The Fall of Frank Langella: Actor fired from Netflix show for sexual misconduct dated Whoopi Goldberg for 5 years

Langella was set to play Roderick Usher on 'The Fall Of The House Of Usher' before being dropped from the show after the end of a sexual misconduct inquiry
UPDATED APR 14, 2022
Frank Langella (L) had a vibrant 5-year romance with Whoopi Goldberg (Facebook)
Frank Langella (L) had a vibrant 5-year romance with Whoopi Goldberg (Facebook)

Oscar contender Frank Langella, 84, has been fired from Netflix's limited series 'The Fall Of The House Of Usher'. In the eight-episode series produced by Mike Flanagan and based on the Edgar Allan Poe short story, Langella was slated to play patriarch Roderick Usher. However, after Langella was accused of sexual misconduct, including making improper comments to a female co-star on set, Netflix initiated an inquiry. Langella's behavior on production was found to be objectionable, and his character in the Edgar Allan Poe series would apparently be recast. For the rest of the week, the series will film sequences that do not include his character.

The incident took place after the probe's conclusion, which was released just a day before, according to Deadline, on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. Langella has appeared in several films and television shows, including 'Kidding', 'The Americans', and 'Frost/Nixon', for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. 'The Fall of the House of Usher' is touted as an epic tale of tragedy, horror, and greed that will act as a modern remix of numerous works by Poe, and was initially ordered by Netflix in October. Mark Hamill, Carl Lumbly, Mary McDonnell, and Carla Gugino round out the cast. A joke Langella told with sexual undertones and an event in which he grabbed the leg of an actress (during a rehearsed performance) and remarked, 'Did you like that?' are among the reported incidents. No complaints have been made concerning the veteran actor, according to police.

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Actor Frank Langella onstage at the Center Theatre Group 50th Anniversary Celebration at Ahmanson Theatre on May 20, 2017, in Los Angeles, California (Getty Images)

Whoopi Goldberg's and Frank Langella's vibrant relationship

In his 2012 memoir, 'Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women As I Knew Them', the Hollywood veteran spoke out about his love life. After working together on Whoopi Goldberg's 1994 film 'Eddie', the actor was romantically linked to her for five years. Goldberg, who had been crushed by her breakup with Ted Danson, swiftly moved on to a new relationship with the famed actor. Langella was divorcing his wife of eighteen years by the time they finished filming 'Eddie'. However, as Goldberg stated in one of her interviews, her relationship with her new boyfriend had been going on for a long time – at least in her head.

Whoopi Goldberg with Frank Langella at the 10th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Gala (Brenda Chase/Online USA, Inc)

The actor also said that she has admired his work since she was 14 years old when she first saw him in the Mel Brooks comedy 'Twelve Chair'. She had always assumed she would meet Langella. As a result, their relationship began and blossomed for five years. Their romance was touted as a vibrant meeting of ideas at the time.

According to initial reports, Goldberg was credited by Langella's colleagues as the reason why a decent actor grew better, but by 2000, they'd called it quits. The two remain excellent and close mates to work together again, according to the media, who described them as one of showbiz's most low-key couples. Fans are still waiting for the collaboration, unfortunately.

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