Coronji Calhoun
Encyclopedia
Coronji Calhoun is an American
actor. He portrayed Tyrell, the morbidly obese son of Lawrence and Leticia Musgrove in the 2001 movie Monster's Ball
.
"Perhaps one of the most affecting performances of the year was given by a 10-year-old Louisiana
fourth-grader who has never acted before or studied the craft," commented Variety
reporter Christopher Grove. Indeed, many people were particularly moved by—and concerned with—the youth who played Tyrell Musgrove. Calhoun was chosen from an open casting call
, and was paid the minimum union scale for his work. He also suffered demonstrably from obesity
. Tyrell's chocolate
addiction
was based on his hunger for his absent father.
In a feature
interview
by iofilm.co.uk columnist Paul Fischer, Berry discussed working with Coronji, including the scene where she as Leticia strikes him for hiding candy. "Marc (the director) and I were talking to him, saying this is just a movie, and I kept saying, everything I do and say, it's not real. I really think you're wonderful. And he said, 'Well, whatever you do to me, Halle Berry, it isn't going to be worse than what the kids at school do to me.'"
On the film's website, which has since been removed, Coronji was described as being a normal child who enjoyed playing basketball and video games and who liked to dance. Still others suggested that something more should have been done for the boy by giving him a scholarship or a commemorative trust fund for his work. As Tyrell, Coronji poignantly brought his own experience about being fat, sensitive and artistic to the screen.
Coronji Calhoun was listed as missing on a Web site seeking to find and reunite survivors of Hurricane Katrina
. It was later revealed that he was living some 25 miles outside of New Orleans in a town that sustained little damage from the hurricane.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor. He portrayed Tyrell, the morbidly obese son of Lawrence and Leticia Musgrove in the 2001 movie Monster's Ball
Monster's Ball
Monster's Ball is a 2001 romantic drama film directed by Marc Forster, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, and Heath Ledger, and written by Milo Addica and Will Rokos. It was produced by Lionsgate and Lee Daniels Entertainment....
.
"Perhaps one of the most affecting performances of the year was given by a 10-year-old Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
fourth-grader who has never acted before or studied the craft," commented Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
reporter Christopher Grove. Indeed, many people were particularly moved by—and concerned with—the youth who played Tyrell Musgrove. Calhoun was chosen from an open casting call
Casting (performing arts)
In the performing arts, casting is a pre-production process for selecting a cast of actors, dancers, singers, models and other talent for a live or recorded performance.-Casting process:...
, and was paid the minimum union scale for his work. He also suffered demonstrably from obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
. Tyrell's chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
addiction
Behavioral addiction
Behavioral addiction is a form of addiction which does not rely on drugs or alcohol. Increasingly referred to as process addiction or non-substance-related addiction ) behavioral addiction includes a compulsion to repeatedly engage in an action until said action causes serious negative consequences...
was based on his hunger for his absent father.
In a feature
Feature story
- Published Features & news :While the distinction between published features and news is often clear, when approached conceptually there are few hard boundaries between the two. It is quite possible to write a feature in the style of a news story, for instance...
interview
Interview
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
by iofilm.co.uk columnist Paul Fischer, Berry discussed working with Coronji, including the scene where she as Leticia strikes him for hiding candy. "Marc (the director) and I were talking to him, saying this is just a movie, and I kept saying, everything I do and say, it's not real. I really think you're wonderful. And he said, 'Well, whatever you do to me, Halle Berry, it isn't going to be worse than what the kids at school do to me.'"
On the film's website, which has since been removed, Coronji was described as being a normal child who enjoyed playing basketball and video games and who liked to dance. Still others suggested that something more should have been done for the boy by giving him a scholarship or a commemorative trust fund for his work. As Tyrell, Coronji poignantly brought his own experience about being fat, sensitive and artistic to the screen.
Coronji Calhoun was listed as missing on a Web site seeking to find and reunite survivors of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. It was later revealed that he was living some 25 miles outside of New Orleans in a town that sustained little damage from the hurricane.