Goodbye Prop Joe

January 18, 2013 7:57 PM

Robert Chew has died.
posted by jindc (46 comments total)

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posted by learnsome at 7:58 PM on January 18, 2013

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posted by runincircles at 8:01 PM on January 18, 2013

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posted by milestogo at 8:01 PM on January 18, 2013

dang
posted by rebent at 8:03 PM on January 18, 2013

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posted by mitten of doom at 8:04 PM on January 18, 2013

His role in the Wire was one of my favorites.

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posted by jadepearl at 8:05 PM on January 18, 2013

I want this story to be one way, but it's the other way.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 8:08 PM on January 18, 2013 [19 favorites]

The great phone call scene mentioned in the article.

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posted by gatorae at 8:10 PM on January 18, 2013 [2 favorites]

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posted by jiawen at 8:12 PM on January 18, 2013

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posted by Sys Rq at 8:16 PM on January 18, 2013

Great actor.

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posted by arcticseal at 8:18 PM on January 18, 2013

Aww, man, sorry to hear this. At 52? Damn, that's way too young.

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posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:30 PM on January 18, 2013 [1 favorite]

A great actor and, from everything I've read, a fantastic mentor.

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posted by epj at 8:33 PM on January 18, 2013 [1 favorite]

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posted by wobh at 8:35 PM on January 18, 2013

Wow, and now reading the linked obit, to learn that he was responsible for coaching the child actors from season 4 (who were absolutely excellent) we get a whole new realm of respect for this very, very talented individual.

And nt only that, it's rare to read such gushing praise for a man's character as we heard from David Simon and others in the article. He must've been some guy.

RIP, David Chew.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:36 PM on January 18, 2013 [6 favorites]

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posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 8:40 PM on January 18, 2013

Wow, and now reading the linked obit, to learn that he was responsible for coaching the child actors from season 4 (who were absolutely excellent) we get a whole new realm of respect for this very, very talented individual.

If you get a chance, listen to the audio commentary with him & the main kids. You really get a great feel for the mentor relationship he had with them.

A cadaverous motherfucker like no other.
posted by ShutterBun at 8:45 PM on January 18, 2013 [7 favorites]

I loved seeing him sitting in the middle of a group of gangsters, in a tiny repair shop. I always hoped he had some scheme that would foil Marlo without having to kill him.
posted by Brocktoon at 8:56 PM on January 18, 2013 [1 favorite]

Damn, Wire people only seem to pop up with news that makes me sad.

"Fool: if it wadn't for Serge, you and your cousin would be cadaverous motherfuckers right now" is my favorite line in all 5 of The Wire. His accent--in that line, but throughout his many scenes--is so perfect.
posted by broadway bill at 8:59 PM on January 18, 2013 [1 favorite]

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posted by dougzilla at 9:11 PM on January 18, 2013

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posted by jquinby at 9:21 PM on January 18, 2013

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posted by Ironmouth at 9:43 PM on January 18, 2013

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posted by purpleclover at 9:56 PM on January 18, 2013

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posted by dealing away at 10:28 PM on January 18, 2013

gatorae: This link says that the phone scene was done in one take, with no cuts. Pretty impressive.

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posted by roquetuen at 10:52 PM on January 18, 2013 [1 favorite]

Bummer. He'll be sorely missed.

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posted by Pudhoho at 11:18 PM on January 18, 2013 [1 favorite]

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posted by saslett at 11:39 PM on January 18, 2013

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posted by hangingbyathread at 11:49 PM on January 18, 2013

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posted by zaelic at 12:15 AM on January 19, 2013

Jeez, only 52. I liked his character a lot in The Wire; he always seemed so likable, and I think part of that was probably who he really was as a person. Reading the part in that article about how he mentored the child actors--yes, I think it probably was.

broadway bill: Damn, Wire people only seem to pop up with news that makes me sad.

I know, that's what I was thinking too.

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posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:26 AM on January 19, 2013

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posted by Smart Dalek at 12:27 AM on January 19, 2013

"Who you tellin’? I got motherfuckin’ nephews and in-laws fucking all my shit up all the time and it ain’t like I can pop a cap in their ass and not hear about it Thanksgivin’ time. For real, I’m livin’ life with some burdensome niggers."

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posted by daveje at 12:43 AM on January 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

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posted by Wordshore at 1:30 AM on January 19, 2013

"Look the part, be the part."

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posted by El Brendano at 2:56 AM on January 19, 2013

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posted by wheek wheek wheek at 4:31 AM on January 19, 2013

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posted by oneironaut at 5:25 AM on January 19, 2013

"Call it a crisis of leadership."

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posted by box at 5:43 AM on January 19, 2013

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posted by pianoblack at 5:44 AM on January 19, 2013

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posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 6:40 AM on January 19, 2013

I'm pouring one out as I read this.

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posted by ztdavis at 6:52 AM on January 19, 2013

Seems like a great guy. This is too young to lose such talent. Loved his character on The Wire, but then it was hard to find any you didn't.

Never seen The Corner. Will look into it.
posted by cjorgensen at 6:59 AM on January 19, 2013

Never seen The Corner. Will look into it.

It's excellent, though a very different pace from the Wire. Chew has a very limited role in it but it's a memorable and amusing scene, but regardless the series is excellent and features a number of actors that are also in the Wire, as well as some of the real people characters are based on. Sadly the main character on the Corner, DeAndre McCullough, who appears in both the Corner and the Wire also died recently.
posted by juiceCake at 7:59 AM on January 19, 2013

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posted by alby at 8:17 AM on January 19, 2013

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posted by Brody's chum at 9:05 AM on January 19, 2013

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posted by jpziller at 12:12 PM on January 19, 2013

Sadly, I can't say it was a surprise.
posted by reenum at 9:44 AM on January 20, 2013