Kevin Spacey: Power, Controversy, Betrayal, Truth & Love in Film and Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #432

Kevin Spacey walks Lex Fridman through the craft behind his most iconic performances, including John Doe in 'Se7en,' Lester Burnham in 'American Beauty,' and Frank Underwood in 'House of Cards,' emphasizing his philosophy of serving the writing and 'doing less.' He shares behind-the-scenes stories about directors David Fincher, Sam Mendes, and Mike Nichols, and mentors like Jack Lemmon. The conversation turns serious as Spacey addresses the 2017 allegations, his cancellation, what he says he did and did not do, and his accountability for crossing boundaries. He also opens up about his fear of death, coming out as gay, and his painful relationship with his white-supremacist father. He closes hoping for forgiveness, redemption, and a return to work.

• Spacey reveals he originally did NOT get the John Doe role in 'Se7en'; he was cast last-minute on December 23rd after David Fincher fired the first actor, flying out two days later to start shooting.
  00:03:08
• Spacey insisted on having no billing in 'Se7en' so audiences wouldn't realize he played the serial killer; New Line Cinema initially refused but Fincher backed the idea, compromising on first end-credit.
  00:05:48
• In 'Glengarry Glen Ross,' Al Pacino improvised vicious off-script insults during a take, secretly arranging for the sound not to record his lines, just to get a genuine reaction from Spacey for his closeup.
  00:38:39
• On 'American Beauty,' first-time director Sam Mendes reshot the entire first two days, telling Steven Spielberg's studio he hated everything but the script and changing the burger joint into a drive-through.
  01:03:32
• Spacey identifies November 1st, 2017 and that Thanksgiving as his lowest point and addresses the allegations directly, stating he was acquitted, never found guilty or liable, and never did anything sexual with an underage person.
  01:13:17
• Spacey takes accountability: 'everybody has a Kevin Spacey story' tells him 'I hit on a lot of guys'; he admits he crossed boundaries and did things that were wrong but disputes other specific accusations.
  01:15:21
• Spacey reveals his father became a white supremacist who kept a Nazi flag and Hitler pictures, and would lecture him for hours; he was afraid to bring his Jewish best friend home.
  02:08:35
• Spacey says he has privately spoken to and made amends with many people he hurt, and some told him 'I think I can forgive you now.'
  01:24:59

• Spacey and Fincher both shaved their heads for the 'Se7en' role after Fincher said, 'If you shave your head, I'll shave mine.'
  00:06:20
• David Fincher averages 25 to 65 takes per scene and uses a stopwatch, sometimes demanding a full minute be cut from a scene's runtime.
  00:16:45
• Spacey first met Jack Lemmon at age 13 in 1974 at a 'How to Audition' workshop, where Lemmon told him he was meant to be an actor.
  00:43:21
• For 'American Beauty,' Mendes had Spacey rewatch 'The Apartment' and used three different wigs, costumes, and makeup styles to make Lester gradually 'evolve' rather than visibly change.
  00:50:46
• The 'American Beauty' narration in the final film was recorded once on a cheap cassette recorder in a hallway during lunch because Mendes loved how innocent and unrehearsed it sounded.
  01:06:16
• 'American Beauty' originally opened and closed with a trial (Ricky accused of Lester's murder) and dream-flying sequences, all of which were cut; Spacey spent five days hung by wires filming the flying scenes.
  01:04:37
• Frank Underwood's signature 'direct address' to camera came from Spacey playing 'Richard III' on stage; he notes Shakespeare, not 'Ferris Bueller,' invented direct address.
  01:31:57
• After watching Spacey perform 'The Iceman Cometh,' President Bill Clinton quipped to a 2,000-person audience that Spacey gave 'us all way too much to think about.'
  01:42:38
• Spacey met with whip Kevin McCarthy to research 'House of Cards,' but McCarthy only agreed after being told Spacey was playing a Democrat, not a Republican.
  01:42:08
• Spacey confirms the belief that Jack Nicholson improvised 'Here's Johnny!' in 'The Shining.'
  01:49:57

Books, products and media the guest or host genuinely endorsed here — with the buy link.

Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.