Steve-O — was shocked that Williams didn't seem to see any problem with modern actors appearing in Blackface in roles.
While Maher worried that any theater featuring an actor in Blackface would now be 'bombed,' Williams said actors should be able to do 'anything' to further their craft and the story.
Billy Dee Williams, 87, defended actors' right to play characters in Blackface while chatting with Bill Maher, 68, on his Club Random podcast episode from Sunday.
The Star Wars star fondly recalled watching Laurence Olivier's 1965 Othello, in which he performed in Blackface, but Maher said it was now considered problematic
Olivier's performance was widely acclaimed after its 1965 release, but the film has attracted increasing controversy in recent years due to his use of Blackface
Williams admitted that he was 'laughing' over Olivier's Blackface version of Othello because he 'stuck his a** out,' as the stereotype is that 'Black people are supposed to have big a**es,' which Maher said was now 'problematic.'
'I fell out laughing,' a clearly delighted Williams added. 'I thought it was hysterical! I loved it! I loved it!'
But Maher responded: 'Today, they would never let you do that.'
'Why?' Williams asked with a surprised expression.
'Why not? You should do it!' he continued as he leaned forward in his chair. 'If you're an actor, you should do anything you want to do.'
Maher praised him for having a 'great point of view,' but he thought any theater putting on a play featuring Blackface would be 'bombed.'
The comedian reminded Williams that, at his prime, he was acting in a climate in which he could not take any role he wanted because of the color of his skin, although he called his current position 'a great attitude.'
'But it didn't matter!' the Batman actor shot back, before saying it was important to 'not go through life feeling like a victim.'
Williams said he 'fell out laughing' because he thought Olivier was using stereotypes about Black people to mock those offensive ideas
But Maher responded: 'Today, they would never let you do that.' Williams leaned forward in his chair and shot back: 'Why not? You should do it!'
