Mike White Made The White Lotus An Offer F. Murray Abraham Couldn't Refuse
Much of the appeal of "The White Lotus" — an anthology series created by Mike White where each season takes place at a different branch of the fictional White Lotus resort — stems from the fact that pretty much every single one of the guests and hotel staff is absolutely insufferable. The show dabbles in dark humor that typically draws attention to the self-centered personalities of those looking to enjoy their stay at the upscale resort. The cast of season 1 was brimming with exceptional actors — Alexandra Daddario, Steve Zahn, Sydney Sweeney, and Jennifer Coolidge, to name a few — and season 2 only adds to the impressive list of names with Aubrey Plaza, Meghann Fahey, and Theo James all checking in for a drama-filled stay.
But what is a series set in Sicily without some kind of reference to its Mafia roots? In the case of "The White Lotus" season 2, the inclusion of actors Michael Imperioli (perhaps best known for his time on "The Sopranos") and F. Murray Abraham ("Scarface" being one of his major gangster claims to fame) help add to the mob atmosphere. Abraham plays Imperioli's womanizing father who has come to Sicily with his son and grandson in the hopes of discovering their family's roots, and while some might be hesitant to check in to a hotel chain notorious for having people turn up dead, Abraham couldn't resist booking a room on set.
The trip of a lifetime
In a recent interview for Collider, F. Murray Abraham opened up about his decision to spend time at the glamorous White Lotus. "Think about it. It was shooting in Sicily with this script, with Mike White, and with this cast," he says. "How can you say no? You just say, 'Please, please, please.'" Abraham was eager to take on the role of Bert di Grasso, who playfully vacillates between cringy old man and wise patriarch of the di Grasso family throughout the entire season.
When asked if he did anything special to prepare for his role on the show, he tells Collider, "It was really all on the page. I have to give [Mike White] complete credit for it. There was some improvisation, but very little. It wasn't necessary." While Abraham's role in season 2 is less drama filled than that of his son's and grandson's — Bert acts as more of a casual observer of his family's philandering than an actual participant — he is a welcome addition to the show, helping to alleviate some of the season's tenser moments. Abraham credits much of this to White's ability to pen an excellent script, saying, "[The part] jumped off the page to me. Some parts do that, and this one did. Generally speaking, I think [Mike White's] stuff does that for actors. It's very clear, and it's just simply very good." Very good, indeed, because "The White Lotus" season 2 is a messy web of privileged complexities that you definitely do not want to miss.