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Jezy Gray shared the camera with legendary Robert De Niro. Photo courtesy of Brandi Gray
A local man recently had the privilege of acting alongside Robert De Niro. Jezy “JJ” Gray played a role in the 2023 film, “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Gray was born inArdmore and lived in rural Love County for a few years. However, he moved to Madillinthemid-90sandattended Madill Public Schools till he was 18. He said he considers Madill his home.
Gray said he stumbled upon the role.
“I answered an online ad from a casting agency looking for a male Oklahoma-based journalist in their 30s to work on what was described as “a major motion picture filming in Oklahoma,” he said. “I submitted my headshots and writing samples without expecting much, but I got a call back that evening asking me to come to Bartlesville for a costume fitting the next day.”
He played Secretary Hale, the secretary to William “King” Hale – “a prominent cattle baron who helped orchestrate the Osage murders of the 1920s.” The role of the baron was played by De Niro, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role. Graysaideventhoughheonlyhad one line, “Yes, Mr. Hale,” he was in close proximity to De Niro.
Gray said being on set was “surreal.”
“I’d never been on an actual film set, so it’s pretty wild that my first time would be with the greatest actor and film director of all time,” Gray said. “I mostly just tried to not get in my head too much, but it’s hard to keep your nerves in check when you’re working with legends of that caliber.”
“De Niro and I didn’t talk muchbetweentakes,butwhenwe wrapped,” Gray continued. “He squeezed my shoulder, looked me in the eyes and warmly said, Thank you.’ I think that’s the moment that will stick with me the most.
Gray worked closely with De Niro and Martin Scorsese during filming. However, he didn’t get to meet any of the other actors in the movie.
Gray said that even though he thoroughly enjoyed filming the movie, he doesn’t foresee a career of acting in his future.
“I stay pretty busy with my full-time job and freelance writing, so I doubt I’ll be very active about pursuing audition opportunities,” Gray said. “But I’m always open to anything that might come my way. Acting on a film set was really fun and rewarding. I’d love to do it again.”
Gray is a journalist who lives in Boulder, Colo. He is the Arts and Culture editor for the Boulder Weekly newspaper. He also freelances as an arts reporter for national outlets like Paste, ArtDesk and PopMatters.