Harvey Keitel gave an inspired performance as the devious pimp in "Taxi Driver," but the actor almost had a different part entirely. Keitel was originally cast in a larger role but insisted on playing the pimp. His dedication motivated director Martin Scorsese and screenwriter Paul Schrader to expand the part.
Keitel was initially cast as a campaign worker — the part that eventually went to Albert Brooks. It was a much more prominent character than the pimp when Keitel turned it down. In fact, the pimp originally had only five lines, Variety reported in 2019. But the actor wasn't as intrigued by politics as he was by sex work. "It's the whole idea of a man selling a woman, what is that?" Keitel explained to Fresh Air. "To me, it's such a horrible thing. I wanted to learn about that, I wanted to know about that ... What is their emotional makeup, their psychological makeup?...
Keitel was initially cast as a campaign worker — the part that eventually went to Albert Brooks. It was a much more prominent character than the pimp when Keitel turned it down. In fact, the pimp originally had only five lines, Variety reported in 2019. But the actor wasn't as intrigued by politics as he was by sex work. "It's the whole idea of a man selling a woman, what is that?" Keitel explained to Fresh Air. "To me, it's such a horrible thing. I wanted to learn about that, I wanted to know about that ... What is their emotional makeup, their psychological makeup?...
- 9/22/2022
- by Shae Sennett
- Slash Film
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