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Cedric the Entertainer never stops working.
Hughley, and George Lopez.
How did you get involved withFirst Reformedin the first place?
He had an idea …
I guess he wanted to do something that would be a different kind of casting.
He didnt want to go to, like, normal actors.
It was one of those good Hollywood stories.
You sit down and you get discovered having tea somewhere or something.
Thats what it felt like.
After 30 years, I got discovered to do drama in a Starbucks one day.
Were you a fan of Schraders work before you met him?Well, of course.
The moviesTaxi Driver,American Gigolo…
I mean, these are things that you know.
You knew that the movie was gonna be somehow different than what youd expect.
So that was the experience.
Did he cultivate that worthiness on set?
Was it a warm space for you to explore your character?Definitely.
He was very clear early on.
Those were key words for, Bring it down.
He did it in a nice way.
Hes a straightforward kind of guy, which was great.
You give that a lot of respect and then you just come in.
This is far from the first time youve played a reverend.
When asked to do it, I was like, Man, I just came offSoul Man.
I dont wanna do another reverend.
This was not the typical reverend.
I think its the kind of personality I have.
I come off trustworthy.
Maybe its the bass of my voice.
I have that Everyman quality that feels like, I could trust this guy.
Its often why white people want to cast me as a reverend.
People go, Oh, thats so perfect.
I never would have turned the Bible page like that.
These little small things of watching preachers for most of my young life.
They all kind of do the same thing.
[Paul] was showing it from a unique point of view.
I think that was what I was trying to find in my character.
I was actually gonna ask you about that.
Its really easy to be on the outside and say, Why did you take that role?Definitely!
Most actors got one right on the tip of their tongue.
Like, You know whats my favorite movie?
The one where you had on the stuffed-animal suit!
I hate the fact that I had to do it!
My kids were being born, I had to play Stuffy the Bear.
I had to do it.
Theres no way getting around playing Stuffy the Bear at that time.
For some people, taste matters.
So you always have this desire.
You dont get that chance a lot.
it literally was a line of people to take pictures with me while I was in the pews.
I didnt get a chance to go talk to the preacher yet.
I didnt even get to grab my kids who were sitting in another area.
I dont like that energy.
Unfortunately, it deterred me from going, but I do need to.
So I have to find somewhere unique to go.
I get home and thats my only decompressing day, so I chill.
Youve been friends with Tracy Morgan for a while now.
He calls it his Walmart money.
Hes always like, Dont worry about it, yall.
I got hit by a truck!
His comedy brand is uniquely Tracy Morgan.
Theres nobody else thats quite like him, kind of weird and funny and lovable andhood.
All the things at once that you recognize about him.
Hes a great guy on set.
Hes always so accommodating with everyone, sometimes to a fault.
I was like, Dude, this is gonna be a funky set.
You didnt think that one through, bro!
Once people eat this stuff, we got the rest of the day to work,andits hot.
This aint gonna be pleasant at all.
Turn the fans on!
I know its a grand gesture, but whoa, bro!
Just get pizza next time!
This interview has been edited and condensed.
