NEED TO KNOW
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Keith Coogan plays Kenny, the slacker brother who has a change of heart over one momentous summer, in the film «"Don't tell Mom that the nanny died.".
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The 56-year-old actor told PEOPLE that he was initially drawn to another role in the film, which he quickly fell in love with.
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This year, the film celebrates its 35th anniversary, and Coogan recalls some of the fun moments that happened behind the scenes.
Keith Coogan had a feeling he wanted to star in the film «"Don't tell Mom that the nanny died."» .
In an interview with PEOPLE to mark the film's 35th anniversary, the 56-year-old actor described how differently the project was perceived when it was first offered to him.
«"It was called «"The Real World »"I was up for the role of Brian, the clown boy," he says of the fast-food delivery boy and love interest of the lead character, Sue Ellen "Swell" Crandall.
However, Coogan had his sights set on a different role in the 1991 film.
«My family had a rule: „Never play the same role twice.“ I just played the shy brother in love with the nanny in the film „ The Adventures of a Nanny “"," Coogan explains. "I really liked Kenny in the script. I thought, 'Who is this 15-year-old slacker? He has a great storyline.' I asked my agent, but he said, 'You're too old.'".
Keith Coogan in 1989. Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty.
However, that didn't stop Coogan, who was "19 or 20 years old" at the time, from competing for the role of Kenny, the skateboarding, pot-smoking slacker from the Crandell family who undergoes significant changes over the course of the film.
«"So I prepared a Kenny costume—a cheap wig, a skull vest, and ripped jeans—kept it in the car, and auditioned for the role of Brian with Sharon Bialy and Richard Pagano," he recalls. "After the audition, I asked if I could come back in a few minutes and show them something. They said, 'Sure, Keith, whatever you want.' I went to the car, changed into Kenny, came back, and, still in character, kicked the door open.".
«"It was a big risk," he admits. "I'm a real nerd. I really am. I'm more like Brian than Kenny, but I really loved the storyline, the script, and the story, and I couldn't wait to work with everyone.".
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It was only a few days before the young actor learned he had landed the role, news that was "completely incomprehensible" to him.
«"They even invested in wigs, handmade from human and yak hair," he recalls. "And I was at Wigs by Ziggy, a wig shop. He's a classic Hollywood wig maker, and he's about to retire. They were picking out a wig for me, and they cost $3,000 apiece, and two wigs—that's $6,000 just for Kenny's wigs!"»
He continues: «I look at the wall and see a picture of my grandfather, and I say, „Why do you have a picture of Jackie Coogan on your wall?“ And they say, „Oh, his PR people said he needs to wear a wig for his performances.“».
Keith Coogan as Kenny. Photo: Warner Bros.
Jackie's acting career began as a child in the 1920s, when he starred in films such as «Oliver Twist» (1922) and «Tom Sawyer» (1930) He even starred with Charlie Chaplin in in the film "The Kid"« (1921) He then played Uncle Fester in «The Addams Family» and appeared in a number of iconic television sitcoms such as «I Dream of Ginny» , «The Brady Bunch» , «The Partridge Family» and others.
The legendary actor, who died in March 1984 at the age of 69, had four children, one of whom was Keith's mother, Leslie Diane Coogan.
Laughing, Keith remarks, "So it turns out the same wig maker made both Uncle Fester's and Kenny's wigs.".
The time spent in the dressing room and hair salon also helped form a special relationship between the young actor and his co-star Joanna Cassidy, who played Rose Lindsay.
«"Joanna Cassidy also wore wigs in the film. So, for example, we had an earlier start time than Christina [Applegate]. So Joanna and I would show up and giggle all morning. You could always tell Joanna was coming because you could hear her laugh," he shares.
He praises his co-star: "Joanna is absolutely amazing. She could be on the other side of the world, and someone would say, 'I'm right here, Rose!' And the dishes are always done.".
Read the original article on People.