‘Better Call Saul’ Actor Lied About Being a War Veteran and How He Lost His Hand to Get Roles
Written by SOURCE on October 31, 2018
Everyone knows that it’s pretty tough to make it as an actor. While a select few have the pleasure of becoming rich stars, a lot more struggle to ever get their big break. Todd Lawson LaTourrette, who notably appeared on Better Call Saul, told a pretty crummy lie to make sure the latter outcome wasn’t the one he experienced.
LaTourrette was lying to casting agents about being a military veteran who lost his hand in combat to gain sympathy when auditioning for new roles. In reality, he suffers from bipolar disorder and sliced off his own hand with a saw years ago while he was off of his medication. “The film industry obviously took a different angle. That I was different. And so they liked that,” he told Albuquerque, New Mexico news outlet KOB 4.
As previously mentioned, LaTourrette’s most notable gig was on AMC’s hit Breaking Bad spin-off series, Better Call Saul. He appeared in the episode “Quite a Ride.” While the Albuquerque native seemed to feel no remorse in the past about his lie, he has decided to come forward because he says he has been suffering living with this lie for so many years.
His hope in coming forward with the truth about his hand is that it can help others out there suffering from mental illness.
“The power is in your hands to take your medication in the morning, or at night. So that, this, this discourse of my life doesn’t need to necessarily be yours. Because, it happens quick… it happens quick.”
The actor is also well aware that this confession will cause an immediate end to his on-camera career—an outcome he seems cool with. “I was dishonorable. I’m killing my career by doing this, if anyone thinks this was for personal edification, that’s not the case,” he said. “I’m ousting myself from the New Mexico Film Industry. And gladly so, just to say what I’ve said.”
