Reg E. Cathey On Playing Freddy In House Of Cards, The N-Word & Usher

Reg E. Cathey is one of Hollywood’s unsung heroes.  With a career spanning three decades, the gravelly voiced thespian has worked with directing luminaries like David Fincher (“Se7en”) and David Simon (HBO’s “The Corner”) while deftly balancing a career between movies, television and theater.

Cathey’s talents landed him a spot on the groundbreaking dramatic series “House of Cards,” Netflix’s foray into original programming.  Starring Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards” charts the rise of Senate Majority Whip Frank Underwood who schemes and (kills) his way to the White House.  Cathey plays Freddy, who owns the best bbq joint in the Capitol and serves as a confidante of sorts to Frank.

The Urban Daily caught up with the busy actor to get his take on the jaw-dropping second season of “House of Cards,”  his upcoming role as boxing promoter Don King (“Hands of Stone”) and how he handled casting directors  questioning  his “Blackness.”

(Warning: Season 2 spoilers ahead!) 

TUD: Congrats on another season of “House of Cards”! Did you have any idea that the show would be so successful?

Reg E. Cathey:  From my first meeting with Beau (Willimon) and David (Fincher) I knew this was going to be something special.  When we all sat down to do our first read through, we all talked about how this show could never be on network television because the cast had so many old people!

This season your character arc was expanded, particularly in Episode 9. Sometimes I felt like I was watching “The Corner” or “The Wire”-  it felt so authentic.

It’s funny you said that because a lot of the crew from “House of Cards,” I knew and worked with on those two shows.  Some of the people in the neighborhood would come out and tell me they remembered me, so it’s been really interesting.

Has the reception from the people in the neighborhood been mostly positive or negative?

It’s been great. Funny story about Jodie Foster, who directed this episode.  We were shooting in this tiny project building and it was really hot that day, so Jodie was sitting under a tree by herself  while we were setting up.  This little kid, a baby, waddled over to her and people saw this white woman under a tree with a baby. So before long there were 30 people under the tree with this Oscar winning actress and a baby, watching us set up and for Jodi it was just a regular Tuesday.

How did you find working with Jodie as a director?

She has this ability just to say exactly what you need to hear without going into too much discussion.  She does it in a way where she’ll ask a question.  How do you feel about this, and what made me think about this…and it’s just perfect.  Also, I had gone to the Yale School of Drama while she was a student at Yale so we knew a lot of the same people, so that was fun.

In this episode, there were a few N-bombs dropped – was there ever a concern or discussion for political correctness or was it more being true to these characters and the artistic vision?

It was about being true to the character. Beau is so smart and hands-on, he’s always around and asking questions.  It was completely organic and natural, it wasn’t even a big deal.

IF YOU HAVEN’T FINISHED SEASON 2 THERE ARE SPOILERS AHEAD! BUT IF YOU HAVE CLICK TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FREDDY’S FUTURE ON “HOUSE OF CARDS”!

**SPOILERS**

There’s been debate about whether Freddy should have accepted Frank’s money to save his restaurant.  Do you think your character made the right choice?

Freddy would never take that money, it wouldn’t be honorable.  Freddy may not have a lot of money, he may have lost his family, but all he has is his honor and his integrity and that is the most important thing.

Now that the restaurant is gone, how will Frank cope without a place of solace? Can we expect to see Freddy next season?

You know what, I really don’t know.

You’re playing Don King in “Hands of Stone” – how did the role come to you?

It’s a funny story actually.  I got a call from my L.A. agency and they never call!  So this guy said “Okay I know you don’t talk to us but I’m new and I don’t give a damn.”  I laughed and thought, ok let me talk to this guy.  He said “Yeah I want to send you in for Don King, and my first reaction was “Dude, have you looked at me?  There’s no way I could play Don King!”  But he talked me into auditioning cuz I was like come on, this ain’t gonna happen.

The director called and said “Wow, I love that you didn’t do any Don King stuff!”  We met for breakfast and told me he was going to send my audition tape to Bobby and I asked “Who the hell is Bobby?” and he said “Come on man, Bobby DeNiro!”  I had to gain 30 lbs. for the role, and I’ve lost half of it now. I gotta say it was more fun putting it on than taking it off.

Usher is also in  the movie.  What do you think of his performance?

He looks exactly like Sugar Ray Leonard when he’s in the ring and has all of his moves down cold. He’s just amazing.

WATCH: Usher Talks Preparing To Play Sugar Ray Leonard

You gotta keep showing up.  I lived in L.A. for ten years and there were some really rough times.  I did voice-over work and was very fortunate to do some classical theater.  I was completely happy not doing film or TV because I was so beat down from the L.A. experience. I was told by a few casting directors that I wasn’t “Black” enough.  I remember one of them telling me “Can you give me a little more street?” And I said “Well, I can give you a little more curb” (laughs).

“The Corner” got me back into things.  I met David Simon through Carl Fontana, who I’ve known since I was a teenager back in Comstock back in the 1980′s.  So it was people that I knew that were hiring me more than people I didn’t know.  So yeah, I’m fortunate like that, you just gotta show up.

“House of Cards” Seasons 1 &2 are available on Netflix streaming

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