In 1999, Tim Blake Nelson was a relatively unknown actor when Joel Coen sent him the script for O Brother, Where Art Thou? Nelson knew the Coens through the New York theater world and initially thought Joel simply wanted his opinion on their adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey, as Nelson had studied classics in college. However, he was surprised when Joel offered him the lead role alongside established stars like John Turturro and George Clooney. Nelson ended up appearing in nearly every scene of the film, participating in memorable moments like a baptism, a siren encounter, and a lively performance of “Man of Constant Sorrow.”
As *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* marks its 25th anniversary, actor John Nelson joined our *Role Call* series to reminisce about playing Delmar, one of the film’s hilariously clueless escapees. Nelson recalls George Clooney playfully suggesting they all should have lost their union cards due to their over-the-top performances. However, John Turturro offered key advice at the start of filming: always give the Coen brothers more than they expected. Nelson believes the exaggerated nature of their acting, combined with moments of genuine sadness and emotion, actually enhanced the film’s comedy.
John Nelson credits the film *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* with launching his career, as he’s been consistently working ever since. This fall, he’ll appear alongside Ethan Hawke in the new FX series *The Low Down* (premiering September 23), star in the independent film *Bang Bang* (releasing September 12), and debut both his Off Broadway play, *And Then We Were No More* (September 19 – November 2), and his second novel, *Superhero* (December 2). Nelson explains, “I was able to build a career as a character actor thanks to Joel and Ethan Coen. While I needed to prove myself, it’s easy to deliver strong performances with writing and direction of that caliber.”
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2025-09-15 20:54