Don Cheadle on New Series, "Fight Night," and the True Story Behind It (September 2024)

Summary

Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist: Interview with Don Cheadle on New Series, "Fight Night," and the True Story Behind It

Release Date: March 16, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist, host Willie Geist engages in a comprehensive and engaging conversation with acclaimed actor Don Cheadle. Geist sets the stage by highlighting Cheadle's illustrious career, which includes an Academy Award nomination for Hotel Rwanda, Golden Globes, a Tony Award, and two Grammys. Geist emphasizes Cheadle's versatility and dedication, mentioning the multitude of roles he has undertaken over the years.

Willie Geist [01:05]: "There are just too many [films and TV shows]... He's just an amazing actor who can do everything."

Discussing the NFL Chiefs

The conversation opens with a brief detour into the realm of sports, specifically discussing the Kansas City Chiefs and their potential for a three-peat in the NFL.

Don Cheadle [03:19]: "The scouting is so good that the pieces just always seem to fit together and it always seems to gel at the perfect time."

Although this segment is tangential to the main focus of the interview, it showcases Cheadle's ability to engage in diverse topics with ease.

Transition to "Fight Night, the Million Dollar Heist"

Willie Geist steers the conversation towards Cheadle's latest project, the new series "Fight Night, the Million Dollar Heist," which is streaming on Peacock. Geist describes the series as being based on true events surrounding a 1970 Muhammad Ali fight in Atlanta. The storyline delves into the afterparty of the event, where an armed robbery unfolds involving gangsters from across the country.

Willie Geist [04:05]: "Fight Night the Million Dollar Heist... it's based on true events, which makes it so cool."

Exploring the True Story Behind the Series

Don Cheadle provides an in-depth look into the historical context and inspiration behind the series. He explains how the series captures the essence of the time, highlighting the racial tensions and the vibrant cultural landscape of Atlanta in the 1970s.

Don Cheadle [04:51]: "It's set in 1970. Ali was unable to get a fight for years after he refused to go into the draft, and he couldn't get a sanctioned fight. So in Atlanta, the senator there found a loophole and was able to bring the fight to Atlanta."

Cheadle elaborates on the chaos that ensues during the afterparty, setting the stage for the heist that drives the series' plot.

Don Cheadle [05:42]: "Bad idea. We'll just leave it at that."

Character Development and Research

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on Cheadle's portrayal of a detective in the series—a groundbreaking character being one of the first black detectives in the Atlanta Police Department during that era. Cheadle delves into the complexities of the character, who navigates institutionalized racism and is viewed as an outsider in both the police force and his community.

Don Cheadle [06:22]: "He was one of the first black detectives in the Atlanta Police Department... he's thrust into this really complex and difficult situation."

Cheadle underscores the importance of authenticity in his performance, mentioning the collaborative efforts with writers and directors to ensure the character's depth and realism.

Don Cheadle [07:44]: "We're going with the words on the page... trying to make sure that the character was grounded and that it was authentic."

Working with an Outstanding Cast

Cheadle expresses his enthusiasm about working alongside a stellar ensemble cast, including Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, and Samuel L. Jackson. He highlights the camaraderie and professional synergy that comes from having longstanding relationships with his co-stars.

Don Cheadle [09:26]: "Knowing that everyone's going to be a professional... we're all pulling in the same direction."

A humorous exchange ensues when Geist teases Cheadle about Kevin Hart's dramatic skills, to which Cheadle responds with good-natured banter.

Don Cheadle [10:35]: "Kevin is a good buddy of yours... he's really good in this."

Balancing Career Choices and Personal Growth

The conversation shifts to Cheadle's approach to selecting roles. He emphasizes the importance of investing time in projects that allow him to expand his craft and contribute meaningfully to storytelling.

Don Cheadle [12:16]: "Any opportunity you eat is going to eat you. So you have to really look at all the elements and say, is this going to be something that I can bring my best to."

Cheadle reflects on the rigorous process of committing to a five-month project, highlighting the support from producers like Will Packard who ensure the creative team has what they need.

Reflecting on a Pivotal Year in 2004

Willie Geist brings up the remarkable year of 2004 for Don Cheadle, where he starred in multiple significant films such as Ocean's Twelve, Hotel Rwanda, and Crash. Cheadle reflects on the whirlwind of that period, noting the diverse range of roles and the impact each had on his career.

Don Cheadle [27:35]: "That was a big year. I did five movies that year... that was a big year."

He discusses how Crash's success not only elevated his profile but also provided insights into the burdens of fame, observing the challenges faced by co-stars like Matt Damon.

Don Cheadle [29:02]: "I wasn't there [when Crash won]. It was a crazy year in so many different ways."

Activism and the Impact of "Hotel Rwanda"

Cheadle speaks passionately about his role in Hotel Rwanda and the subsequent activism it spurred. He shares his experiences with congressional delegations, trips to Sudan and Darfur, and the realization of the power of celebrity in driving social change.

Don Cheadle [31:26]: "I saw really the power of celebrity, and I saw the power of taking the attention and refocusing it... trying to get this ratcheted up."

Cheadle laments the recurring nature of global crises, noting the resurgence of violence in Sudan and the necessity of continuous advocacy.

Don Cheadle [33:51]: "It's something that, again, we need to keep banging the drum and keep, you know, showing up and bringing attention to that area because it's unfathomable what's happening right now."

Maintaining Normalcy Amidst Fame

The discussion culminates with Cheadle addressing how he balances the demands of a high-profile career with personal life. He emphasizes the importance of having supportive friends and family who provide a grounding influence away from the public eye.

Don Cheadle [34:20]: "It's greater to be with your family... I'm much happier just like sitting on the couch and playing my bass than doing a lot of the stuff that comes with this gig."

Cheadle shares insights on staying connected to normalcy, maintaining meaningful relationships, and prioritizing personal happiness over the transient nature of fame.

Don Cheadle [35:37]: "It keeps you grounded. When people don't care that you're on that thing, they're like, yeah, who are you here? That's what matters."

Conclusion

Willie Geist wraps up the conversation by expressing gratitude towards Don Cheadle for sharing his experiences and insights. He encourages listeners to check out Cheadle's new series, "Fight Night, the Million Dollar Heist," available on Peacock.

Willie Geist [36:33]: "So you can check out his new series, Fight Night, the Million Dollar Heist, streaming now on Peacock."

Cheadle adds a light-hearted note, affirming the positive nature of their discussion.

Don Cheadle [36:56]: "Thank you."

Willie concludes by thanking the audience and reminding them to follow the podcast for more in-depth conversations.

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Key Takeaways

• "Fight Night, the Million Dollar Heist" is a historically grounded series that explores the intertwining of sports, crime, and cultural dynamics in 1970s Atlanta.
• Don Cheadle meticulously researches his roles to ensure authenticity, particularly in portraying complex characters navigating societal challenges.
• Collaboration with a talented cast and crew is pivotal in bringing rich, multi-dimensional stories to life.
• Cheadle's activism post-Hotel Rwanda underscores the significant role celebrities can play in advocating for social justice and human rights.
• Balancing a demanding career with personal life is essential for maintaining mental well-being and staying grounded amidst the pressures of fame.

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Don Cheadle's new series, "Fight Night, the Million Dollar Heist," promises to be a compelling addition to Peacock's lineup, offering audiences a blend of historical drama and thrilling heist action, enriched by Cheadle's renowned performance and dedication to authentic storytelling.

Transcript

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[Don Cheadle]

Foreign.

[Willie Geist]

Hey guys, Willie Geist here with another episode of the Sunday Sit down podcast. My thanks as always for clicking and listening along. Very excited to bring you my conversation today with not only one of the best actors in Hollywood, but the best guys in Hollywood. He is Don Cheadle. I will not begin to attempt to listen all of the films and TV shows on his resume because it's exhausting and I know I'll leave out your favorite one. There are just too many. Suffice it to say he's been nominated for an Academy Award for Hotel Rwanda. He has won Golden Globes. He has won a Tony Award. He has won two Grammys. Even the man is unbelievable. You'll hear us in this conversation talk about the year 2004, which I think is a good snapshot of his range. Which was Ocean's twelve, the second Ocean's movie, Hotel Rwanda, the movie that earned him that Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, and Crash, which he starred in and also produced and won the Academy Award that year for Best Picture. That was all in one year for Don Cheadle, by the way. In that exchange, I think I say Ocean's 11 was 2004 was actually Ocean's 12, just for the record, but I think you'll enjoy getting to know him. If you don't know his story and his background. Where he comes from. Mean you can throw in Boogie Nights. I think his big bake breakthrough we talk about is Devil in a Blue Dress, where he starred with Denzel Washington. He's just an amazing actor who can do everything. And his latest is a new series streaming on Peacock called Fight Night the Million Dooll Heist. He'll explain it to you based on true events, which makes it so cool. A Muhammad Ali fight in Atlanta in 1970. There's a big afterparty for all these big celebrities that were in town and every gangster from every town, every big city in the country gathered here and there is an armed robbery of these people. It's incredible. It was the subject of a popular podcast and now this new series that he stars in with an amazing cast. So I will step aside and let you enjoy a conversation with Don Cheadle right now on the Sunday Sit down podcast.

[Don Cheadle]

Don, thanks for doing this.

Glad to be here.

Can we talk about the Chiefs first? The obvious, the here and now.

I think we have to talk about the elephant in the room.

The NFL season starts tonight. Your Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens. How are you feeling about a potential three peat for your guys?

I mean, what's hilarious to me is that they're now like the villains. How do the Chiefs become the villains? You know, but look, it's theirs to lose, right? Every year they seem to draft players that are just fit into spots and they have. So the scouting is so good that the pieces just always seem to fit together and it always seems to gel at the perfect time. So. So it's theirs to lose. I mean, the Ravens probably have the best shot of toppling them. Or the Bills, I think. I don't know about the Giants. Sorry, don't mean to bring up the.

Stuff we're looking at next year, Don. Looking out of the horizon.

That's right. Yeah. It's a very aspirational thing that you got working.

It's a long way out.

It's a long way. It's a long way. I see it for sure. You see it. You got to.

Yeah. The Chiefs definitely have that Patriots thing that they had, which is you've got the superstars, but then they keep adding those pieces that actually make the team go. So.

Yeah, please don't ever say that people are to give it to me.

I think you should have overcome that now, given your success.

I should be past. I'm harboring.

Let's move forward. But let's talk about why we're really here, which is fight night.

Yes.

Man, is this series fun. I told you. I just finished the first three episodes based on actual events. Set the scene a little bit for people who haven't seen it yet when this comes out or Thinking about it where we are, because this is a real. Two real moments, actually, that the whole series centers on.

Well, it's set in 1970. Ali was unable to get a fight for years after he refused to go into the draft, and he couldn't get a sanctioned fight. So in Atlanta, the senator there found a loophole and was able to bring the fight to Atlanta. So he famously returned to the ring. It was a huge deal. And as fights go, I don't know if you're a big fight fan if you go to them. Every gangster from every place in the world really descend to these fights. They become huge, huge events. And there was a party after the fight for these gangsters and other folks and some other guys had the bright idea to rob the party. And that's where we begin.

Bad idea. We'll just leave it at that. For people who haven't seen it yet.

I don't suggest that as a way for. There's not a lot of good insurance in that situation.

It's fair to say they didn't know who they were robbing at that point.

They did not.

So this is a real fight and then a real incident. In fact, as I was watching it, there's a podcast, a famous podcast, that sort of inspired this, I think, in some way. I always found myself online reading, like, how much of this actually happened. And maybe not every character is exactly real, but they certainly. Most of them were there, including yours. The detective who is such a fascinating character in this story, what did you see on the page about him that you loved?

Well, I just loved the complexity of who he was and what he had to deal with. You know, he was one of the first black detectives in the Atlanta Police Department, and a thankless job in many ways. You know, wasn't able to when he first became a cop, to police white people could only police black people. So he's put in the spot of, you know, trying to move this institutionalized racism that he's dealing with and trying to move the department in a way that's, you know, more just. And in his community, he's seen sort of as a pariah and an outsider. So he's kind of an outsider in both these worlds, but he's headstrong, and he's not going to quit and he's not going to step down. So he's just thrust into this really complex and difficult situation. It's great because he exists. He's a real person. And so there's a lot of great source material. You can see interviews with him and read about him. And he's also pretty prominent in the podcast, too.

Yeah. I was gonna ask you about how you got inside the character, because he is. Obviously, he was a real guy. And it must have been watching him, how complicated it was for the reasons you said, which is he's viewed as a sellout in his own community. Right. He's working for the cops, and the white officers in the white community don't respect him because it's 1970 and he's black in Atlanta. So what were you able to find out about him, about how he grappled with that?

Yeah, well, you know, for us, the script is the bible. Obviously, we're going with the words on the page, and it was a very collaborative effort. And I'd bring in things that I learned about him, and we would try to figure out, how does that comport with the true story? And can we say this? And what can we go with? What can we not go with? So trying to really make sure that the character was grounded and that it was authentic and find those little pieces, those little nuggets that you're like, oh, we gotta make sure that we get this in. We gotta make sure we get his point of view in about this. So I think it just really was a. Created a rich environment for me to try to try to create in. And I was really glad that we had the kind of writers and directors that were, like I said, collaborative. And we got to all put our heads together and come up with the best version of this guy. Not only this guy, but the whole show.

I mean, talk about a rich environment. First of all, you're in the early 1970s. All the clothes and the cars and the music that comes with that, but also a moment of racial tension, obviously, after the Civil Rights act passes. Martin Luther King has been assassinated two years before that. It's sort of a heated moment in the south that has all of that in the series.

It's all in there. And also a town that's changing what it is, this burgeoning, this developing environment where it's like, oh, there's a lot of black people here, and we're starting to. The first senator. Ever since reparations, it's all starting to. To come together. And everyone in this show, all these characters are trying to find their place in this new Atlanta and what's it going to be and who are we gonna be and how are we gonna show up in this space? So, yeah, a real. All those things, I think working really makes the show what it Is.

And then of course, there's the cast, which is just incredible. I mean, you've got Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Sam Jackson. Obviously I could go on and on and on. I have to imagine it's been with other films you've done. That's a big part of the draw, knowing you're going to be in an ensemble with that caliber of actors.

Absolutely. And for me, it was great because I've worked with all of them.

Yeah.

You know, so I have a history with everybody there. And to think, you know, about us all coming together under one roof to play these. I know that everyone's going to be a professional. I know everybody's going to take it seriously. I know that we're all pulling in the same direction. So that was really encouraging to already know that, to already have that going in and go, okay, well, that part's done. Now let's really figure out how to, you know, how to do this, how to make this thing the best we can. And except for Kevin Hart, it was great.

So that was all a setup for a shot at Kevin Hart.

Yeah. And thank you. Nice, nice, nice softball.

Put it right on the tee for you.

There you go. Now two on the shoulder. Now take it.

Striped it down the middle.

I appreciate it. Yeah.

Kevin is a good buddy of yours. Of course, I think maybe he's underrated as a dramatic actor because people know how funny he is and they see his stand up. But he's really good in this.

Yeah, he really brought it. And that was one of the things that we, you know, when they called me, when Will and he called me, he really wanted to stress that he wanted to, you know, push himself and he really wanted to try and expand his. His acting. And this is a role where he could still be funny. And there's levity in it for sure. And there's times when he can. And he's doing his Kevin thing, but there's other times when he really had to, like, dig deep and find another gear. And he was really hungry to do that. So that was another encouraging thing for me because I was like, I don't want to. This subject matter, this story, what we're taking on shouldn't just be like, set up, joke, set up joke. I don't want to do a bunch of yuck fest. Let's really find the truth in this thing. And he was very, very dedicated to that. So it was, it was exciting to see him stretch himself.

Yeah, he's really good. On a more superficial note, as an actor, how fun Is it to play in the 1970s, the hair, the clothes, the cars you're driving?

Yeah. Well, it was great because it's something that, you know, once you have all of those elements that you can just really focus on what you're trying to do with the character and the story, you're not worried about, like, this prop doesn't belong here, and, like, why are we trying to fake this for this? But we had great costumes, we had, you know, like you said, fantastic hair and makeup and. And props and set design and the art, decoration. Everything really came together to.

To.

To support everything else that we were trying to do with the story. And that's, you know, it's like make believe with the best toys.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's a good way to put it. Yeah. So I'm. You have done so much good work and such varied work. When you pick something like this, is it the script, is it the cast, is it all of those things? Because obviously you have choices. What do you look for to commit this much of your time to something?

Well, you know, you said the word time. It's like, what do you want to look back on and go, that was a good use of my time. Because it's the one thing we can't buy back. No matter how much money they give you, no matter what the prestige is, it's like, you got it. Any opportunity you eat is going to eat you. So you have to really look at all the elements and say, is this going to be something that I can bring my best to and that, you know, I can hopefully do something that I haven't done before? I'm always trying to expand myself, too, and try to push myself to do new things and take on new challenges. And I knew that we were all in a similar mindset. And, you know, Will puts together. He's a great producer and makes sure that everybody has what they need to do, what they need to do. So looking at all that for people watching Will Packard, who produced this with Heartbeat, with Kevin, that they were really dedicated to doing it right, you know, and taking care of people and making sure that we had everything we needed to try to tell this story. And, yeah, it was a long time. We were there for, you know, five months. But it's, again, you want to be doing something that you look back and go, I know why I committed that much time. I know why I spent that much time away from my family, away from my friends. And I really, you know, relish the opportunity to dig into this character and this story, particularly the thing I would.

Say is it's just fun. I mean, it hits on a lot of heavy stuff and race relations at that time and that place and all that. But it's also fun. I mean, it's like it's a heist movie, right?

Yeah, yeah. It gets to do, it gets to do both. And it's gonna get, you know, as the episodes go on, it's gonna get heavier as well. But again, it's great to do something that's based on a real story and something that you hope that, you know, in its best, in its best iteration, that people want to investigate it. People get interested in who these people are. They get interested in the, the city at that time. And, you know, it's a high bar. It's a, you know, a high hope for a TV show to be able to do that. But if it does that, you're like, okay, then we checked every box and we've given people an insight to the story they'd never heard before.

And it does that. Sometimes I have to pause while I'm reading about, oh, yeah, that guy was real. Yeah, you come back into it, you know.

Exactly.

Maybe do that at the end so you can enjoy.

Yeah. Or however you want to do it, whatever it is. Adhd, we're not going to hate you for that.

[Willie Geist]

Hey, guys, thanks for listening to the Sunday Sit down podcast. Stick around to hear more from Don Cheadle right after the break.

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[Don Cheadle]

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[Don Cheadle]

Cancel anytime through Apple under profile settings.

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[Willie Geist]

Now, more my conversation with Don Cheadle.

[Don Cheadle]

We were talking a minute ago, before we started about teachers and people in our lives who impacted us. And I'm always curious about the origin story of someone who's reached the place you've reached in Hollywood, which is Kansas City, Nebraska, Denver. But at what point in your life, Don, did you start to discover the power of performing, whether it was music with the saxophone.

Yeah.

Or whether it was being on a stage?

Well, for the acting, it was it was pretty early, actually. I did a play in fifth grade, Charlotte's Web. You may have heard of it, Templeton the Rat, if I remember correct, famously. So you have heard of it? Yeah, I've seen the clip. Yeah. It was all a videotape. Like, the cameras were this big and oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. But so I had a teacher in fifth grade, sixth grade, Barbara Althouse. And she, you know, again, you have these teachers that are inspired and excited for you and really happy and joyful about you exploring these things. And it was I just had an amazing experience. And I realized very early, like, oh, I'm taking this very seriously, you know, and I was doing music at the same time as playing sax. So performance, you know, it was a lot about performance. And then I went to junior high school and kind of just was a musician, didn't really do any theater at that time. But then when I got to high school, that kind of kicked back into high gear. And I had a great teacher in high school, Kathy Davis, who I still stay in touch with. And see, I was just in Chicago and was in touch with her. She lives in Chicago. And she really gave us a lot, you know, a lot of insight into the studying of the craft and method acting. And we wrote our own plays with her and we did a lot of improv and just really got to get completely enveloped in what the craft was and how to express yourself and find your voice and didn't even realize until much later how much she had really given me. And then I went to CalArts and studied there and had great teachers there, and it just kind of continued. And then when I graduated, the first thing I did professionally was right across the street at the Public Theater with My great friend Jesse Borrego and Joanne Acolytis directed productions. So we just had a great. It was just a great experience for me and it just kind of rolled on and on and on. I just never looked back.

I love that you mentioned the teachers by name every chance you get, because it is true. And I see it with my own kids too. Sometimes it's just one teacher giving one word of encouragement that totally changes the trajectory.

That's right.

Your life, somebody believing in you.

Yeah. Seeing something and saying, why don't you lean into that? You know, why don't you polish that? Why don't you work on that? I see you can have a future doing that. And it opens up so many other doors. You know, once you learn how to learn, you learn how to learn about a lot of different things. And that's one of the great experiences I think of being an actor is that we study so many different things from all these different characters that we play. There's so much research that we do about playing a doctor and playing an ER doctor. Well, I'm going to get into that for while I'm playing that or I'm playing cop, I'm going to study that. I'm going to do ride arounds with these guys. So it's a lot of. I didn't understand, obviously before I went into it how much it was going to open up the world for me. But I'm really glad that, you know, it's the road I chose.

And it sounds like you were lucky to have parents who encourage that. Some parents don't see that. I don't know if that's a career. Have fun with it now, but that's not a real job or, you know, I've heard that from other people I've interviewed. But it sounds like your parents gave you the space and the support to do that.

And I think, you know, I think my mom was a frustrated performer so she kind of got to live vicariously through me and she. And yes, I just really lucky. I had really loving, really supportive parents. And I've talked to others like you said, talked to other peers who said, oh no, that my parents are like, that's stupid. Yeah, get a real job. And you know, I remember being in one of the valleys of the career when you're like not getting anything and there's a bunch of no's that you're hearing in auditions and calling my mom and saying like, I don't know. I don't know if this is the thing. She was like, this is what you've talked about for a long, long time before you even thought, think about quitting. You better double down and really give it everything, because you don't want to look back and have regrets that you didn't go for it. And, you know, my dad was the same. He's like, whatever you do, just take it seriously. Like, really go after it. You know, really be serious about what it is that you're doing and give it your all, and then you can figure out if it's what you want to do or not. But a lot of people, like, you know, have been discouraged from chasing that. And then you look back and go, wow, what if. And they just never wanted that for me. And I'm so glad that they were those kinds of parents.

Another one of those pivot points. Your mom, in that moment, could say, you're right. Let's send you back to law school, or whatever she had in mind for you, but she supported you. That's so cool. So those valleys you talk about, are you talking early days in Hollywood after you moved out there and you're auditioning and trying to find jobs? Is that the early frustration?

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I was really, really fortunate to get into the business the way I did. And people have asked me, how do you start as an actor? And I'm like, I'm a terrible example, because my friend came to school for half a semester, and we went to an open call for fame, and he got the job. And out of 3,000 people, they cast two people, and he was one of them. And then he had to get an agent, so I drove him down because he didn't have a car to meet his agent. And his agent said, oh, I want to work with you. And then I became her pocket client. And then she started sending me out, and I'm like, I don't think that's. Those aren't the regular steps to becoming an actor in the business. So I've always been really blessed and kind of really protected in how it happened. But, yeah, there's gonna be peaks and valleys, and it took a minute before it. You know, I got on the front foot with that, but once the momentum started, I was really lucky that it just. It's continued.

Do you feel like Devil in a Blue Dress was the moment where it really started for you, just in terms of people knowing who you were and appreciating your. In that film, did that open more doors for you?

I think absolutely. That film started that. As far as people's attention, I had Been working up to that point pretty consistently, but that was definitely a moment in time where I think things got turned up and people started. I did five movies that year, I think, wow. You know, I did Volcano, and I did Rosewood, and I did. I don't remember the other movies I did, but I. Yeah, that was a big year.

And so that was. You'd been working a long time. That's Basically, what, like 10 years after you got into Hollywood or almost something. Something that was like, 90.

[Willie Geist]

95.

[Don Cheadle]

95, yeah. Graduated in 84. Yeah.

Yeah. So something like that. And so those doors start to start to open for you. What is that feel like? Like, what is. You know, as contrasted to what you were doing? Scrambling for auditions? Does it just mean they're throwing scripts at you or what does it look like?

I mean, you still feel like. I think most actors always. Most actors often feel like after they do their last job, that that's going to be the last job they ever get. And it takes a while to believe that, oh, maybe this is going to be something that continues because the business is continually changing, and sometimes you're in favor and sometimes you're not. Sometimes the kinds of things that you want to do, there's a plethora of them, and sometimes there's a dearth of them. So it's just kind of staying on the grind. And I've always been very picky and really particular about the kinds of things that I want to get involved with. So it's not saying yes to everything. And it's just been. It's just been a real journey. And there's still times when I go, is that it? Is it a wrap? Is it time to, like, start making pizzas or something?

But isn't there something good about that? I find that a little bit. Just a hint of fatalism. Like, if I don't stay sharp, this all goes away.

Yeah.

Keeps you hungry, doesn't it?

Keeps you hungry? Absolutely. There's not a lot of resting on the last thing and thinking that that's gonna be it. Especially now because there's so much. There's so many places people can go for their entertainment, their news, their everything. You pick it, and it's all a la carte. So to find things that not only are interesting and feed you and things that you want to jump into and things that you're excited about spending time with, to somehow work on the other side so that people are like, okay, well, I'll hire you again. You know, it's a lot to juggle and again, I've been very fortunate and very blessed to have been able to kind of navigate this for this long.

[Willie Geist]

Stick around for more of my conversation with Don Cheadle right after a quick break.

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[Jenna Bush Hager]

Over the past.

[Don Cheadle]

Several days, three females have been found dead.

[Jenna Bush Hager]

Looks like someone's going after these girls.

[Don Cheadle]

Then they have to know to wash their backs. Streaming now. You really want what happened if it's when it happened to you? Exactly what why I need to keep going on this. Starring Emmy award winner Amanda Seyfried. I'm worried about what you're gonna find. So am I. Long Bright River a limited series streaming now only on Peacock.

[Jenna Bush Hager]

Hey everyone, it's Jenna Bush Hager from Today with Jenna and friends reminding you to check out my podcast Open Book with Jenna. On this week's episode, I sit down with best selling author Rebecca Yarros to talk about how she drew on her experience with chronic illness and life in a military family to write 4th Wing and her process to plot out five books in the series. You can listen to the full conversation now by searching Open Book with Jenna wherever you get your podcasts.

[Willie Geist]

Welcome back now to the rest of my conversation with Don Cheadle.

[Don Cheadle]

Speaking of prolific years you've had, I was looking back and it's been 20 years now since a year in 2004 when you did Ocean 11, Crash and Hotel Rwanda.

Wow.

Those all came out in the same year. Which if you want to take a snapshot of Don Cheadle, there it is, right? The guy can do everything. You got the Oscar nomination, of course, for Hotel Rwanda. Crash won the best picture Academy Award in Ocean's Eleven was one of the biggest movies of all time. When you look back 20 years, years on that year, what does that sound like to you? That that all happened at once and again, such, such varied films and I have.

I had not thought about it until you just encapsulated it like that. I wouldn't have been able. I didn't Remember that? Yeah, that was. That was a big. That was a big year. Yeah. And I think was really fun for me because I came into this business wanting to do a lot of different things, wanting to play a lot of different characters, and in some ways, that's really not the best way to go about it as far as, you know, career security, because people kind of want to know who you are and what you are, and, like, they know what they're going to get when they see you. But that was never that interesting to me. You know, I always wanted to do a lot of different things and have the opportunity to slip inside of a lot of different, you know, people's psyches and skins. So, yeah, that was a. That was a big year. And I think, again, I definitely know when Crash won the Oscar, I was across the street.

Oh.

Next to the public, where Matt Damon had an apartment, and he wasn't there. And I was staying there because I was working on something out here. And that's when I found out that Crash went.

Is that right?

Yeah.

Wow, that was a crazy year.

Yeah.

I mean, crazy in so many different ways.

Yeah.

Did that. Ocean's Eleven and then all the other. The ones that came after that, on the fame front, did that change things for you? In other words, always a respected and known actor, but now all of a sudden, the whole world knows who you are?

Yeah, that definitely did. That definitely did change things. Huge franchise and biggest actors in the world, you know, and to see. And it was also great to get to see, like, what it was for them and to go like. Well, I don't think I wanted that exactly, because in many ways, that's kind of a prison for them. You know what I mean? The way they had to live and having to have security all the time and having to, you know, be sort of protected and. And buffered from people that would want to do things to them. I mean, it was seeing that that level of fame was, in some ways, a cautionary tale. And, you know, I wanted to draft it. I didn't mind, like, being on the side and seeing it happen, but I didn't think I wanted to be dead center in the middle of that.

You still want to go get your cup of coffee in the morning and not have it be an event.

Exactly. And knowing that, because when we did the second one, we were in Italy, and paparazzi's in Italian. Word.

True.

Yeah. And we were so sequestered because we just had to kind of always be in one area. But there would be times when we would leave and do things solo, and whenever people would, like, rush us, like, Matt and I traveled around with our families a lot, and we went and did, like, touristy stuff, and we'd kind of put hats on in disguises and try to run around. But if anybody would come up to us, we'd be like, there's Brad. Brad's right over there. And they'd all go that way. And he would run into the shadow, jump into a car and take off.

Just use them as bait. Yes.

Oh, George, look. That's George. Yeah.

Yeah.

So it was great.

And Hotel Rwanda had to be so meaningful, the reception it received, the awards and all that. Because that's an issue that's so meaningful to you, obviously.

Yeah.

You've worked on Darfur and genocide and everything around that. How gratifying was it to have that movie be so well received?

It was unexpected. It was one of those that I thought, it's great to do and it's important to do, and I really want to be a part of telling this story, but it's not on paper. Something you look at and go, oh, this is going to be a huge. This is going to have a huge impact. This is going to be a big story. So when it got the attention it did, I was very happy. I was incredibly happy for Sophie and incredibly happy for Paul Rusosa Baguina, who I play, and his family in Tatiana, and bringing that story to light. And then I was kind of pulled into this stream of activism that had already been happening before I was anything to be a part of it, and was invited on a congressional delegation and went to Sudan and went to Darfur and got to see firsthand what was happening. And then, as I said, was just sort of pulled into this. This. This current that had already been happening a lot before me. And I. Then I saw really the power of. Of celebrity, and I saw the power of taking the attention and refocusing it and, you know, talking about people who deserve the spotlight. And people have been working on this for a long time and trying to get traction. And I. And I. I think I knew we were really making the right amount of noise. When I was told by people at the State Department to shut up, I was like, oh, it's working. Yeah, keep agitating. Keep doing it, because no one is speaking for these people. And again, in the news, we're seeing what's happening in Sudan right now. It's kind of devolved and gone back into the place that it was probably even worse than it was in 2004, 2005. So another moment to try to, you know, get this ratcheted up, get this attention ratcheted up. And it's completely crowded, you know, and noisy news cycle where everything is disposable and goes away really quickly. It's something that, again, we need to keep banging the drum and keep, you know, showing up and bringing attention to that area because it's unfathomable what's happening right now.

Yeah, it is such a persistent plague that you think it's, you've done good work and you think you've done something to make it better, and then, boy, it just comes right back, doesn't it?

Yeah.

You were talking about sort of maintaining your. Your normalcy in that Ocean's Eleven group. And the book on you is true or not that you're just a good guy, that you're a normal guy.

Not true at all. See, I teed you up again, Completely fabricated. Yeah, I'm actually.

The monster is here. What do you do to maintain normalcy in your life? I mean, obviously, you've got a great, long relationship. You've got children you love pretty good with a golf club in your hand, I'm told. What do you do away from this movie world, this celebrity world that just keeps you grounded?

Yeah, kind of everything you said, you know, I have friends that I've had for a long time that aren't a part of the business, and, you know, that's great. And friends that are a part of the business that I've just had long standing relationships with people in my life. And my new friends that I have are really great and similarly not gassed up about this. We understand what it is. We understand that it's fleeting. It's great to have the opportunity to do these things, and it's great to be in things where it shines a bright light on it. But it's greater to, like, be with your family, you know, it's greater to, on the birthday, just kind of kick it with your kids and your wife, you know, So I toggle between both. But I know that I'm, you know, I'm much happier just like sitting on the couch and playing my bass than doing a lot of the stuff that comes with this gig.

Isn't that so important, though, that perspective? Because I see people, even in my business who don't have it. And I want to say all this stuff's going away someday. The stuff at home is what's gonna be there for you. Invest in that.

Yeah, yeah. And I'm. And I'm, you know, I'm really lucky to have that because some people want that and don't have it right. And, yeah, it keeps you grounded. When people don't care that you're on that thing, they're like, yeah, who are you here? That's what matters.

Yeah, exactly. Well, despite what Kevin Hart told me, you are a great guy.

Oh, thank you. And who. People keep saying that name. Who is this guy? I mean, I've been acting like I know who he is. I kind of know who he is. What's he been in?

If you go back and watch the show that you're in right now, he pops up from time to time. You might recognize him. Funny guy, comedian, little dude, right? Well, that's for you to say.

I'm gonna say it. You're a little dude next time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

[Willie Geist]

My big thanks again to Don for a great conversation. He really is one of the all time great guys. You can check out his new series, Fight Night, the Million Dollar Heist, streaming now on Peacock. And my big thanks to all of you, as always for listening again this week. If you want to hear more of my conversations with our guests every week, be sure to click follow so you.

[Don Cheadle]

Never miss an episode.

[Willie Geist]

And don't forget to tune in to Sunday Today every weekend on NBC where you can see the interviews with your own two eyes in Technicolor. I'm Willie Geist. We'll see you right back here next week. Sunday sit down podcast.

[Al Roker]

This week only on Meet the Press, as the country reacts to economic jitters and the trade war. Kristen Welker sits down with Treasury Secretary Scott Besant and Senator Chris Murphy. Plus, Steve Bernanki breaks down a new NBC News poll on President Trump's first eight weeks only on Meet the Press. Listen to the full episode now. Wherever you get your podcasts.