Kevin Kline: Playing a Male Prostitute Was Easy

 

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In the sophisticated indie comedy The Extra Man, which recently screened at the Sundance Film Festival, Kevin Kline plays a failed playwright turned high-class escort (an "extra man" for wealthy society ladies). Kline told the New York Daily News that the role was "easy" for him, because he's been a prostitute in real life.

Say what?

"When I was on Broadway, that's pretty much what I did -- entertain [rich people] in exchange for their money," the acclaimed stage and screen actor explains.

We wouldn't exactly call his two-time-Tony-winning Broadway career "prostitution" -- but hey, as long as wife Phoebe Cates is cool with it, Kline can call it what he likes!

The Extra Man, costarring Paul Dano (2007's There Will Be Blood) and Katie Holmes, has received rave reviews at Sundance. As for his new character, Kline joins the ranks of other esteemed actors who have taken on prostitute roles, from Richard Gere in 1980's American Gigolo, to River Phoenix in 1991's My Own Private Idaho,  to Thomas Jane in the HBO series Hung. Then again, Kline's The Extra Man is a comedy, meaning he's also bedfellows (pun intended!) with the likes of Dan Akroyd's "Fred Garvin, Male Prostitute!" on SNL, and Rob Schneider's Deuce Bigelow, Male Gigolo (1999). 

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