Roy Cohn: The Terrifying Energy of a Power Broker, From Stage to Screen
Before Jeremy Strong embodied the ruthless mentor of Donald Trump in The Apprentice,Tony Kushner’s groundbreaking play Angels in America captured the chilling essence of Roy Cohn, the notorious lawyer who wielded power and influence in the shadows ofAmerican politics.
Cohn, a closeted pitbull lawyer who rose to prominence as the right-hand man of Senator Joseph McCarthy during the anti-Communist witchhunts of the 1950s, was a figure of both fascination and fear. He was instrumental in convicting Ethel Rosenberg as a Soviet spy, a conviction that ultimately led to her execution. Cohn later boasted of illegally lobbying the judge toensure Rosenberg received the electric chair.
In The Apprentice, Strong portrays Cohn as a predatory figure, teaching Trump the art of power through a brutal and cynical lens. He instills in Trump the infamous three rules that would laterdefine the future president’s political strategy: attack, attack, attack; admit nothing, deny everything; never admit defeat.
However, Strong’s portrayal is not the first time Cohn’s complex character has been brought to life. In Tony Kushner’s monumental play Angels in America, Cohnis a central figure, a force of nature who revels in the political game as the game of being alive. He is a man consumed by power, a master manipulator who uses his legal acumen to navigate the treacherous waters of American politics.
Kushner, in an interview with GQ, explained his decision to include Cohn inAngels in America. Cohn was a fascinating character, Kushner said. He was a brilliant lawyer, but he was also a deeply flawed man. He was a man who was willing to do anything to win, and he was willing to hurt anyone who stood in his way.
Kushner also notedthe similarities and differences between Cohn and Trump. Both men were incredibly ambitious, he said. Both men were willing to use any means necessary to achieve their goals. But Trump is much more of a showman than Cohn ever was. Cohn was a master of the backroom deal, while Trump is more comfortable in the spotlight.
The role of Cohn in Angels in America has been lauded by critics and audiences alike. Ron Leibman and Nathan Lane, who both won Tony Awards for their performances, brought a raw energy and chilling intensity to the character. Al Pacino, who played Cohn in a 2003 television adaptation, receiveda Golden Globe for his portrayal.
Kushner, however, initially had reservations about Pacino’s casting. I was worried that Pacino would be too big for the role, he said. But he surprised me. He brought a real vulnerability to the character that I hadn’t expected.
Despitethe success of these portrayals, Kushner and Strong never discussed the character of Cohn. I didn’t want to influence his performance, Kushner said. I wanted him to bring his own interpretation to the role.
The legacy of Roy Cohn, a man who embodied the dark underbelly of Americanpower, continues to fascinate and haunt us. From the stage to the screen, his story serves as a reminder of the seductive nature of power and the lengths to which some will go to achieve it.
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