Why couldn't a multiracial actor play one of the Willis children? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 10-08-2014, 09:30 AM

Pretty much the question, why couldn't the show cast someone who was of mixed black and white parentage? The girl who played Jenny is black and the actor who played Alan was white. To me in Middle America, is that a white person and a black person can either have a kid who is either black or white and it is a crapshoot which one.

Were there just no actors that are multiracial who could have filled in these roles? Now, there would have been lots of actors who could have done it. The Jeffersons could have done better, me thinks.

As an aside, why was Alan mad at his father? For being half black? I forgot his backstory. He sort of comes in, has serious daddy issues, leaves, comes back and leaves forever. When was Alan first mentioned "Oh by the way, we have a white son with issues. Laughs galore."

gidgetgrape · 10-08-2014, 11:07 AM

I always thought the first Alan looked Puerto Rican. My interpretation of the casting was that Jenny took after her mother and Alan took after his father. I think the creators did the best they could do at the time. Alan was first mentioned and seen in season one, "Jenny's Low."

Here's more info about him:
http://the-jeffersons.wikia.com/wiki/Allan_Willis

TVFactFan · 10-08-2014, 09:13 PM

Yes, Jenny was not realistic to be so dark and have a white dad

ILuvCarolBurnett · 11-08-2014, 03:10 AM

I wasn't a fan of either Alan's really. I wonder if the second one was intended to be long-term, but he only lasted one season.

waichingliu81 · 11-08-2014, 11:10 AM

this is just an assumption, but maybe because there wasn't many multi-racial actors around at the time. but i do agree with you.

10-08-2014, 09:30 AM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Why couldn't a multiracial actor play one of the Willis children? Pretty much the question, why couldn't the show cast someone who was of mixed black and white parentage? The girl who played Jenny is black and the actor who played Alan was white. To me in Middle America, is that a white person and a black person can either have a kid who is either black or white and it is a crapshoot which one. Were there just no actors that are multiracial who could have filled in these roles? Now, there would have been lots of actors who could have done it. The Jeffersons could have done better, me thinks. As an aside, why was Alan mad at his father? For being half black? I forgot his backstory. He sort of comes in, has serious daddy issues, leaves, comes back and leaves forever. When was Alan first mentioned "Oh by the way, we have a white son with issues. Laughs galore."

10-08-2014, 11:07 AM	#2
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,502	I always thought the first Alan looked Puerto Rican. My interpretation of the casting was that Jenny took after her mother and Alan took after his father. I think the creators did the best they could do at the time. Alan was first mentioned and seen in season one, "Jenny's Low." Here's more info about him: http://the-jeffersons.wikia.com/wiki/Allan_Willis

10-08-2014, 09:13 PM	#3
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,065	Yes, Jenny was not realistic to be so dark and have a white dad

11-08-2014, 03:10 AM	#4
ILuvCarolBurnett Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 20, 2014 Location: Beverly Hills CA Posts: 312	I wasn't a fan of either Alan's really. I wonder if the second one was intended to be long-term, but he only lasted one season.

11-08-2014, 11:10 AM	#5
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	this is just an assumption, but maybe because there wasn't many multi-racial actors around at the time. but i do agree with you.