Exclusive: Marlon Wayans on playing Aretha Franklin's husband Ted White in Respect
Coming out this week is the feature film RESPECT, based on the life of music icon Aretha Franklin and starring Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson. Following the rise of Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, RESPECT is the remarkable true story of Aretha Franklin’s journey to find her voice. Directed by Liesl Tommy, the film hits theaters on August 13.
Hudson, who was personally hand-picked by Franklin to play her in the film, is joined by a stellar cast of stars including Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy-winner Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin; Marlon Wayans as Ted White; Tony, Grammy and Emmy-winner Audra McDonald as Barbara Franklin; Multiple Grammy winning, and Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominee Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington; Marc Maron as Jerry Wexler; Emmy-nominee Tituss Burgess as Reverend Dr. James Cleveland; Tony-nominee Saycon Sengbloh as Erma Franklin; Tony-nominee Hailey Kilgore as Carolyn Franklin, Tony winner Heather Headley as Clara Ward, Tate Donovan as John Hammond and Skye Dakota Turner as Young Aretha Franklin.
For Marlon Wayans, it’s been a long time since he played a role that’s a departure from the usual comedy films and TV shows he’s done. While he’s best known for his performances in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Mo' Money, Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, the Scary Movie franchise films, White Chicks and many more comedies, the drama films he’s done well in have included Requiem for a Dream opposite Jared Leto and last year’s On the Rocks with Rashida Jones.
BlackFilmandTV.com’s Wilson Morales caught up with Wayans as he spoke about playing Aretha Franklin's husband Ted White.