Don Cheadle Confronts His Most Divisive Roles Head-On
Don Cheadle opens up about his infamous Ocean’s Eleven accent and the controversy surrounding Crash, reflecting on the challenges and unexpected turns in his career.
It’s not always easy to shake off a notorious performance, no matter how many accolades follow. For Don Cheadle, the shadow of his much-maligned cockney accent in Ocean’s Eleven seems to linger stubbornly. That particular turn as Basher Tarr, with its baffling East End inflections and ‘apples and pears’ chatter, has become something of a running joke—one that, for some, eclipses the rest of his work. It’s a shame, really, considering the breadth of his career, but such is the power of a single, unforgettable misstep.
Of course, Cheadle’s filmography stretches far beyond that infamous role. He’s racked up credits in everything from Iron Man 2 to Hotel Rwanda, collecting Golden Globes, Grammys, Emmys, and even an Oscar nomination along the way. His early days saw him pop up in television staples like The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, but it was the mid-90s that brought him into sharper focus. Sharing the screen with Denzel Washington in Devil in a Blue Dress, and later appearing in Boogie Nights, he began carving out a reputation for versatility. His collaborations with Steven Soderbergh, starting with Out of Sight, would become a recurring feature in his career.
From Accents to Accolades
After a Golden Globe-winning turn as Sammy Davis Jr in The Rat Pack, Cheadle reunited with Soderbergh for Traffic, a gritty thriller that arrived just before the Ocean’s Eleven debacle. Swordfish followed, and then, in 2005, he found himself nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Paul Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda—a harrowing account of the 1994 genocide. That same year, he starred in and co-produced Crash, a film that would go on to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, though not without its share of controversy.
Crash, written and directed by Paul Haggis, drew inspiration from a real-life carjacking incident involving Haggis himself. The film’s depiction of race relations in Los Angeles has since been criticised for its oversimplification, with many questioning its approach. Cheadle, reflecting on the film, offered a candid assessment:
“If you’re looking to a movie to speak in a way that is all-encompassing about what that’s supposed to be… The movie was an allegory. The movie is a fable.”
He went on,
“I don’t think the movie’s a perfect movie, I have issues with the movie, but I do think that, on balance, it was a very entertaining movie, but if it starts that conversation and gets people talking about that (race relations), even if it gets them saying, ‘This shit’s bullshit,’ I’m like, ‘Cool.’”
Behind the Scenes: Setbacks and Surprises
The making of Crash was anything but straightforward. Both Heath Ledger and John Cusack withdrew from the project at the eleventh hour, slashing its international appeal and forcing a tighter budget. Haggis, determined to see the film through, reportedly took out three mortgages on his home, while the cast agreed to reduced fees. The production was further rocked when Haggis suffered a heart attack during filming, adding another layer of chaos to an already fraught shoot.
Despite these hurdles, Cheadle’s career continued to gather momentum. He found a new audience with the comedy-drama House of Lies and cemented his place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the Iron Patriot. Yet, in a twist that few might have predicted, he’s set to reprise his role as Basher Tarr in the upcoming Ocean’s 14—assuming it’s not an elaborate April Fool’s joke. There’s also another Marvel project on the horizon: the long-awaited Armor Wars.