What The Cast Of Primal Fear Is Doing Today

When William Diehl's 1993 novel about an altar boy accused of murder, "Primal Fear," was turned into a 1996 Paramount Pictures/Richard Gere courtroom drama popcorn flick, no one expected it to top the box office for three straight weeks, become the 24th highest grossing film of that year, and turn into a real life "A Star Is Born." Edward Norton went from being a complete unknown to going straight to the red carpet of the Academy Awards ceremony, thanks to his astounding work in the Gregory Hoblit directed film and that unforgettable twist ending.

Hoblit, a veteran producer and director of TV shows like "Hill Street Blues," "L.A. Law," and "NYPD Blue," tapped into those shows' rich talent pools when rounding out his cast for "Primal Fear." A lot of the actors enlisted into the film's wild ride have since gone on to become familiar faces on screens big and small. It's been 25 years since the release of "Primal Fear," so let's see what this accomplished cast has been up to these days...

In one of the most astounding film debuts of the past quarter century, Edward Norton stole the show in a "dual" role (one Leonardo DiCaprio passed on), as an abused choirboy turned archbishop murderer with Dissociative Identity Disorder (or perhaps not!) in "Primal Fear." Norton's work garnered an Academy Award nomination and skyrocketed him to instant stardom. His next two films were for Woody Allen and Milos Forman, followed by an Oscar-nominated turn in the stunning "American History X." 

That film had notorious behind-the-scenes drama between the actor and director Tony Kaye, leading to Norton gaining a reputation of being difficult to work with. That hasn't slowed him down, dual-ing it up again in the classic "Fight Club," not having it easy being green in "The Incredible Hulk," flying high with another Oscar nom in "Birdman," and becoming a staple in Wes Anderson's stable of actors, including his upcoming "The French Dispatch." He has also directed two features, including 2019's "Motherless Brooklyn."

Although he left us in 2018 due to complications from throat cancer, John Mahoney left behind a body of work that still resonates today. He hit his stride in the late 1980s with special roles in "Moonstruck," "Eight Men Out," and "Say Anything...," then rolled into the '90s with "Barton Fink," "In The Line of Fire," and as the crafty, corrupt state's attorney Shaughnessy in "Primal Fear." 

Mahoney is most beloved as Frasier's father Martin Crane, who appeared in all 263 episodes of "Frasier" along with Kelsey Grammer, Jan Leeves, David Hyde Pierce, and Peri Gilpin. For his work over 11 seasons, he earned two Golden Globe and two Emmy nominations. Mahoney had actually guest starred on the "Frasier" predecessor "Cheers," not as a Crane, but as Sy Flembeck, an ad exec who specializes in jingles who tried to write a theme song for the bar. And yes, there is a scene where Grammer and Mahoney exchange witty banter. You are missed, John.

The seven-time nominated (including for last year's "Nomadland") and twice Academy Award-winning Frances McDormand was tailor made to play the open-eared, -minded and -eyed neuropsychologist Dr. Molly Arrington in "Primal Fear." Her director Gregory Hoblit praised McDormand's reactions to other actors: "She really listens, and all of her reactions are directly in response to what she's hearing or sensing. They aren't memorized or rehearsed, although she can do them and over again." Hoblit had actually cast McDormand early in her career for "Hill Street Blues." 

No director or writer knows her better besides her husband and brother-in-law respectively, Joel and Ethan Coen, who broke her into the industry with their "Blood Simple." They went on to cast her in seven more of their films, including "Raising Arizona" with her Yale School of Drama roommate, Holly Hunter. McDormand will reteam with her husband Joel, and his new writing partner, William Shakespeare, as the Lady opposite Denzel Washington's Lord in "The Tragedy of Macbeth."

Andre Braugher exudes a knowing confidence about himself, with a calm delivery that makes audiences feel at ease whenever he appears on screen. Best known as Detective Frank Pembleton in the 1990s series "Homicide: Life On Street," which co-starred his fellow "Primal Fear" castmate Jon Seda, he most recently lightened up in the loosey-goosey police procedural "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" as the no-nonsense Captain Ray Holt. Braugher told Variety that his foray into comedic work has given him a "a second act," adding, "I feel as though new life has been breathed into my career." 

Nominated for Emmys for both series, he took home an award as a lead actor in the 2006 FX mini-series "Thief." Some of his earlier roles included playing Telly Savalas' sidekick in several "Kojak" TV movies, a soldier in "Glory" alongside Denzel Washington, an escaped slave in Hoblit's "Class of '61" with Laura Linney, and later, a priest pushing for civil rights in high school basketball in the Steve James-directed TV movie "Passing Glory."

Joe Spano is no stranger to law enforcement, having walked the beat as Lt. Henry Goldblume on "Hill Street Blues" (where he first collaborated with director Gregory Hoblit), Captain Abel Stenner in "Primal Fear," Detective Ray Velacek on "Murder One," Detective John Clark Sr. on "NYPD Blue," and currently as FBI Special Agent Tobias C. Fornell on "NCIS." Twice nominated for Emmys, he won one as an Outstanding Guest Actor in the series "Midnight Caller." 

Spano often hangs up his badge and works in theater, frequently for companies and troupes he's founded, and during the pandemic, has stayed creative starring in Zoom plays. He has also dabbled in voice acting, lending his pipes to "Batman Beyond" and, from 1977 to 1983, as Chuck E. Cheese's pizza chef Pasqually, one of the few "human" members of the Pizza Time Theatre. Guess we can add "dinner theater" to his resume.

Not many actors can say they got their fingers split apart by a split-personality murderer (like he did by Edward Norton in "Primal Fear"), or played Drew Carey's father in his eponymous show, or played General Slocum in "Spider-Man," or played the President in two Michael Bay flicks ("The Rock" and "Armageddon") or played the judge who presided over Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer's trial for not being good Samaritans on the "Seinfeld" finale, but Stanley Anderson can. 

He took to the screen, both small and large, later in life, even teaming with director Hoblit on an episode of "NYPD Blue," but had a long and well regarded stage career up until then. He spent 20 years at Washington D.C.'s Arena Stage, as one of the "greatest" actors that "no one round the world" knew. In 2018, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and sadly died six weeks later.

Alex isn't the most exemplary choir boy in "Primal Fear," but the man who played him, Jon Seda, is an outstanding actor with a steady resume, ever since the boxer made his acting debut as one in 1992's "Gladiator." He continued to play tough guys on both sides of the law, mainly good guys, including a 46-episode stay on "Homicide: Life on the Street" (working alongside his pushy fellow "Primal Fear" castmate Andre Braugher) and three segments on HBO's "Oz." He had his recurring role on "Chicago Fire" spun off onto "Chicago P.D.," and spun off again onto the short-lived "Chicago Justice." 

Using his pugilist background, he treats every script like it's a boxing ring, hoping to deliver a "knockout" every time. He has done so on HBO's "Treme" and "The Pacific," while also playing Jennifer Lopez's husband in "Selena." Look for Seda to next come out swinging in NBC's upcoming sci-fi drama "La Brea."

Being an actor is one thing, but having a Bachelor of Arts and a PhD from Harvard in German Literature, a Fulbright scholarship under his belt, and working as a translator are just several other facets to the many talents of Kenneth Tigar. The Jewish actor has used his Germanic studies to his advantage, having played numerous characters like the "German Old Man" who defied Loki in 2012's "The Avengers," Henrich Himmler in "The Man in the High Castle," and most recently as an elderly guard at Auschwitz, Heinz Richter, being pursued in modern times in "Hunters." 

If you've watched a TV drama or sitcom anytime from the 1970s until today, you've probably seen Tigar in meaty supporting roles in shows ranging from "Wonder Woman" to "Cheers" to "Dallas," "Dynasty," "Baywatch," "Beverly Hills 90210," "Law & Order," "The Good Wife" and "House of Cards," to name (more than) a few. The same is true in film, with his LAPD bomb squad leader in "Lethal Weapon 2" and "3" being one of his more notable characters. And yes, he not only popped up on an episode of "Hill Street Blues," but one which also guest starred Alfre Woodard!