Hollywood's doors opening for actors with disabilities

[Guest guest]

Hollywood's doors opening for actors with disabilities

By Brink, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-

acting7apr07,1,1989266.story

Nick Daley 28, has Prader-Willi Syndrome, a genetic disorder

characterized by short stature, low muscle tone and mild retardation.

He's also been in 17 films and 11 television shows, including a guest-

starring role in last season's TNT series " Saving Grace. "

Blair on, 28, is an actor with Down syndrome. He has been in

clothing commercials for Macy's, was once murdered in a " CSI " episode

and had a nose job on a " Nip/Tuck " episode.

" I love being an actor, " he says. " It makes me feel good inside me. "

Daley and on are among a growing number of people with

developmental disabilities -- including Down syndrome, autism

spectrum disorders, mild retardation and seizure disorders -- who

want to be in the movies, or on TV. They want to make records, or be

in commercials. They want what a lot of people in this town want: to

be stars.

And some of them are getting close.

Their aspirations are a small part of a sea change in thinking about

adults with disabilities since 1973, when California passed landmark

legislation known as the Lanterman Act (updated in 1977). It granted

services (and funding for them) to people with disabilities to let

them live as independent a life as possible.

Since that time, people with disabilities slowly and persistently

have paved a new way for themselves, allowing society to grow

accustomed to seeing them bagging groceries, running flower stands,

serving coffee or stocking shelves. " Our constituents want to work,

to be active members of society, to earn money, " says Dr. a Pompa-

Craven, vice president of Easter Seals Southern California.

And over the decades since the Lanterman Act was passed, people with

developmental disabilities are not only coming out of hiding, they're

also showing up on the big and small screens as casting directors

discover the obvious: People with disabilities who have acting talent

can actually play people with disabilities.

According to statistics from the Media Access Office, the state's

liaison between performers with disabilities and the media, in 2001,

the office submitted 1,087 performers' résumés, which resulted in 64

entertainment jobs. In 2002, the office submitted 961 résumés,

resulting in 166 hires. Since then, says Gloria Castañeda, the

office's program director, staff limitations have prevented updated

statistics.

It's still a rough road for the 10% of Screen Actors Guild members

who have a disability. But for talent agents such as Carmel Wynne,

who places actors with developmental disabilities, this client pool

is becoming an easier sell.

" Why shouldn't more people be able to turn on the TV and see people

who look like them? " says Media Access Office volunteer Gail

on of North Hills, Blair on's mother.

Keeping it real

Probably the easiest casting call is when the role is for a character

with a unique physiognomy. " It's a slam dunk with Down syndrome, "

says Wynne, director of talent at Performing Arts Studio West, a

state-funded acting, music, dance and production studio for people

with developmental disabilities in Inglewood (see related story).

She's referring to the classic facial features associated with the

syndrome. " More nontraditional disabilities are harder, " she says.

Although the viewing public has come to accept story lines about

people with disabilities, typically, non-disabled actors get the

roles, as in " My Left Foot, " " As Good As It Gets, " and " Rain Man. "

The 1989 television series " Life Goes On " was a breakthrough -- a

prime-time drama about a family with two children, one of whom had

Down syndrome. In that show, Burke, an actor with Down

syndrome, played Corky Thatcher, the child with Down syndrome.

Levey, now senior vice president of casting for Wells

Productions, worked with Burke -- his first experience with an actor

with a disability. " Burke came into the network test, a

dehumanizing experience for any actor, " Levey says. " Rather than

being disarmed, he disarmed everybody and went around the room giving

hugs. "

Over the years, Levey has cast actors who are deaf, blind, HIV-

positive and developmentally disabled, with an eye on keeping it

real. " Authenticity is an important part of good film and

television, " he says.

Levey cast Nick Weiland, 29, who has Down syndrome and is a

Performing Arts Studio West client, in the role of Fonda's son

in an " ER " episode last season. Levey was impressed with the

actor. " was a delight on the set, " he says. " He was

prepared, open and flexible. He was an actor. "

Just last week, another actor who trained at Performing Arts Studio

West, Luke Zimmerman, 29, scored a coup -- four episodes in an as-yet-

untitled ABC Family network project created by Hampton,

creator and executive producer for the TV drama " 7th Heaven. " The new

project auditioned non-disabled actors for the role of a disabled

older brother in a drama about a family of teenagers but ended up

casting Zimmerman, who has Down syndrome, for the recurring role soon

after he read, according to Paizis, founder and director of the

acting studio.

For Nick Daley, acting has been a dream since he was a kid. He

watched hundreds of TV shows and movies, imagining himself in

countless roles. " When I was 10 or 11, I would imitate the people, "

he says. His goal was to become a professional actor, and his

training at the studio, along with industry connections cultivated by

Wynne, helped him snag his TV and movie roles.