How true is Lee Daniels The Butler?

How true is Lee Daniels The Butler?

The Butler, from The Weinstein Co. and starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey, is based on Eugene Allen, a White House butler who served eight presidents from 1952 to 1986. Much of the film, though, has been fictionalized, including his name (which was changed to Cecil Gaines) and childhood background.

Why is it called Lee Daniels The Butler?

Lee Daniels’ The Butler, so called for legal reasons, not for ego, is based on the true story of a butler, named Eugene Allan, who served 34 years in the White House, from President Truman to President Reagan and lived to see a black man, Barack Obama, take the highest office in the land.

Is Cecil Gaines still alive?

Deceased (1919–2010)
Eugene Allen/Living or Deceased

What was Cecil’s real name?

In 1952, the real Cecil Gaines, Eugene Allen, was working as a waiter at a Washington D.C. country club….Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013)

REEL FACE: REAL FACE:
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Elijah Kelley Born: August 1, 1986 Birthplace: LaGrange, Georgia, USA Charles Allen Born: 1946

Which presidents did Cecil Gaines serve?

The character of Cecil Gaines was based on Eugene Allen, who served as White House butler for over 30 years and 8 presidents: Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B.

What happened to Charlie Gaines?

In the movie, the Gaines’ youngest son Charlie (Elijah Kelley) dies in Vietnam, requiring Cecil to maintain his composure and poise while confronting Nixon.

Who did Mariah Carey portray in the butler?

Hattie Pearl
The usually glamorous singer turns heads in her new role as Hattie Pearl. Director Lee Daniels stripped away Mariah Carey’s diamonds and glamour for her latest role in The Butler. The usually decadent diva appears to be makeup-free as she portrays Hattie Pearl, a field slave, in the upcoming film.

Did the butler win any Oscars?

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
The Butler/Awards

Why did Cecil Gaines break a window?

After leaving the plantantion Cecil had no one to rely on anymore so he began to starve. This caused him to have to steal food. One night he came across a storefront window that was full of cake. So since he was starving he decided to break in.

What happened to Mariah Carey in the butler?

She recalled she was riding on a Long Island school bus when a student spit on her when she was a child because of the color of her skin. And the foul memory came flooding back while she was making “The Butler.”

What happened to Cecil’s mother in the butler?

The butler’s backstory His mother (Mariah Carey) is raped by a white plantation overseer, Thomas Westfall (Alex Pettyfer), loud enough for everyone to hear. When Westfall returns, Cecil’s father shows his anger, and Westfall shoots him dead in front of Cecil and the other plantation workers.

Who was the Butler in the White House?

(Error Code: 102630) As Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man’s life, family, and American society.

Who are the actors in the movie The Butler?

Cast (in credits order) complete, awaiting verification Forest Whitaker Cecil Gaines David Banner Earl Gaines Michael Rainey Jr. Cecil Gaines (8) LaJessie Smith Abraham Mariah Carey Hattie Pearl

Is the movie The Butler based on a true story?

Loosely based on the real life of Eugene Allen, who worked in the White House for decades, the film stars Forest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines, an African-American who is a witness of notable political and social events of the 20th century during his 34-year tenure serving as a White House butler.

What happens to Louis and Gloria in the Butler?

Louis joins a student program led by Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) activist James Lawson, which leads to a nonviolent sit-in at a segregated diner, where he is arrested. Gloria, who feels that Cecil puts his job ahead of her, descends into alcoholism .

How true is Lee Daniels The Butler? The Butler, from The Weinstein Co. and starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey, is based on Eugene Allen, a White House butler who served eight presidents from 1952 to 1986. Much of the film, though, has been fictionalized, including his name (which was changed to Cecil Gaines) and…