Dopesick actor Michael Keaton discussed massive inequity after winning for Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series.
Michael Keaton started off humorous after running back from the restroom. If you’ve ever been to the Barker Hanger for an awards show, the restrooms are set up in outside trailers. It’s not ideal but it is what it is. Anyway, Keaton got political in his speech but he was breaking down by the end. If you weren’t crying, you don’t have a heart.
The following is an excerpt of the hardest-hitting parts of Michael Keaton’s speech:
I have a job where I can be part of a production like Dopesick or Worth — thank you — or whatever that actually can spawn thought, conversation, actual change. Who gets to have that job? Seriously, how fortunate am I that good can come from something that I do just because I wanted to become an actor?
There’s massive inequity in the world. In Dopesick, when you talk about addiction, the way to heal the problem is to accept that you have a problem. Not our country, the entire world. Economically, racially, socially, financially, there’s massive inequity in the world. There just is. There’s fair, and there’s unfair. There’s not a lot of room in between.
I can feel right now the rolling thunder of eye rolling coming across, people saying to me things like, “Shut up and dribble. Shut up and act.”
The acting, I’ll quit. The shutting up, not so much. I am blessed to be able to do something that might improve someone’s life. I’m the most fortunate person. I swear to G-d I’m so grateful for things like this. This is nice. I will tell you we have a fellow actor in Zelenskyy, who deserves some credit tonight for fighting the fight. I’ve sent out my preemptive thanks to everyone involved in this, especially Marni.
But mostly, given the subject matter, this is for my nephew Michael and my sister Pam. I lost Michael — I lost my nephew Michael to drugs, and it hurts. This is for my sister Pam. Thanks.
Dopesick is inspired by the New York Times bestselling book by Beth Macy. The eight-episode limited series stars Michael Keaton, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg, Will Poulter, John Hoogenakker, with Kaitlyn Dever and Rosario Dawson. Guest stars include Phillipa Soo and Jake McDorman.
Dopesick is written by Emmy winner, Danny Strong and directed by Oscar winner, Barry Levinson. Executive producers for Dopesick include Strong, John Goldwyn, Keaton, Levinson, Warren Littlefield, Beth Macy and Karen Rosenfelt.
All episodes of Dopesick are streaming on Hulu.
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