Where You Know The Cast Of The Watcher From
From the creators of "Scream Queens," Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan scared up the highly-anticipated thriller, "The Watcher" for a pre-Halloween 2022 release. The series is based on the real-life story of a couple who moves into their dream home in a New Jersey suburb, only to discover strange things are afoot in their idyllic neighborhood (via Variety). Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale star as Dean and Maria Brannock, who receive a mysterious letter when they arrive.
For Derek and Maria, moving to 657 Boulevard became a disturbing nightmare that haunted them for years to come, per Entertainment Weekly. In the series trailer, the "welcome to the neighborhood" letter is revealed, and the message is anything but welcoming. "I've been put in charge of watching you. This message will not be the last. I am the watcher. The house is my obsession, and now, you are too."
What ensues is a cavalcade of nosy neighbors who overstep their bounds, a kooky character or two, and some unwelcome visitors. In the series teaser, Jennifer Coolidge is seen as a realtor hosting an open house in the neighborhood. "You know, there's a lot of weird neighbors and stuff out there and, you know, you don't want them watching you," she warns. As for who you will be watching in "The Watcher," there are some TV and film vets, a star making a comeback, several familiar faces, and two impressive young actors.
Naomi Watts is right at home feeling terrified
Naomi Watts stars as Nora Brannock in "The Watcher." The British-born Australian actor rose to fame in David Lynch's 2001 mystery, "Mulholland Drive." The following year, Watts was cast as Rachel, a journalist whose life is threatened by a mysterious videotape, in "The Ring" and its sequel. The actor followed that up with an Oscar-nominated turn as a grief-stricken mother recovering from addiction in "21 Grams."
After co-starring with a CGI gorilla in 2005's "King Kong," Watts started taking control of her career. "I turned down giant paychecks, giant opportunities – my agents were flummoxed. But I knew what I liked by then," she told The Guardian in 2017. The actor earned another Oscar nod for her performance as a tsunami survivor in "The Impossible." In the 2017 Netflix series "Gypsy," Watts (alongside her real-life partner Billy Crudup) played Jean Holloway, a successful, married therapist who is leading a secret double life.
"To me it's sort of like a cautionary tale of a woman who has everything, and yet it's not enough," she told ABC News. In 2019, she took on the role of former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson in the Showtime mini series, "The Loudest Voice." Carlson, who went public with harassment claims against her then-boss Roger Ailes, paved the way for the #MeToo movement. "She has made an impact on history and that's something that we'll be looking back at 10 years from now," Watts told Pink Villa in 2019.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Bobby Cannavale has a long list of memorable roles
Bobby Cannavale plays Dean Brannock, Naomi Watts' on-screen husband in "The Watcher." Fresh off his turn as Joe DiMaggio in the controversial Marilyn Monroe biopic, "Blonde," the gifted character actor is adept at comedic and dramatic roles. In 2005, he won an Emmy for playing Vince, Will's boyfriend on "Will & Grace." Cannavale joined Edie Falco's "Nurse Jackie" in the fourth season as Mike Cruz to shake things up at the hospital, receiving two Emmy nods for that role.
His role as Giuseppe Rosetti, a brutal gangster on HBO's "Boardwalk Empire," is a fan-favorite. Speaking to NPR's Fresh Air in 2013, Cannavale explained Giuseppe's "got to do what he's got to do to stay on top. He wants to be remembered and he wants to be feared." In 2018, the New Jersey native took on another shady character. In Amazon's "Homecoming," which stars Julia Roberts, Cannavale plays Colin Belfast, the supervisor of a top secret government facility.
"You know, on the surface it might look like he's just another a**hole for me to play," the actor told Vulture about the role. "I don't really look at roles like that. I'm interested in characters that are desperate — really desperate." His friend Melissa McCarthy convinced him to audition for Hulu's "Nine Perfect Strangers," a character he found "so f**** weird and complicated." McCarthy told InStyle, "Extraordinary actors like Bobby make you fall in love with an unlikeable character before you even know why. And that's magic."
Jennifer Coolidge is finding her sweet spot
On "The Watcher," Jennifer Coolidge plays Karen Calhoun, the realtor who sells the Brannock couple their home. You may remember Coolidge as Stifler's cougar mom in the 2001 comedy "American Pie." "There were so many benefits to doing that movie," the actor quipped to Variety in 2022. "There would be like 200 people I would have never slept with." The same year, Coolidge joined another iconic franchise, playing Reese Witherspoon's confidante Paulette on "Legally Blonde," a role she reprised in the 2003 sequel.
A frequent collaborator with Christopher Guest, she appeared in four of his films, including "Best in Show" and "For Your Consideration," where she displayed her knack for stealing a scene without saying a word. "If someone doesn't speak, the audience will naturally be riveted to that person," Guest told Variety. "Just her looking out at the camera or looking wherever she wants to look. That becomes the magnet."
Coolidge also played Bobbie Morganstern on Matt Leblanc's "Friends” spinoff, "Joey," and she had a recurring role as Sophie on "2 Broke Girls." In 2022, she won an Emmy for her standout performance as Tonya, a grieving socialite on HBO's "The White Lotus." But Coolidge nearly passed on the role of her career, where she finally got to be the star player. "I feel like the coach asked the other actors to let me dribble the ball more. Give the ball to Jennifer once in a while," she explained. "I get to shoot now."
Margo Martindale likes playing 'crazy people'
Margo Martindale plays Maureen, one of the nosy neighbors on the Netflix series. The actor has been playing supporting roles in TV and films for over 30 years. She played Susan Sarandon's fellow nun in 1991's "Dead Man Walking." Her role as Hilary Swank's greedy mother in 2004's "Million Dollar Baby," was a game-changer. "I think [that was] the first time anybody ever gave me something that was mean, so I've become a mean b***h," Martindale told Metro in 2018.
In 2011, those skills paid off for the Texas native, who won her first Emmy as Kentucky drug lord Mags Bennett on "Justified." "I sweeten my voice a lot of the time, but as Mags I just let myself sound however I wanted," the actor admitted to Entertainment Weekly. "I just tapped into my inner insanity." Martindale, who played Claudia on "The Americans," also appeared as Ruth Eastman, a political strategist on "The Good Wife" and "The Good Fight."
As for those who call her a "character actress," it's hard to argue with that when you've won an Emmy for playing "Character Actress Margo Martindale" on "BoJack Horseman." "It means acting," she told Vanity Fair about the label. Martindale joined Amazon's "Sneaky Pete" in Season 2 as Audrey, the matriarch of a family trying desperately to cover up evidence of a murder. "I'm attracted to crazy people," she told Metro. 'I'm attracted to people that are flawed and people that have issues. It's more fun to act."
Richard Kind is a familiar face to sitcom viewers
Richard Kind plays Mitch, another Brannock neighbor on "The Watcher." He is best-known for comedic roles, but he also has plenty of dramatic credits as well. He played Dr. Mark Devanow on the popular sitcom "Mad About You," beginning in 1992. He then joined Michael J. Fox on his hit series "Spin City," playing Paul Lassiter for the show's entire run. He only appeared in a few episodes of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," but he made quite an impression, per Screen Rant.
"When Larry [David] hired people who were known, he always had them play themselves ... with the exception of Ed Asner," Kind explained to Fülle Circle Magazine "He thought that I was too big of a celebrity to play a character." In 2011, the actor shared the screen with Hollywood heavyweights Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte, starring in HBO's acclaimed series "Luck" as a jockey's agent with a stutter. Kind, who told AV Club he loved playing Joey Rathburn, admitted it was also "one of the great challenges that I've ever been given."
Kind, who played three different characters on "Law & Order," also appeared in the second season of "Everything's Gonna Be Okay" as Drea's odd but lovable dad. The Trenton, New Jersey, native said there's one word that sums up his career. "Journeyman," he told Fülle Circle in 2010. "I enjoy working, I'll work on anything. I'll do the good stuff for cheap... and for the bad stuff, they better pay me a lot."
Mia Farrow starred in 13 Woody Allen movies
"The Watcher" will mark Mia Farrow's first acting role in six years, after playing herself on an episode of "Documentary Now!" in 2016. She became an overnight sensation with the 1968 release of the iconic horror film, "Rosemary's Baby." Farrow starred in 13 films with her now ex-husband, embattled director Woody Alllen, making her mark in 1984's "Broadway Danny Rose” and the following year's "Radio Days."
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly in 2008, the nine-time Golden-Globe nominee reminisced about making those two films. "We made them simultaneously, and I love these movies. It was a year of crazy days," she said. Some people believed Farrow was playing a version of herself in the 1990 film "Alice," but she set the record straight about that. The character "was based on a friend of ours who would get acupuncture," she noted. "I had to make myself into that East Side crusty woman." More recently, Farrow appeared as Mona Mitchell on "Third Watch."
The actor's life unraveled during filming for 1986's "Hannah and Her Sisters." That's when nude photos of her adopted daughter Soon-Yi that Allen had taken were discovered, per The Guardian. Allen has long denied any allegations of abuse, per CNN. In the 2021 docuseries "Allen v. Farrow," Farrow said she should have seen it coming. "That's the great regret of my life, that I wasn't perceptive enough. It's my fault," she explained, per People "I brought this guy into my family. There's nothing I can do to take that away."
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Matthew Del Negro is a great role model
You've probably seen Matthew Del Negro, who plays Darren Dunn on "The Watcher," in something. He played recurring roles on "The Sopranos, "The West Wing," and Showtime's "United States of Tara." "Teen Wolf" fans will surely remember him as Rafael. Del Negro played a gay male prostitute named Michael on "Scandal," and he chased bad guys with Reese Witherspoon in the 2015 action comedy, "Hot Pursuit." "We're probably the two worst cops in the history of cinema!" he joked to Glamour.
In 2018, Del Negro played Danny Loomis, a shady political operative on Season 2 of "Goliath." He also starred in the Netflix comedy "Huge in France," as an actor trying to revive his cooling career. The Boston college grad returned to BeanTown in 2021, as he joined the cast of Showtime's crime drama "City on a Hill," which stars Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge. "I'm the sergeant of the gang unit, and there's a lot to do with that this season," Del Negro told the New York Post.
"There are events that have happened in the last year in the real world that feel like we're tackling them a little bit," he continued. Despite all the roles Del Negro has landed, he admits there are many more he didn't, and he offers his advice to other aspiring actors. "Basically, I just keep relearning the lesson my Dad always taught me... that failure is just opportunity in disguise," he shared on his website.
Michael Nouri isn't a flash in the plan
Michael Nouri, who plays Roger Kaplan in "The Watcher," landed his breakout role in the 1983 film, "Flashdance," starring alongside Jennifer Beals. He reportedly beat out his future "Yellowstone" co-star Kevin Costner for the coveted role, per Mental Floss. "It was big," Nouri told The Observer in 2004 about the film. "We can't all have these blockbuster movies. I've had one 'Flashdance' in my career."
He appeared in the 2004 film "The Terminal," which stars Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones, but Nouri is best known for his small-screen roles. He played Dr. Neil Roberts on "The O.C.," and he joined the cast of "All My Children" in 2010 as Caleb Cortlandt. On FX's "Damages," Nouri played Glenn Close's ex-husband. For "NCIS" fans, the actor will look familiar. He played Mossad Director Eli David. On the Paramount+ hit series, "Yellowstone," Nouri plays Bob Schwartz, a billionaire who Kelly Reilly seeks out for money she needs for the ranch.
These days, Nouri, who got his start on Broadway, admits he never knows what's coming next. In an interview with Medium, he said, "The only thing predictable about my career is how unpredictable it is." Nouri also doesn't expect to be booking any blockbuster movie deals anytime soon. "As I get older, and having been in the business for three decades, it's more about gratitude, it's about being grateful for what has come my way," he told The Observer.
Terry Kinney created some unforgettable characters
Terry Kinney, who plays Mia Farrow's brother in the Netflix thriller, is known for mostly smaller and supporting roles in TV and films. He played the guy who lured Tom Cruise into "The Firm" in that 1993 film, which was directed by Sydney Pollack. Speaking to AV Club about the Oscar-winning director, Kinney said, "He was like a coach," noting that Pollack would often take him aside and give him lessons on acting for the camera. "I've never forgotten any of the lessons," he added.
Kinney played recurring roles on "Thirtysomething," "The Mentalist," and "The Good Wife." His most memorable role was playing Tim McManus on "Oz." "It was this very intense prison environment with the darkest, most gruesome storylines ever, but on the set, all we did was laugh a lot," he said. On Showtime's "Billions," Kinney plays Hall, a character he describes as a "little, sick role." He explained that his friends, co-creators Brian Koppelman and David Levien, "make the guy speak in a very specific way and he's frightening and he's mysterious."
You might also remember Kinney from the Netflix series, "Inventing Anna." He played Barry, one of the "old-timer" reporters who helped Vivian break the story about the real Anna Delvey. The actor told A.V. Club he likes the variety of roles he's had the opportunity to play. "I've tried to avoid getting stuck. I try to take roles that are the opposite of the last thing I did as much as I can."
Michael Devine has played a lot of cops
Michael Devine, who plays Christopher on "The Watcher," has made a career out of playing cops on screen. This is because he worked as an NYPD detective for years before he became an actor, per Medium. He played a cop on "Third Watch," "The Americans," and several episodes of "Law & Order." The role of Special Agent James "Tech" Padgett on CBS' "Limitless" is one of his most high-profile parts.
The Emmy-nominated HBO series, "The Undoing," which stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, cast Devine as Detective Paul O'Rourke. The actor admitted he was awe-struck working with the two A-listers. In a 2021 interview with Diply, he said, "It was definitely intimidating from the start, but once you're there, and you're with them you realize that they are both really down to earth people."
As for his favorite acting project, Devine points to the 2017 film "The Post," starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. "Even though I had a small role, I was on set for three weeks, so I would just sit at my desk and I just got to watch these masters at work." As a former law enforcement officer, the actor realized there is one type of cop he doesn't want to play — a bad one, like his role in "The Wolf of Wall Street." "It was a small role but it was grueling because he was corrupt," Devine explained. "I took the role, it was fun, but it was definitely far from who I am."
Henry Hunter Hall has some impressive credits
Henry Hunter Hall was destined to end up in films, as it runs in the family. He played Junior in the 2006 film "Waist Deep," speaking words from a screenplay written by his father, "Daredevil" actor Vondie Curtis-Hall. In 2019, the actor saw the release of three projects. One of them is "Harriet," which stars Cynthia Erivo as Harriet Tubman in the story of her escape from slavery. Despite the fact that his mom, Kasi Lemmons, directed the film, he wasn't a shoo-in for the role of Walter.
"I definitely knew when I read the script that I wanted to play this character ... because it was so many other people in the sphere of who they wanted," he explained to BuzzFeed News. His dad also appears in the movie. He played a student at a Pennsylvania boarding school in Amazon's film "Selah and the Spades." Hunter Hall also played Jermain in the Emmy-winning Netflix mini series, "When They See Us." Ava Duvernay's riveting drama about the case of "The Central Park Five" was well-received.
"The acting and directing are nothing short of outstanding," wrote The Star. The busy actor also plays Cheeks Johnson, one of the main characters on "Hunters," a drama series based on real-life Nazi hunters. In a 2019 interview with The Root, Hunter Hall spoke about working with his family on "Harriet." "I think it's really important when black families can build together and come up with something beautiful," he said.
Luke David Blumm joined the family business
Luke David Blumm started acting at an early age after his father, also an actor, suggested he give the family business a try, and it seems to be working out. In 2019, he made his small-screen debut on an episode of AMC's "The Walking Dead." That same year, he played the newspaper boy in "Watchmen" and he appeared as Eli in "The Sinner." You may also remember him as one of the kids Pete Davidson ended up looking after in 2020's "The King of Staten Island."
In an interview with Fandomize, Blumm said, "Horror movies are my favorite genre," and his wish came true with the 2021 release of "Son," which focuses on a mother who will do anything to protect her child. After watching the audition tapes of 500 other kids, director Ivan Kavanagh knew right away Blumm was the one when they first met face-to-face. "He was truly incredible, so natural, likable, and intelligent beyond his age," Kavanagh told Daily Dead.
As for Blumm, one of his favorite moments from the film probably won't surprise you. "Getting covered in blood was fun," he shared with Fandomize. The actor, who appeared in "Where the Crawdads Sing," as Little Tate, also played Trevor in the 2022 rom-com, "I Want You Back," which stars Charlie Day and Jenny Slate. "He's a slightly troubled kid who tries to cover up his pain by acting a little tougher and a little cooler than he really is," Blumm wrote on his Instagram.