Dennis Haysbert Reflects On Playing Villain In ‘LUV’: ‘It Was Pretty Fun’
The acclaimed actor shares a throwback moment from his role as the antagonist Mr. Fish.
Pratibha holds a master's degree in English from Madras University. A bookworm from a young age, she devours books and digital humanities to nourish her writing projects. Pratibha began her writing career in 2018 and has experience writing formal, informal, and technical content.
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Veteran actor Dennis Haysbert recently took to Instagram to share a nostalgic moment from his career, reflecting on his experience playing a villain in the 2012 crime drama film “LUV.” The post features a still from the movie showing Haysbert in character as the menacing Mr. Fish.
In his throwback Thursday post, Haysbert wrote: “#tbt: It was a change of pace playing Mr. Fish, a ‘bad guy’ in ‘LUV.’ I have to admit … it was pretty fun.” The image from Indomina shows the actor in a dramatically different role from the trustworthy, authoritative characters that audiences have come to associate with him.
“LUV,” which premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, tells the story of an 11-year-old boy who spends the day with his uncle, learning harsh life lessons as his uncle tries to legitimize his business. Haysbert portrayed the antagonist Mr. Fish, a character that allowed him to explore the darker side of his acting range.
While many viewers recognize Haysbert from his iconic role as President David Palmer in the hit series “24” or as the reassuring voice of Allstate Insurance commercials, his filmography reveals remarkable versatility across genres. The actor enjoyed the opportunity to break from his typically heroic or authoritative roles to embody a villain.
Haysbert’s career spans decades in Hollywood, with notable performances in films like “Heat,” “Waiting to Exhale,” and “Far From Heaven.” His deep, commanding voice and imposing 6’4″ frame have made him particularly effective in roles requiring authority and gravitas.
Haysbert has recently been engaging with fans about his various roles through social media. In another recent post, he invited followers to participate in his trivia game about the thriller “Secret Obsession,” where he played detective Frank Page investigating a crime. He posed the question to fans, “Do you remember what it is?” encouraging them to test their knowledge of his filmography.
The actor also highlighted his work in the Hulu thriller “No Exit,” describing it as “full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing.” He encouraged his followers who hadn’t seen the film to check it out, showcasing his continued passion for his craft across different projects.
When not reminiscing about his acting roles, Haysbert seems to maintain an active lifestyle. A recent post promoted his golf merchandise line, with the caption: “The golf courses will be open before you know it. Make sure to have a new polo and hat!” directing followers to his DH9 store. The post suggests that golf is among the actor’s personal interests outside of his Hollywood career.
Haysbert also engages with his audience on broader topics, including sports. Just before the NBA playoffs began, he asked his followers, “Who do you think is going to win?” demonstrating his interest in basketball and desire to connect with fans on subjects beyond acting.
The actor has been particularly active on social media, regularly posting throwback images from his filmography and engaging directly with his audience. His trivia games about his various roles, available on his official website, offer fans a fun way to test their knowledge of his extensive career while strengthening the connection between the actor and his admirers.
In a more personal approach to fan engagement, Haysbert often asks open-ended questions like “How was your weekend? What was your favorite moment?” and “What is the best thing that happened to you this week?” showing a genuine interest in the lives of his followers.
For fans of Haysbert’s work, these glimpses into both his career highlights and personal interests provide a more rounded view of the man behind the familiar face and voice that has graced screens large and small for decades.
Whether portraying presidents, detectives, or villains like Mr. Fish, Dennis Haysbert continues to demonstrate the range that has kept him working steadily in Hollywood since the 1970s, with each role, whether hero or villain, adding another facet to his impressive body of work.
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