What Happened to Frank Langella?

Veteran actor Frank Langella was fired from the Netflix limited series “The Fall of the House of Usher” in April 2022, citing “unacceptable conduct on set.” The incident has sparked controversy and raised questions about on-set behavior in the entertainment industry.

Langella responded to his firing by penning a guest column for “Deadline,” shedding light on the circumstances leading to his dismissal. According to Langella, the pivotal moment occurred during the filming of a love scene with the actress playing his young wife. The scene was scripted, and both actors were fully clothed, sitting on a couch. However, when the director called ‘cut,’ the actress claimed, “He touched my leg,” asserting that the action was not part of the agreed-upon blocking.

The actress promptly left the set, accompanied by the director and the intimacy coordinator. Langella, attempting to follow, was requested to “give her some space.” After an hour of waiting, he was informed that the actress would not return to the set, and the production was subsequently wrapped. Langella expressed his confusion about the situation and the impact it had on his career, emphasizing the loss of a significant role, potential future earnings, and the looming prospect of unemployment.

In Langella’s “Deadline” column, he admitted that he could not speak to the intentions of his accuser or Netflix. Still, he highlighted the profound personal consequences he faced, including Netflix terminating him with only three weeks left to shoot and inadequate remuneration for his services. Most notably, Langella voiced the tarnishing of his reputation as a major fallout from the incident.

Following the publication of Langella’s column, additional details surfaced regarding his behavior on the set of “The Fall of the House of Usher.” Sources from the series reported instances of inappropriate comments, some of which were sexual and others described as graphic and misogynistic. Langella allegedly probed cast members about their sexual experiences and engaged in explicit discussions about his sexual history, creating an uncomfortable environment for those involved.