Don Cheadle Confronts His Most Divisive Roles and Hollywood Missteps
Don Cheadle opens up about his infamous Ocean’s Eleven accent and the controversy surrounding Crash, sharing candid thoughts on the challenges and impact of his most debated films.
It ’s tough to shake off a bad performance, especially when it’s so memorable it overshadows everything else an actor has done. For many, Don Cheadle’s name instantly brings to mind his puzzling attempt at a Cockney accent in Ocean’s Eleven —a choice so bewildering and distracting that it’s hard to remember anything else he’s accomplished. That single role, with its odd “Basher Tarr” persona and forced British slang, has become a mental roadblock for some viewers.
But Cheadle’s career is far more than one questionable accent. He’s built an impressive resume, from early TV appearances on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to standout roles in films like Iron Man 2 and Hotel Rwanda. Along the way, he’s picked up Golden Globes, Grammys, Emmys, and even an Oscar nomination. Judging him solely on that one Londoner role hardly seems fair, considering the range and depth he’s shown elsewhere.
From Early Breaks to Hollywood Recognition
Cheadle’s rise began in the 1990s, first catching attention alongside Denzel Washington in Devil in a Blue Dress (1995), then in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights two years later. He also started a long-running collaboration with Steven Soderbergh, appearing in Out of Sight with George Clooney. After winning a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Sammy Davis Jr. in The Rat Pack, Cheadle reunited with Soderbergh for the gritty thriller Traffic in 2000. The following year brought Ocean’s Eleven and the cyber-thriller Swordfish.
In 2005, Cheadle earned an Oscar nomination for his powerful lead in Hotel Rwanda, a film centered on the 1994 genocide. That same year, he starred in and co-produced Crash, a crime drama that would go on to win several Academy Awards, including Best Picture for director Paul Haggis.
The Crash Controversy and Cheadle’s Perspective
Crash, inspired by a real-life carjacking Haggis experienced, has faced criticism for its portrayal of race relations in Los Angeles. The film’s approach has been called out for oversimplifying complex issues. Reflecting on the movie, Cheadle told Squaremile,
“If you’re looking to a movie to speak in a way that is all-encompassing about what that’s supposed to be… The movie was an allegory. The movie is a fable.”
He continued,
“I don’t think the movie’s a perfect movie, I have issues with the movie, but I do think that, on balance, it was a very entertaining movie, but if it starts that conversation and gets people talking about that (race relations), even if it gets them saying, ‘This shit’s bullshit,’ I’m like, ‘Cool.’”
The production itself was anything but smooth. Both Heath Ledger and John Cusack dropped out at the last minute, slashing the film’s international appeal and forcing a tighter budget. Haggis filled the financial gap by taking out three mortgages on his home, while the remaining cast agreed to pay cuts. The director even suffered a heart attack during filming.
Resilience and New Chapters
Despite the bumps, Cheadle’s career continued to thrive. He found new success in the comedy- drama series House of Lies and later as the ‘Iron Patriot’ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now, he’s set to reprise his role as Basher Tarr in the upcoming Ocean’s 14 (though fans might want to double-check the release date), and he’s also gearing up for another Marvel project, the long-awaited Armor Wars.