Exclusive: Donald Faison Reflects on Memorable Scenes from 'Clueless' and 'Remember the Titans'

Donald Faison is introducing a new character in the NBC sitcom Extended Family, while also taking a trip down memory lane to revisit some of his most beloved roles, such as Clueless and Remember the Titans.

In an exclusive interview with We’s Role Rewind, the 49-year-old actor watched a memorable scene from the 1995 movie Clueless. The scene featured Faison, along with his costars Stacey Dash and Alicia Silverstone, accidentally driving their red convertible onto the Los Angeles freeway. The chaos that followed was both hilarious and unforgettable, as their car was surrounded by angry drivers in cars, motorcycles, and even 18-wheelers.

Faison recalled a funny moment during filming where the cameraman was in the back seat, asking him to scream again for the B-camera. They repeated the scene a few times, with Faison turning around and yelling. It was an improvised moment that stuck with him.

Another memorable moment for Faison was when he finally got to kiss Stacey Dash on camera. He had told everyone in his hometown that he would be playing her boyfriend and was excited about the kissing scene. After the kiss, Stacey's reaction of "Wow" stayed with him. It was a special day on set for Faison.

(Faison portrayed Murray in Clueless, the boyfriend of Dash’s Dionne Davenport.)

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Faison later starred in Brandy's music video for "Sittin' Up in My Room" as her love interest. He mentioned that he wouldn't have been in the video if it weren't for his role in Clueless.

When Brandy visited our youth organization, City Kids in New York, she recognized me right away and we quickly became friends. We would hang out with her brother Ray J whenever they were in town, visiting our place whenever they could.

I considered Brandy to be my first true Hollywood friend. Even though our friendship only lasted a short while, she was the first successful person in Hollywood that I got to know personally.

Five years after her role in Clueless, Faison appeared in Remember the Titans as Petey Jones. The movie, released in 2000, is about the life of football coach Herman Boone, portrayed by Denzel Washington.

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When we were filming this movie, we didn't have much interaction with Denzel Washington because he was playing the coach and we were the kids on the team. Whenever he spoke to us, he stayed in character as Coach Boone. I recall one morning when he didn't even say good morning. He just walked up to me and said, "Let's go, let's work."

We shared with Faison a famous scene from Remember the Titans. In this scene, the team gathers for the first time, and Coach Boone confronts Petey with a question, “Why are you smiling?” The interaction between them is both tense and funny as Coach Boone sets the tone for the upcoming football season with his strict rules.

Faison remembered that after the intense exchange, Coach Boone took him aside to run lines for about 10 minutes. Coach Boone asked him if he felt good, and Faison confidently replied that he felt great. This experience shaped their relationship and set the stage for what was to come.

Faison shared, "It's such an iconic scene, you know? I'm fully aware of how iconic it is. It's kind of embarrassing to say, but being a part of it was a big deal for me. I remember thinking, 'I can't wait to tell my mom and dad about this because I'm working with the best.' That day will always stand out in my memory as a great day in my life."

Currently, Faison can be seen portraying Trey on the NBC sitcom Extended Family, which is broadcasted on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Reporting by Christina Garibaldi

Editor's P/S:

Donald Faison's reminiscences of his iconic roles in "Clueless" and "Remember the Titans" evoke a sense of nostalgia and admiration. His candid anecdotes about the filming process and his interactions with esteemed actors like Alicia Silverstone and Denzel Washington provide a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes dynamics that shaped these memorable cinematic experiences.

Faison's journey from a small-town actor to a Hollywood star is an inspiring tale of perseverance and talent. His humility and gratitude towards those who have supported him along the way, such as Brandy and his youth organization, City Kids, underscore the importance of fostering connections and giving back to the community.