THE MANDALORIAN Actor W. Earl Brown Recalls Being Cast, His DEADWOOD Reunion, And Keeping The Child Secret

...to be transformed into an other-worldly being via Hollywood special effects set my Halloween-loving heart aflame. By the time it ended two weeks later, the thrill had not just worn off, it had been sandblasted down to a nub, just as four hours sitting in a...

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…

June, 1977, I was sitting in a movie theater at the Daytona Beach, FL Mall. My Mom had allowed me to bring a buddy along on our annual family vacation. We had long list of Things We Wanted To Do In Florida...

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

My folks drove us to the mall and dropped us off.

Popcorn, Goobers, and Coke in hand, I sat in utter thrall as that Imperial II - Class Star Destroyer flew overhead. Of course, in that particular moment, I didn’t know the proper name of the space ship that just kept going...

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

Jon Favreau has asked for you…”

Days later, I was sitting in the EFX shop getting my head molded for prosthetics.

*

Season One was set to start streaming the day after I was to start work on Season Two, so I had not seen anything but the buzz on the show was extraordinary.

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

They are a secretive bunch.

I was given the scenes I was in and nothing else. This is what information I was given: I was a Weequay; I owned the catina in Mos Pelgo. “Cobb Vanth” wore Bobba Fett’s armor. Sarlac’s can move underground.

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

My wife works in the streaming division of the Walt Disney Company. As an exec in Communications, she is aware of many of the inner goings-on of the company. She listened to me prattle on for days — STAR WARS, STAR WARS, STAR WARS…she said nothing. They are a secretive bunch

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

The teamster pulls into the gate. Another person takes over and drives me onto the set….

Its Tatooine. I AM ON TATOOINE!!! HELL YEAH!!! [frick] YEAH!!!

I get out of the van. Right next to me — is a life-sized Bantha puppet. I touched it — A BANTHA!!! I TOUCHED A BANTHA!

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

... badge to yer chest, you’re hypocrite enough to wear it.” Tim and I proceed to play out scenes from our old show. We get a few giggles from the HBO watchers.

Jon walks on set, laughing “I swear to God, I love that show — I absolutely idolize Milch. We cast you first,”

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

“No… Okay everyone, PLACES…”

I still had not met my other scene partner. The Props guy rolled his cart through the set. I thought, “Awwwwww… that is so cute. The props guy went and made himself a Baby Yoda.”

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

an EFX globe used to gauge digital effects.

I came home that night, “How was it?” asked The Wife.

“Did you know there is a BABY YODA???”

She just smiled.

They are a secretive bunch.

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

This morning Facebook Memories reminded me that on this day in 2012, I posted a photo of the Star Wars logo and commented on my excitement that three new movies had been announced and how badly I hoped I could get cast in one of them.
It’s been almost a year to the day...

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020

But now Season Two, Episode One has aired, I can speak freely —

I AM IN STAR WARS!!! I AM IN STAR WARS!!! I AM IN STAR WARS!!!

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— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) October 30, 2020