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Nathan Lane recalls 'generous' Robin Williams helping him get cast in The Birdcage: 'He didn't know who the hell I was'

Nathan Lane recalls the late Robin Williams helping him get cast in 'The Birdcage,' his first big movie role: 'He didn't know who the hell I was.'

Lane starred opposite the late comedian in 1996's The Birdcage, playing queer partners who agree to masquerade as straight in order to meet their beloved son's future father-in-law — a conservative Republican senator played by Gene Hackman — following his engagement. The actor has previously spoken about how Williams helped protect him from being outed during the press tour — namely, during a forthcoming appearance on Oprah Winfrey's show. "I finally got a big part in a movie, and I didn’t want to make it about my sexuality — although it was sort of unavoidable because of the nature of the film and the character,” said Lane during an appearance on Sunday Today in 2023.

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