Another name has been added to Ryan Murphy’s true crime spin-off American Crime Story, this time with a noted television background to work with. FX announced on Friday that David Schwimmer will join Cuba Gooding Jr. and Sarah Paulson in the mini-series, playing the role of defense attorney Robert Kardashian. From Deadline:
The miniseries takes a look at the O.J. Simpson trial told from the perspective of the lawyers that explores the chaotic behind-the-scenes dealings and maneuvering on both sides of the court, and how a combination of prosecution confidence, defense wiliness, and the LAPD’s history with the city’s African-American community gave a jury what it needed: reasonable doubt. Schwimmer will play O.J. Simpson’s confidant and attorney Robert Kardashian, starring opposite Cuba Gooding Jr. as Simpson and Sarah Paulson as prosecutor Marcia Clark.
Now Robert Kardashian is probably more well known today as the deceased patriarch of America’s favorite family, The Kardashians. But long before that, he was O.J. Simpson’s good friend. He let Simpson stay at his house following the murders, allegedly got rid of a blood soaked garment bag on camera, and later would come to question his friend’s innocence. From The New York Times:
”He stood by O. J. irrespective of how he felt because he felt that nobody else was standing by O. J., not because of his innocence or guilt, but because there was a friendship there,” said Larry Schiller, whose book ”American Tragedy” focused on the tensions and strategies of Mr. Simpson’s legal team…
Mr. Kardashian said in a 1996 ABC interview that he questioned Mr. Simpson’s innocence: ”I have doubts. The blood evidence is the biggest thorn in my side; that causes me the greatest problems. So I struggle with the blood evidence.”
Schwimmer is once again some spot on casting for this sort of role. I can see him expressing that sort of internal dilemma in my head already. The kind you see in the video below. A friend of mine has always said that the look on Kardashian’s face is one that says, “what have I done?” It has a whole other level if you throw in what his kids are up to. Either way, I’m excited for this show.
(Via Variety / Deadline / New York Times)
