HOUSE OF LIES – SEASON 4

CATCHING UP WITH CREATOR/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

MATTHEW CARNAHAN & THE WRITER’S ROOM

 

Q: On the heels of his imprisonment, how is Marty recovering from his fall from grace and Jeannie's double-cross last season?

In Season 4, Marty (Don Cheadle, series star and executive producer) has come down from the mountain, where we last saw him, resolved to be bigger than ever. He’s doubling down. Any “enlightenment” he may have reached last season as the wreckage of his actions crumbled around him now stands in the shadows of his grandiosity. The desire to grow bigger than ever before, to go global and drive a truckload of explosives through the management consulting world, has set Marty into hyperdrive. It’s Marty at his most Marty: astute, guileful, artfully deceptive, and full-on Machiavellian in his take-no-prisoners approach to wealth-building on the backs of others.

That desire to be huge naturally forces Marty into tangled and emotionally-complex negotiations with Jeannie (Kristen Bell). Her shrewd actions last season brought Kaan & Associates under the Department of Justice’s scrutiny and ultimately landed Marty in handcuffs, charged with collusion for insider trading. We start Season 4 with Marty and Jeannie working together again. Everything seems back to a new “normal,” as if there is no bad blood between them. As if Marty hadn’t fallen into bed with Jeannie for the first time and confessed his love for her hours before discovering in the most publicly shameful way she betrayed him on the business front. Gradually, we learn that the well is still poisoned. In fact, during the many months between then and now, Marty copped a plea deal with the Feds that has allowed him a chance to return to consulting work in exchange for a stint in Federal prison. 

This way forward has complicated everything meaningful in Marty’s life. It’s severed business relationships and cut deep into his bottom line. The thick air of distrust surrounding Jeannie in the fallout also threatens what little business they’ve managed to secure. And perhaps the most difficult compromise for Marty is it forced him to be away from his son, Roscoe (Donis Leonard Jr.), during a critical transition in his mid-teens. In Marty’s absence, Roscoe developed a life of his own away from home and became a bit of a wily entrepreneur like his father.  

 

Q: What is happening at Kaan & Associates?

Kaan & Associates (K&A) is dying. Many of Marty’s clients jumped ship in the wake of his arrest and imprisonment, leaving him and the Pod scraping the bottom of the barrel to keep the lights on. This means the shop is taking on second-tier clients it never would have given the time of day to before in lieu of bigger engagements. Marty’s even had to rent out a big section of his downtown office space to a start-up company, "Yo, Where's the Party?" App -- two very different species attempting to coexist in the same ecosystem -- much to his displeasure. But Marty has his sights set on a very big fish in the beginning of Season 4 who promises a payday that could set everything back and breathe new life to K&A’s fortunes.

 

Q: Jeannie is pregnant! Will we learn who the father is? How will her pregnancy affect her life with Marty and her work at Kaan & Associates?

Jeannie’s super pregnant, for sure. We will learn who the father is this season in a way that hopefully turns the well-worn “Who’s the Daddy?” trope on its head. For one, we come into Season 4 well into Jeannie’s pregnancy. There’s a lot of fun to be had with leaning into some of the gross and uncomfortable moments women experience during pregnancy -- a particular treat with Kristen Bell’s acerbic wit and comedic timing. There’s also a unique opportunity to explore questions that powerful women in the corporate world are forced to ask. Seldom does one quiz a top male executive on how he plans to balance work and family. Is it fair that businesswomen are still held to a different standard? What remains of Jeannie’s hard-charging approach to life throughout the pregnancy, and how the pregnancy itself impacts her relationship with Marty, we want audiences to tune in to discover.    

 

Q: Tell us about guest stars Demetri Martin, Valorie Curry, Mary McCormack and Alicia Witt. How will their characters affect the Pod this season? 

Demetri Martin joins HOUSE OF LIES this season as maverick inventor and electric car scion, Ellis Hightower. He’s a man-boy genius with a messiah complex. If Marty can close business with Ellis, it will not only rake in millions for K&A, but also give Marty’s shop the legitimacy it so desperately needs to get back on top. Alicia Witt plays a brilliant Earth-mother engineer. Valorie Curry plays a young and edgy code writer for the app company housed in K&A’s workspace. She strikes up a new business venture and a complicated friendship with Doug (Josh Lawson) and Clyde (Ben Schwartz). Mary McCormack plays activist investor Denna Altshuler, who operates a voracious billion-dollar hedge fund.    

 

Q: Ellis Hightower seems like Marty's saving grace. What will he contribute to Marty's bottom line?

In the world of corporate high stakes, nothing is as it appears. Certainly, Marty is betting on Ellis Hightower’s Gage Motors to save K&A from bankruptcy. However, shepherding a company on the verge of disruptive innovation in the automotive industry to bigger profits, headed up by a megalomaniac drunk off his own press, has its challenges.

 

Q: Younger brother Malcolm the activist is back to aggravate Marty. How will his return alter the fabric of the Kaan household? How is their family unit unique to today's television landscape?

It’s a thrill to have Larenz Tate returning in his role as Marty’s younger brother, Malcolm Kaan. Malcolm has always been sort of a mirror to Marty. While he ostensibly shuns Marty’s worship of material success, Malcolm relishes in some aspects of it whenever convenient and, in his own subversive way, is every bit the opportunist. It’s always a little bit unclear how much of Malcolm’s activist rap he actually believes and how much he’s using simply to achieve some secret agenda. It’s that particular shade of gray that adds another interesting layer to Marty’s family life. This season, Malcolm resurfaces on the cable news circuit in the wake of Marty’s imprisonment, pimping out a book he wrote touching on the subject.

While the tastes of television audiences are constantly evolving, there’s still a dearth of complex, nuanced portrayals of black multi-generational families on television. Absent especially are portrayals of black men at the heart of a show allowed to be themselves without race or class as a constant lodestar. Sometimes, raising a teenager and co-parenting with a grandparent looks the same in anyone’s family. That said, in the deeply polarized society we live in, even when race isn’t an issue, it’s an issue. To shy away from the truth of that would be akin to robbing our audience of an opportunity to find emotional truth in our stories, wherever we may find it. 

 

Q: Any hints you can give viewers about what's to come this season?

The Marty Kaan many know and love is back, more ruthless than ever, pulling off some of his most elaborate business heists yet. Jeannie is having a baby! Clyde explores love outside his comfort zone. Doug’s relationship with Sarah (guest star Jenny Slate) takes an even more unusual turn. Roscoe becomes king of his school in a move ripped right out of his father’s playbook. Malcolm returns to Los Angeles, further aggravating tensions at home for Marty.  

 

 

EPISODE SYNOPSES

 

At the end of the day, reality wins” – Episode #401

 

Written by: Matthew Carnahan

Directed by: Matthew Carnahan

Guest stars: Valorie Curry, Alice Hunter, David Lengel, Demetri Martin, Rod McLachlan

 In the season 4 opener, Marty (DON CHEADLE) is back with a vengeance - ready to grow Kaan & Associates and conquer the consulting world.  Revelations of what has occurred since last season begin to explain the ‘new normal’ at K&A.  Marty lays down the law to a pregnant Jeannie (KRISTEN BELL) on her future with the company, and the Pod leaves one client in pursuit of a much bigger payday. 

 

I’m a motherfucking scorpion, that’s why” – Episode #402

 

Written by: David Walpert 

Directed by: Daisy von Scherler Mayer 

Guest stars: Jon Bass, Ryan Gaul, Brian Howe, Demetri Martin, Dawn Olivieri, Jenny Slate, Travis Wester

Marty (DON CHEADLE) cunningly proves his business savvy when he meets electric car mogul, Ellis Hightower (DEMETRI MARTIN). In desperate pursuit of a new client, Jeannie (KRISTEN BELL) orchestrates a chance encounter that appears to go terribly awry.  Marty accuses Jeannie of being a dishonest person, prompting her to reveal a difficult truth.

 

 

“Entropy is contagious” – Episode #403

 

Written by: Matthew Carnahan

Directed by: Daisy von Scherler Mayer

Guest stars: Valorie Curry, Alice Hunter, Meghan McCain, Mary McCormack, Jenny Slate, Larenz Tate

Marty (DON CHEADLE) and Jeannie (KRISTEN BELL) pitch opposing strategies to a Seattle-based skin care company. Doug (JOSH LAWSON), fed up with Sarah’s (JENNY SLATE) antics, passive-aggressively puts his foot down. Clyde (BEN SCHWARTZ) begins discussing a business idea with an unlikely partner. 

 

"We can always just overwhelm the vagus nerve with another sensation" – Episode #404

 

Written by: David Walpert 

Directed by: Victor Nelli, Jr. 

Guest stars: Valorie Curry, Brian Howe, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Demetri Martin, Alicia Witt

When the Gage presentation falls apart, Marty (DON CHEADLE) comes up with a last-ditch plan that includes orchestrating a move that a volatile Ellis (DEMETRI MARTIN) doesn’t want.  Jeannie (KRISTEN BELL) has a less-than-encouraging meeting with a headhunter regarding her prospects in the job market. Doug (JOSH LAWSON) petitions to join Clyde (BEN SCHWARTZ) and Kelsey’s (VALORIE CURRY) new business venture.

 

“The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule” – Episode #405

 

Written by: Wesley S. Nickerson III 

Directed by: Don Cheadle 

Guest stars: Ray Baker, Valorie Curry, Demetri Martin, Mary McCormack, Alicia Witt

 When the partnership between Ellis (DEMETRI MARTIN) and Maya (ALICIA WITT) reaches a boiling point, Marty (DON CHEADLE) devises a plan that Jeannie (KRISTEN BELL) opposes. Clyde (BEN SCHWARTZ) develops feelings for Kelsey (VALORIE CURRY) as they seek investors for their start-up.

 

“Trust me, I’m getting plenty of erections” – Episode #406

 

Written by: Jessika Borsiczky 

Directed by: John Dahl 

Guest stars: Valorie Curry, Alice Hunter, Artemis Pebdani, Herbert Russell, Larenz Tate

 When the new partnership with Ellis (DEMETRI MARTIN) reaches a boiling point, Marty (DON CHEADLE) and the Pod hatch a new plan with Gage Motors, intent on hitting an even bigger payday. Jeannie (KRISTEN BELL) seriously considers an attractive job offer.  Roscoe (DONIS LEONARD JR.) cuts school to party with his new friends.

 

BIOS

 

DON CHEADLE

Marty Kaan / Executive Producer

 

DON CHEADLE currently stars, executive produces and occasionally directs the acclaimed SHOWTIME comedy series House of Lies, which has earned multiple nominations for the series and Cheadle himself, including three Emmy Nominations, a Golden Globe® Award, and two Golden Globe® nominations and SAG Award nomination.

2014 was a busy year for Cheadle. He directed his first feature, Miles Ahead, which he also co-wrote and produced. He also stars in the film, based on the life of legendary jazz artist, Miles Davis, along with Ewan McGregor. Cheadle also produced the feature St. Vincent, which stars Bill Murray and Naomi Watts, and recently wrapped filming Avengers: Age of Ultron, reprising his role as ‘Colonel James Rhodes’ from the 2010 and 2013 Marvel mega-box-office-hit films Iron Man 2 and 3.

Cheadle is well known for his passionate performances on stage and screen, stemming from his breakout performance opposite Denzel Washington in Devil in A Blue Dress, where he was named Best Supporting Actor by the Los Angeles Film Critics. In 2012, Cheadle garnered critical acclaim for his role in Robert Zemeckis’ Flight.  In 2011, Cheadle produced and starred in The Guard, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, and in 2008, he starred opposite Guy Pearce in Traitor, an international thriller which he also produced. Cheadle was honored by both the CineVegas Film Festival and the Los Angeles Film Festival and in 2007, receiving the ShoWest Male Star of the Year Award.

Additional film credits include Talk To Me; the 2006 Oscar®-winning Best Picture, Crash, which Cheadle also produced; Hotel Rwanda, for which his performance garnered Academy Award®, Golden Globe®, Broadcast Film Critics Award and Screen Actors Guild® Award nominations for Best Actor; Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen, directed by Steven Soderbergh; Mike Binder’s Reign Over Me with Adam Sandler; the Academy Award® winning film Traffic and Out Of Sight, both also directed by Soderbergh; Paul Thomas Anderson’s critically acclaimed Boogie Nights; Bulworth, Swordfish, Mission To Mars, John Singleton’s Rosewood, for which Cheadle earned an NAACP Image Award nomination; Family Man, directed by Brett Ratner and starring Nicolas Cage; Colors, Hamburger Hill, and the independent features Manic and Things Behind The Sun.

For his work on television, Cheadle received a Golden Globe® Award and an Emmy® nomination for his remarkable portrayal of Sammy Davis Jr. in HBO’s The Rat Pack. He received an Emmy® nomination for his starring role in HBO’s adaptation of the critically-acclaimed, best-selling novel A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines. He also starred in Rebound: The Legend Of Earl ‘The Goat’ Manigault, directed by Eriq La Salle. Cheadle is also well-known for his two-year stint in the role of “District Attorney John Littleton” on David E. Kelley’s critically-acclaimed series Picket Fences, and an Emmy® nominated guest-starring role on ER and a series regular role on The Golden Palace. He most recently participated in the multi-part SHOWTIME series Years of Living Dangerously which tells the story of our time: climate change and the impact it is having on people right now around the world. In addition to his many acting honors, Cheadle was nominated for a Grammy® Award in 2004 for ‘Best Spoken Word Album’ for his narration / dramatization of the Walter Mosley novel Fear Itself.

Cheadle’s philanthropic work includes serving as a U.N. Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme. He also produced the documentary film, Darfur Now, an examination of the genocide in Sudan’s western region of Darfur and, in 2007, he and George Clooney were recognized for their work for Darfur. The pair shared a Peace Summit Award at the 8th Annual World Summit of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates in Rome.

 

 

KRISTEN BELL

Jeannie van der Hooven


KRISTEN BELL starred as ‘Anna’ in the blockbuster Disney animated feature, Frozen, the fifth highest-grossing film in box office history. She also recently reprised the title role in the Warner Bros.’ hit film Veronica Mars. She starred in and co-produced the comedy Hit & Run, written and directed by Dax Shepard. She played the lead role in the independent film The Lifeguard, which premiered to critical praise at the Sundance Film Festival. Her other film credits include: Movie 43, Some Girls, Writers, Big Miracle, You Again, Burlesque, When in Rome, Couples Retreat, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Pulse, Serious Moonlight and David Mamet’s Spartan. Bell’s television credits include Veronica Mars, Parks and Recreation, Unsupervised, Deadwood, Heroes and Party Down. Her Broadway credits include Tom Sawyer and The Crucible, opposite Liam Neeson and Laura Linney. Her off-Broadway credits include Reefer Madness and A Little Night Music, both at Lincoln Center in New York and Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

 

BEN SCHWARTZ

Clyde Oberholt

BEN SCHWARTZ is an Emmy® Award winning writer, actor and comedian. His feature film credits include the upcoming Robert Zemeckis film The Walk; the Warner Bros. film This is Where I Leave You with Jason Bateman and Tina Fey; Dreamworks Animation's Turbo; Runner, Runner with Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck; and Peep World with Rainn Wilson, Michael C. Hall and Sarah Silverman. On television, Schwartz guest stars as “Jean-Ralphio” on NBC’s Parks And Recreation and in 2010, played series regular “Bill Hoyt” on J.J. Abrams’ one-hour NBC spy drama Undercovers. In the animated world, Schwartz voices the lead role of Randy Cunningham on Disney XD's Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja. He was nominated for two Emmy® Awards and won the 2009 Emmy® for ‘Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Special’ for co-authoring Hugh Jackman’s opening number for the 81st Academy Awards®. Most recently, Schwartz sold an Untitled Comedy to Good Universe with Adam Mckay directing and Seth Rogen set to star.  Schwartz has written two features for Imagine Entertainment and Universal and was hired by Paramount to re-make the 1991 classic comedy Soapdish with producers Rob Reiner and Alan Greisman. In 2011, the script appeared on Los Angeles' illustrious Black List. He has co-authored three humor books through Harper Collins: Grandma’s Dead: Breaking Bad News With Baby Animals, Why Is Daddy In A Dress?: Asking Awkward Questions With Baby Animals, and Maybe Your Leg Will Grow Back!: Looking On The Bright Side With Baby Animals. For the past decade, Schwartz has written, directed and acted in a series of short films. He had his own segment on Funny Or Die Presents called Terrible Decisions With Ben Schwartz and has appeared in multiple CollegeHumor.com sketches, including the popular web series Jake And Amir.  Schwartz is an alumnus of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and continues to perform there regularly. For more info, visit his website http://RejectedJokes.com/.

 

 

JOSH LAWSON

Doug Guggenheim

A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, JOSH LAWSON built an impressive career in Australia before moving to the United States. His starring roles in a multitude of Australian television programs include Sea Patrol, Chandon Pictures, Wilfred, All Saints, Home And Away, Underbelly, The Librarians and the critically acclaimed, hit comedy improv series Thank God You’re Here.  He made his directorial debut with his short film After The Credits, which he also wrote. The film won ‘Best Comedy’ at the L.A. Shorts Festival and was nominated for an Australian Writers Guild Award. Lawson is currently developing a new comedy series, as well as a play for the acclaimed Belvoir Theatre in Sydney. Lawson was part of the critically acclaimed improv comedy troupe “160 Characters”, and toured around the world in various festivals with the company. He wrote award-winning plays, including ShakespearealismThe 11 O’Clock and Work In Progress, and also wrote for the multi-award-winning Australian sitcom Stupid, Stupid Man. Lawson’s recent Australia work includes the lead and title role in independent feature Any Questions for Ben?; the television series Agony Uncles; and the upcoming film The Wedding Party, which earned him a ‘Best Actor’ award at the Los Angeles Movie Awards, and ‘Best Actor’ at the New York City International Film Festival. Stateside, Lawson appeared last year in The Campaign for Jay Roach; starred in the ABC comedy Romantically Challenged and the feature film Freeloaders. He led the soon-to-be-released films Crave and Growing Up and Other Lies. He starred in the film Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues for Adam McCay. Most recently, Lawson wrote, directed and starred in The Little Death, which sold to Magnolia for domestic distribution out of the Toronto Film Festival.

 

 

DAWN OLIVIERI

Monica Talbot

DAWN OLIVIERI could be described as honest and sincere, stunningly beautiful and an actress with undeniable raw talent. Throughout 2009 and 2010, Olivieri starred in the farewell season of the award-winning NBC series Heroes, which gave her national and international recognition. She next appeared on the hit series True Blood in the summer of 2010 and went on to play a recurring role in the hit CW series The Vampire Diaries, playing the new love interest of Ian Somerhalder’s character “Damon Salvatore.” Additional television credits include guest roles on How I Met Your MotherCold Case, Entourage, Las VegasKnight Rider, Stargate: Atlantis, Trust Me and My Boys. On the film front, Olivieri was seen in Plush, directed by Catherine Hardwicke and starring opposite Emily Browning and Cam Gigandet. Olivieri’s independent film Missionary, where she plays a single mother who gets romantically involved with a Mormon missionary, Mitch Ryan, recently premiered this past October. She also starred in the upcoming independent films Supremacy, A Change Of Heart, and To Whom It May Concern, both slated for release in 2015. In her spare time, Olivieri stays true to her core, traveling and exploring the world, and is active in various charities that support green living, as well as charities that encourage peace and social justice in communities around the world.

 

DONIS LEONARD JR.

Roscoe Kaan

DONIS LEONARD JR. was born in Detroit, Michigan, and came to Los Angeles as an infant.  By the time he was four, he knew he could do what he saw kids doing on television.  Members of his family have been involved with dance and theatre so he grew up around the Arts and he has such an outgoing personality, he was bound to succeed.  Leonard Jr. got his first break when he was cast as the lead in short film, His Good Will with James Avery and Ashley Jones.  This project was directed by Cayman Grant and went on to win several Festival awards.  Since he has grown into a teenager over the HOUSE OF LIES hiatus, we have seen his “teen angst” side by dressing more “edgy “ and this season we will see another side of his character dealing not only with peer pressure but problems that today’s parents have to deal with once their kids enter high school.  We will also see how these “teen issues” are magnified when they are also dealing with “broken homes” and single parenting.  Leonard Jr. has enjoyed major guest roles on Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse and Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush, along with maintaining his basketball skills, dancing skills, and love of cooking during his first year in high school. Recently, he was thrilled to participate in the Habitat for Humanity project HabitatLA and is excited to be a presenter at the NAACP Theatre Awards.

 

 

GLYNN TURMAN

Jeremiah Kaan

GLYNN TURMAN, Emmy® Award winning actor, started his career at the tender age of 12 in the landmark Broadway production of A Raisin In The Sun with Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee. He still feels at home on the boards and as recently as the fall of 2013 picked up his second coveted LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award. A few of his many film credits include Burlesque, Takers, Sahara, Kings Of The Evening, Men Of Honor, Gremlins, and the cult classic Cooley High. Turman was seen in the J. J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg film Super 8, and in John Dies In The End. In 2008, Turman scored his first Emmy® win as ‘Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series’ for In Treatment. Other television series and roles include A Different World, Resurrection Blvd., The Wire, The Defenders, Scrubs, Southland, CSI, The Bernie Mac Show, Law And Order and Criminal Minds. He’s won three NAACP Image Awards, including a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award for Theatre’; the 2010 Pan-African Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award a Los Angeles Critics Award nomination, a Dramalogue Award and multiple NAACP Image Award nominations. Turman is currently working on his autobiography Movin’ Man.

 

 

GUEST STARS

 

VALORIE CURRY

Kelsey

 

 VALORIE CURRY was born and raised in Southern California.  She grew up in the theatre, and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts from California State University, Fullerton.  During her college years, Curry made her first onscreen appearance as a recurring guest star on the Warner Bros. network show Veronica Mars.  After earning her degree, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting full time and soon after married her college sweetheart.  Shortly thereafter, she booked the role of Charlotte in her first feature film, Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2.   Since then, she has made guest appearances on television, including CSI: NY and Psych.  Curry has also worked in the exciting new arena of motion capture acting, and recently starred as the title role of "Kara" in Quantic Dream's recently released short film/tech demo for the PS3.  She is a founding member of Los Angeles' Coeurage Theatre Company, and recently appeared in such productions as Double Falsehood and Lanford Wilson's classic Balm in Gilead.  Curry was a series regular on upcoming Fox drama The Following, created by Kevin Williamson and starring Kevin Bacon.



DEMETRI MARTIN

Ellis Hightower

 

DEMETRI MARTIN is a standup comedian, writer and actor. He has worked in television, stage, film and print. Here are some of the things he’s done: He was a correspondent on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He was a staff writer at Late Night with Conan O’Brien. He won the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for his one-man show, If I. He released a standup comedy album called These Are Jokes. He made an hour-long standup special for Comedy Central called Demetri Martin. Person. He created and starred in a television series for Comedy Central called Important Things with Demetri Martin. He starred in the Ang Lee film Taking Woodstock. He wrote a book called This is a Book by Demetri Martin, which was a New York Times Bestseller. His writing has been featured in publications including The New Yorker, Wired Magazine, and Playboy. His standup comedy album, Demetri Martin. Standup Comedian, was released in 2012 along with a DVD of the comedy special, which premiered on Comedy Central. His most recent book, Point Your Face at This, was released in 2013. You can find him at demetrimartin.com, twitter.com/demetrimartin, or walking around somewhere.

 

MARY MCCORMACK

Deanna

 

MARY MCCORMACK is one of today’s boldest and most versatile actresses, continually challenging herself with roles that often defy Hollywood standards and bring to light the complex lives of ordinary women. She has shown her immense talent working in film, television, and on stage and has tackled roles ranging from slapstick comedy to intense drama. Perhaps best known for her five-season tenure on USA Network’s hit original series, In Plain Sight, McCormack has also starred in the NBC comedy series Welcome to the Family, alongside Mike O’Malley. McCormack recently completed production on The Compound, an independent feature film which follows two star-crossed teens on a polygamist compound who fight their families’ religious tradition to be together. McCormack will be seen in Aram Rappaport's A Conspiracy on Jekyll Island opposite Dianna Agron, AnnaSophia Robb, Ed Westwick and Minnie Driver. McCormack was also seen on the ABC series Scandal and has recently wrapped production on the Terrance Malick-produced independent film A Country Called Home, opposite Imogen Poots.

 

McCormack returned to the Broadway stage in 2008 to star in Boeing-Boeing alongside Christine Baranski, Mark Rylance and Bradley Whitford.  Marc Camoletti’s classic sixties comedy earned Mary a 2008 Tony nomination for “Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play.”  Additional stage credits include the Rob Marshall-directed Broadway production of Cabaret for the Roundabout Theatre Company, the acclaimed London stage production of Neil LaBute’s play Bash; the David Warren-directed productions of My Marriage to Earnest Borgnine and A Fair Country. McCormack’s breakout performance, opposite Howard Stern in Private Parts, won her universal critical acclaim.  Some of McCormack’s additional credits include The West Wing, ER, For Your Consideration, 1408, Traffic, Full Frontal, Gun Shy, True Crime and Miracle on 34th Street.

 

 

LARENZ TATE

Malcolm Kaan

 

Whether in a mainstream film or cult classic hit, LARENZ TATE has managed to stay true to his personal mission of striving for excellence. Tate got his first acting job at a young age, appearing in Christmas episode of The Twilight Zone – The Series. This appearance quickly led to guest starring roles on series such as 21 Jump Street, The Wonder Years and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Tate made his screen debut in Allen and Albert Hughes' cult classic film, Menace II Society, where his ground breaking role as the unforgettable O-Dog allowed him to be recognized as one of Hollywood's most promising young actors. The film led him to being cast in many other projects, including the feature comedy The Inkwell and Fox's TV series South Central. Later, Tate re-teamed with the Hughes brothers for the gritty crime drama Dead Presidents. Tate went on to star in the audience loved film Love Jones opposite actress and HOUSE OF LIES co-star Nia Long. The film went on to win the Audience Awards for Best Film at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival. Tate’s role also garnished a Best Actor nomination at the NAACP Image Awards. Tate’s most challenging roles was as singing lothario Frankie Lymon, in the 1998 biopic Why Do Fools Fall in Love opposite Halle Berry, Lela Rochon, and Vivica A. Fox. The role won Tate the Acapulco Black Film Festive award for Best Actor in 1999. Tate co-starred as Quincy Jones in the Oscar-recognized film Ray opposite Jamie Foxx and Kerry Washington. Later, Tate co-starred in the ensemble film Crash alongside Sandra Bullock, Terrence Howard, and Matt Dillon. The film was lauded by the critics and won the 2005 SAG Award for Best Cast and 2005 Academy Award for Best Picture. Other television credits include Blue Blood and the FX drama Rescue Me. Tate also starred in the BET movie Gun Hill, where he plays identical twins, one a cop and the other a con. Recently, Tate appeared as a series regular in the USA Network series Rush as ‘Dr. Alex Burke,’ as well as the TV One feature film White Water alongside Sharon Leal. Tate has also recently ventured into directing, making his commercial directorial debut in 2012 for Conjure Cognac, starring Ludacris.

 

 

ALICIA WITT

Maya Lindholm

 

Actor/singer songwriter ALICIA WITT has had a nearly three-decade long career, starting with her film debut in David Lynch’s science fiction classic, Dune. In 2014, Witt joined the fifth season of Emmy-award winning series Justified, starring Timothy Olyphant, as Wendy Crowe, the smart and sexy paralegal sister of crime lord Darryl Crowe (Michael Rapaport) who takes matters into her own hands to bring him to justice in the season finale. Other television credits include A Very Merry Mix-Up for the Hallmark Channel, which became their highest-rated holiday film of all time and the follow-up Holiday Help; the new DirecTv series The Kingdom, and on the new TNT series The Librarians. Other television credits include Cybill, The Sopranos, Ally McBeal, Cowgirls n Angels, Friday Night Lights, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Mentalist and Two and a Half Men.

 

In 2013, Witt appeared opposite Peter Bogdanovich and Cheryl Hines in the independent family dramedy Cold Turkey, in a performance which NY Daily News critic David Edelstein hailed as one of the best of 2013, and garnered the headline ‘See Cold Turkey For Alicia Witt’s Performance’ in the Village Voice. Additional film credits include 88 Minutes, The Last Holiday, The Upside of Anger, Two Weeks’ Notice, Urban Legend, Fun, Mr. Holland’s Opus, Away From Here, and I Do. Witt is an accomplished singer/songwriter and classically trained pianist who has been performing her original piano-driven rock all across the world, and has opened for Ben Folds Five, Jimmy Webb and John Fullbright. Her newest album, produced by Ben Folds, will be released in early 2015. Her music and videos can be seen at www.aliciawittmusic.com.

 



EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

 

MATTHEW CARNAHAN

Creator / Executive Producer / Writer

After ten years in New York working as a playwright and director (Live Bait, Velvet Elvis, The Elephant Trainer's Apprentice, Snap, Dogamerica, The Knees Of A Cellist), MATTHEW CARNAHAN received the Chesterfield Fellowship from Steven Spielberg. He went on to write Driveaway for Tom Hanks at Disney and to adapt his play, The Knees Of A Cellist for MGM. He wrote and directed the short film, Mailman, produced by Sandra Bullock, which premiered at The Sundance Film Festival, and went on to 12 more festivals and a long run on Bravo. The following year at Sundance, Carnahan premiered his feature directorial debut, Black Circle Boys (written during the Chesterfield Fellowship), to critical acclaim. Carnahan's documentary about former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Rudyland, won IDFA and Palm Beach and played on Reel Life, the HBO /Cinemax documentary series. His novel, Serpent Girl, was published by Random House in 2006 to rave reviews and three editions, then published in paper (as Copping Free). On television, Carnahan created the series Trinity and Dirt (starring Courteney Cox), which ran for two seasons. He's currently developing a series based on the graphic novel Narcoleptic Sunday, and an original musical entitled The Love Song of Joanna Strange.

 

 

JESSIKA BORSICZKY

Executive Producer

JESSIKA BORSICZKY began her career in HBO’s movie division, going on to oversee some of the network’s high-profile and acclaimed projects, including If These Walls Could Talk and 61*. Later, she ran director Jan de Bont’s film production company, Blue Tulip. Borsiczky followed up her tenure there as co-head of Gavin Polone’s production company, where she produced a diverse slate of television pilots and series, including the NBC drama mini-series Revelations; the highly-rated The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search; and the Cheech Marin comedy and The Ortegas for Fox. Her film work there included producing the horror film, Population 436, starring Jeremy Sisto. Since forming her own production company, Refugee Productions, Borsiczky’s projects have included The Promotion, a comedy written and directed by Steven Conrad starring John C. Reilly and Seann William Scott. In addition, her credits include producing the horror movie hit, The Unborn, with Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes and running ABC’s FlashForward, on which she served as an Executive Producer. Borsiczky's relationship with SHOWTIME began with the first season of HOUSE OF LIES. She has been writing on the series for two seasons and has other projects in development with the network.

 

DAVID WALPERT

Executive Producer

Prior to joining HOUSE OF LIES, DAVID WALPERT served as a Co-Executive Producer on Fox's New Girl and previously had overall deals with NBC and ABC. Walpert also worked as a writer on Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night, which earned him a Humanitas Prize in 1999. Walpert started his writing career as a staff writer on Ellen in 1996.

 

CREDITS


CAST

 

 Marty Kaan......................................................................................................... DON CHEADLE

Jeannie van der Hooven.................................................................................. KRISTEN BELL

Clyde Oberholt................................................................................................ BEN SCHWARTZ

Doug Guggenheim........................................................................................... JOSH LAWSON

Roscoe Kaan.......................................................................................... DONIS LEONARD JR.

Jeremiah Kaan............................................................................................... GLYNN TURMAN


GUEST STARS

(In Alphabetical Order)

 

Kelsey.............................................................................................................. VALORIE CURRY

Denna Altshuler...................................................................................... MARY MCCORMACK

Ellis Hightower.............................................................................................. DEMETRI MARTIN

Harvey Oberholt.............................................................................................. FRED MELAMED

Monica................................................................................................................ DAWN OLIVIERI

Joe Gideon......................................................................................................... KEVIN POLLAK

Sarah Guggenheim............................................................................................ JENNY SLATE

Malcolm Kaan...................................................................................................... LARENZ TATE

Ron Montinola................................................................................................ STEVEN WEBER

Maya Lindholm........................................................................................................ ALICIA WITT

 

 

PRODUCTION CREDITS

 

Creator/Executive Producer............................................................. MATTHEW CARNAHAN

Executive Producer............................................................................... JESSIKA BORSICZKY

Executive Producer.......................................................................................... DON CHEADLE

Executive Producer....................................................................................... DAVID WALPERT

 

Co-Executive Producer....................................................................................... LOU FUSARO

Co-Executive Producer................................................................................... KAY LIBERMAN

Co-Executive Producer.............................................................................. LENORE ZERMAN

Supervising Producer................................................................. WESLEY S. NICKERSON III

Producer/UPM........................................................................................ JOHN H. RADULOVIC

Producer............................................................................................................... TAII K. AUSTIN

Executive Story Editor.................................................................................... THEO TRAVERS

Director of Photography.................................................................. PETER LEVY, ASC, ACS

Production Designer...................................................................................... RAY YAMAGATA

Edited by........................................................................................................ JUSTIN BOURRET

Edited by............................................................................................. TOD FEUERMAN, A.C.E.

Edited by........................................................................................... TIRSA HACKSHAW, ACE

Music by..................................................................................................... CLINTON SHORTER

Casting by............................................................................................ FELICIA FASANO, CSA

Co-Producer...................................................................................................... ANNE UEMURA

Music Supervisor......................................................................................... CHRIS DOURIDAS

Costume Designer............................................................................... GENEVIEVE TYRRELL