words: Willie G. photos: Shaniqwa Jarvis
Anthony Anderson ain’t about to let Hollywood pigeonhole him. Born and raised in the city of Compton, the 37-year-old actor is known to most for his string of roles in comedy flicks like Scary Movie 3 and 4, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and Barbershop. Loaded with slapstick humor, it’s easy to see why Anderson’s sidesplitting filmography has given rise to a false rumor that his career first kicked off in the trenches of stand-up comedy. But while his seemingly permanent smile and friendly sense of humor are crowd-pleasers without a doubt, Anderson is no comic—nor has he ever been. Having attended Los Angeles’ High School for the Arts and Howard University on a talent scholarship, he’s hell-bent on showing the world that he’s more than a one trick pony. With his recent breakthrough role on The Shield, playing ex-con/gang leader Antwon Mitchell, Anderson has begun to silence his critics. And with a role in the summer blockbuster Transformers and the Fox series K-Ville on the horizon, his redefinition and taming of the beasts have only just begun.
So what’s up with all the speculation that you started in stand-up? Seems like you’ve been pretty serious about your acting for a while.
Yeah man, it’s all I ever wanted to do since I was nine years old. Well, there were three things really, play for the Dallas Cowboys, be a lawyer and be an actor. Around that time I realized with acting I could do the other two things, as well as anything else I found interesting. I take the stand-up thing as a compliment, but nah, that’s not the case. It just so happened that the first 20-plus projects I did were huge, successful comedies.
Well, you definitely broke that cycle on The Shield. Drug kingpins that pose as community leaders don’t get too many punch lines, huh?
And that’s exactly why I did it. I don’t know if people were doubting my acting ability at that point ‘cause of all the comedies, they probably were. But I was willing to not get work for a while if it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I needed to show people I’m not just shits and giggles, you know? Getting the opportunity to play someone like Antwon Mitchell was like nothing I had ever had. People have asked me if playing the role was hard. I say, “No, ’cause that’s what I do, I’m an actor.” The difficult part was getting the opportunity to play a character like that. You know, Hollywood can be myopic in their thinking at times. When you do a certain thing well, that’s all they tend to see you as. Once I got that shot I was like, I’m gonna show ’em! And I hope I did.
Sure looks like you did. Your role in The Departed had you right alongside some of the biggest names in the business. That had to be a crowning achievement for you.
It was. Not like I ever needed validation from anybody for my work, but it definitely was a feather in the cap. From now on, I think I can let the work speak for itself and not feel like I have to prove my versatility.
You’re wearing a badge again soon in K-Ville—but this time as a police officer in post-Katrina New Orleans. Was there any personal connection in your involvement on the project?
My character is a conflicted guy who’s trying to rebuild his city as well as his family. I jumped at it ‘cause I think it’s a story that needs to be told. I don’t have any real personal connections, but I really wanted to get involved. With production happening down there, we’re putting money into the community and you can see your contributions changing things. Plus I can get out there and help hammer some nails in my free time.
Back to your dark side, you also star as the leader of a rival record label in the Def Jam: Icon video game. What’s the secret to stompin’ out your character “Troy Dollar”? What’s that cat’s weakness?
[Laughs] Oh man, I haven’t even gotten to that stage yet! But I will tell you this, the day the game came out, I didn’t even know it was released, a brother stopped me on the street and was like, “Yo, I love the new video game, but they did you wrong. I kicked your ass the first time!” I was like, “Word?!” He said, “Yeah, I threw you through an elevator and decapitated you.” That had me like, “No they did not do me like that on the game!” I bought it for my son, he’s only seven, but after hearing shit like that, I can’t let him play. But I’m up late in the family room trying to get there. I don’t know my weaknesses yet, I don’t even know my strengths!
We also hear you’re a big hip hop head…who’s big in your iPod right now?
I haven’t really picked up anything new, but I’m a West Coast boy, Compton born and raised, so I’m always into the classics like vintage N.W.A. But I also went to school out East and I’m a big Jay-Z fan. Anything from the Jigga and the West Side, but the South is bringing it too! Me and my wife be bumpin’ Lil’ Weezy together.
So what’s left out there that you still want to take on?
It’s all about intellectual property and ownership for me now. The studios are shrinking, and a lot is coming up through the independent channel, that’s where it’s at now. My ultimate goal is to establish a brand. Me and my partner Adam Glass have put together a production company. The A2 brand is coming!
