Courtney B. Vance talks about playing Johnnie Cochran in FX’s ‘People v. O.J. Simpson.’ (Courtesy photo)
Actor Courtney B. Vance has achieved longevity on the big and small screens, with a career spanning nearly three decades. Vance is in the spotlight for his role as Johnnie Cochran in the FX series “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J Simpson,” a mini-series detailing the events of 20 years ago when the former football star O.J. Simpson was charged with, and ultimately acquitted of, the murder of his White wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her White friend Ron Goldman.
On October 3, 1995 Vance was in Toronto with “Scandal” star Tony Goldwyn shooting the television film “The Boys Next Door”. The two actors watched the O.J. Simpson verdict together, Vance celebrated Simpson’s acquittal, while Goldwyn “horrified”.
“We had to talk about the experience of Black people” said Vance in an interview with the AFRO, “he doesn’t know my journey”.
The racial divide of the O.J. Simpson trial has reared its ugly face in recent high-profile cases, such as that of Freddie Gray and Mike Brown.
According to Vance, the blame is on both sides of the spectrum, and people of color have to change just as much as Whites.
“We’re not blameless, things are happening in the Black community that don’t need to be happening.”
A reenactment of such a pivotal moment in American history is not to be taken lightly, which caused Vance to reflect on Cochran’s influence and legacy. In addition to Simpson, Cochran defended high profile figures such as Sean Combs, Todd Bridges, Snoop Dogg and Marion Jones among others. Cochran died from a brain tumor in 2005.
“When Johnny spoke, Black people, White people, news media, they all listened” said Vance.
In preparation for his role, Vance didn’t watch film on Cochran – he read.
“I told myself I’m just going to read everyday” said Vance, “I would be able to find and catch his spirits”.
Vance’s book of choice? 1997’s “The Run of His Life: The People versus O.J. Simpson” by Jeffrey Toobin.
Toobin, a legal analyst, wrote about the case for The New Yorker and reported several key developments in the case in 1995.
When asked about his star-studded supporting cast, Vance praised his team, saying “we went there”.
“We got underneath the material, the actors let go and let loose”.
Over the course of Vance’s career, he has made over 50 film and television appearances, getting his start in the theater.
In 1987, Vance won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in the timeless story of “Fences”. Vance has appeared alongside several box office titans such as Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker and his current co-star Cuba Gooding Jr. He is also known for his long running role as the Assistant District Attorney on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” Having done it for so long he is humble enough to know the ups and down of show business.
“There’s times when don’t nobody want you” said Vance, “I’m wonderful regardless if I’m waiting or not”.
The series “The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story” airs every Tuesday on FX at 10 p.m. EST. 4 of the 7 episodes have aired so far.
