Will Ferrell drops out of Reagan dementia comedy
Ferrell won't play Reagan Will Ferrell on Friday said he would not star as Ronald Reagan in a forthcoming satire that portrays the 40th president leading the country while suffering from dementia. Reagan died of Alzheimer's in 2004.
Ferrell won't play Reagan
Will Ferrell on Friday said he would not star as Ronald Reagan in a forthcoming satire that portrays the 40th president leading the country while suffering from dementia. Reagan died of Alzheimer's in 2004.
The film is about an intern who helps Reagan by convincing him he's playing the leader of the free world in a movie. The Alzheimer's Association said using "dementia as a comedic device is offensive."
Reagan's daughter Patti Davis posted an open letter to Ferrell. "Perhaps . . . you would like to visit some dementia facilities. I have - I didn't find anything comedic," she said. "My hope would be that if you're a decent human being, you wouldn't either."
C.J. back at the podium
Reporters were slightly nonplussed Friday when Allison Janney started the White House press briefing in character as C.J. Cregg, the presidential press secretary she played on The West Wing.
"Josh [is] getting a root canal," she explained, referring both to real-life press sec Josh Earnest and a first-season episode of Aaron Sorkin's drama.
The Mom actress said she was at the White House to discuss efforts to combat opioid addiction.
tirdad@phillynews.com 215-854-2736