On Dekker

Thomas Dekker (above left) is set to play the original reality-TV star (and first out person on television), Lance Loud (above right), in HBO's Cinema Verité. The film also stars Tim Robbins and Diane Lane as Bill and Pat Loud, Lance's parents, and James Gandolfini as the producer of their series, American Family. 

Got to say this moves right up my list of things I can't wait to see. What I've seen of American Family is mesmerizing, and Loud's later life—he struggled with drug addiction after being overwhelmed by his notoriety and died of liver failure at 50 brought on by HIV and hepatitis C—is compelling stuff for a film.

Dekker's not out, but there is plenty of speculation about his own sexuality. Maybe he'll do as Michael Urie did after starring in The Temperamentals and surprise us by letting us have a peek at his reality.

Comments

[Don Hanover]

I took photos of Lance and his group the MUMPS when they came to my studio in Boston. Later, I photographed Lance a couple of times when he performed in NYC. He was a sweat machine when he performed.

Lance was really a nice guy. Kristian Hoffman was and still is his champion who wrote much of their music and played in the band. I'm really glad to see interest in Lance and the Mumps and the time he lived which will include the loss of a huge group of artists to Aids. We were dying to have sex, but we didn't know it.

[GGREEN]

Is it me or is Lance about 50x hotter than that actor.

[Walter Newkirk]

I interviewed Craig Gilbert (the producer) about the series and later Pat Loud about her book and the series back in the early 70's. With Lane, Robbins and Gandolfini on board and the fact that HBO 99% of the time delivers a quality product, I look forward to this film. I'm sure this actor portraying Lance is perfect even though I am unfamiliar with his work. I trust Matt's judgment. I am very happy to have the 12 part series as part of my viewing library. I heard MUMPS perform many times in NYC also. Lance was a very interesting guy.

[Chrisin P.S/]

I think Dekker is way to cutesy.. and too fem . Lance was no linebacker but he had this real hot quality about him . At least at 3:00AM in the back of Maxes Kansas City , he did ! LOL !

[casey]

interesting. i vaguely remember the series, i think it was '71 or '72, so i was 14-15. i remember thinking Lance was 'too gay', but at that age I was struggling with a lot of stuff, lol. another few years and i'd have been chasing him.

i agree that the young actor chosen doesn't seem to have the looks for it, but I've certainly been surprised by casting before. i say best of luck with the entire project. it was a very groundbreaking series.