Ted Lange Reveals Love Boat Producers Faced Racism Allegations

Actor Ted Lange says he faced racial bias on the set of The Love Boat. The 77-year-old made the claims in a recent interview. He was the only Black series regular on the popular 1970s show.Lange portrayed bartender Isaac Washington. He spoke with PEOPLE magazine during a cruise event. The actor detailed how producers would often sideline his character.

Fighting for Equitable Screen Time

Lange explained the term “short shrift.” He said producers focused heavily on white characters. His character was frequently given leftover scenes. His personal mission became making the screen time more equitable.According to his account, this exclusion was evident from the start. The opening and closing sequences in the first season featured only white cast members. Lange directly confronted the producers about this omission. He questioned why his character was not included in these key segments.

A Deeper Issue of Unspoken Bias

The producers initially dismissed his concerns. They asked him what he would even be doing in those scenes. Lange perceived an undercurrent of racism in their responses. He believed it was the unspoken reason for his treatment.He countered their creative arguments with logic. Lange noted the captain’s place was on the bridge and the doctor’s in sickbay. He argued that if writers could creatively place them in the sequences, they could do the same for his bartender character. His costars reportedly supported him during these challenging times.

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The actor’s candid revelations shed new light on the behind-the-scenes culture of a classic television show. These Love Boat racism claims highlight the quiet struggles faced by Black performers during that era.

Thought you’d like to know

Q1: Who is Ted Lange?

Ted Lange is an American actor and director. He is best known for playing bartender Isaac Washington on the television series *The Love Boat*. He was a series regular from 1977 to 1986.

Q2: What did Ted Lange claim happened?

Lange claimed the producers would “short shrift” his character. He said they focused on white characters and gave his role leftovers. He also was excluded from the show’s opening and closing sequences initially.

Q3: How did the producers respond to his concerns?

When he asked about being in the sequences, they questioned what his character would do there. Lange felt their reasoning was inadequate. He believed the underlying issue was racism.

Q4: Did his costars support him?

Yes, Ted Lange stated that his fellow cast members were supportive during these difficult times. He did not specify any individual actions they took, but confirmed they stood by him.

Q5: What was the outcome of his advocacy?

While not detailing a specific change, his persistence aimed to make the show more equitable. His continued presence on the series for nine seasons suggests his efforts had some impact on his role’s development.