Now the actor is making audiences laugh on two television comedies. He plays quirky prankster tech geek Cassius "Cash" Sparks on Fox's "Breaking In," and Tatyana Ali's brother Latrell in "Love That Girl" on TV One.
McAuley talks to Back Stage about simultaneous shoots, taking risks, and happy premonitions.
Back Stage: You booked "Love That Girl" and "Breaking In" in the same year. How did that happen and how did the timing work out with shooting?
Alphonso McAuley: At the end of 2009, I was going hard with stand up comedy, and I took this class to enhance my writing. A guest speaker, Stacey Evans, came in, and after she saw me perform, she told me I was hilarious and was interested in having me audition for this television show she and her brother [Bentley Kyle Evans] were putting together. Months later, I went in to audition, and it was "Love That Girl." We shot a pilot and four episodes in like five days. It was insane. Months later, I still hadn't heard if the show had gotten picked up, so my agent had me back out to audition. I booked "Breaking In," and after we shot that pilot, "Love That Girl" called and said we got 26 episodes. At the same time, "Breaking In" called and said they were going to extend my contract. They both happened simultaneously—within a day or so. I didn't know how it was going to work out. But since Fox didn't know whether they were going to pick up "Breaking In," they let me go shoot 13 episodes of "Love That Girl." By the time we finished, "Breaking In" was ready for us to shoot seven episodes. The uncertainty with "Breaking In" actually worked out in my favor. It's crazy how simultaneous that it all was.
Back Stage: How did you get your SAG card?
McAuley: I got Taft-Hartleyed through a Verizon commercial. In the audition, I did my lines as if I were James Earl Jones, because at the time he was [doing the voice over] for Verizon. The casting people loved it—they were just in stitches laughing. I was very committed to it. I got a callback and I did my lines like James Earl Jones again and they loved it so much they paid the extra fee to Taft Hartley me into the union.
Back Stage: Wow, that was a huge risk you took!
McAuley: I know! But that's been my thing throughout my career-taking risks. People ask me "What's your secret?" I am willing to take risks and commit to them. Do or die. And I audition like I don't really need it. Producers can tell if an actor is desperate to get a role. When you go in and you're like, "I'm going to give you the best performance whether I book this or not," that's what they like.
Back Stage: What's been your favorite role?
McAuley: Bucky in [the film] "Fat Albert." In Hollywood, there's not many roles for African-Americans, so every young black dude wanted to be a part of "Fat Albert" when they heard it was happening. But here's what's crazy—I had a feeling I was going to be part of that film.
Back Stage: Before your audition? Like a premonition?
McAuley: Yeah, not in a cocky way. I just knew. People always told me I looked like Bucky from the "Fat Albert" cartoon. In high school, my friend had a vintage "Fat Albert" tee shirt that I borrowed so I could draw a picture of the character on my notebook. I just always had a thing for that character. So when I got the audition, I thought it would be for Bucky but it was for Dumb Donald, the kid who wears the beanie over his face. I booked it, but then the project got shelved. I guess Forrest Whittaker, who was directing it, and Bill Cosby had creative differences. Then the film came back with Joel Zwick directing. Joel called me in and said, "You're really funny and your facial expressions are awesome. There's no way I can have you play Dumb Donald. The world needs to see your face. I want you to play the role of Bucky." It was so exhilarating and very surreal.