Kevin O'Leary, known as Mr. Wonderful from 'Shark Tank,' made his acting debut in the A24 film 'Marty Supreme' and has expressed strong dissatisfaction with its conclusion. In a recent interview, the venture capitalist suggested darker fates for the characters, including the death of Marty Supreme's love interest in childbirth. Despite his critiques, O'Leary's performance as the antagonist has earned critical praise.
Kevin O'Leary, the 71-year-old investor famous for his role on 'Shark Tank,' stepped into acting for the first time in 'Marty Supreme,' directed by Josh Safdie. The film, which opened wide on Christmas, centers on a ping-pong hustler played by Timothée Chalamet and quickly became A24's second-largest opening weekend, sparking Oscar buzz.
O'Leary portrays Milton Rockwell, a wealthy antagonist who clashes with Chalamet's character, Marty Supreme. Casting came about when Safdie sought an 'asshole' for the role, echoing how Mark Burnett recruited O'Leary for 'Shark Tank' nearly two decades earlier. Despite no prior acting experience, O'Leary read for the part at his Muskoka lake house after Safdie flew to meet him. His agent at UTA expressed concerns about the debut, but O'Leary proceeded, printing the script and sharing it with a friend who called it unputdownable.
On set, O'Leary filmed his first scene opposite Chalamet, praising the actor's transformative energy: 'Sparks are flying off his fingertips.' A memorable sequence involved O'Leary smacking Chalamet's bare backside with a ping-pong paddle, requiring 40 takes until 4 a.m. Chalamet opted out of using a double, and when the prop broke, they switched to a real one, leaving marks. O'Leary also improvised a key line, 'I'm a vampire,' which the directors incorporated after he demonstrated it in a video.
However, O'Leary remains vocal about the film's ending, where Marty returns from Japan—having sabotaged Rockwell by winning against Koto Endo (played by Koto Kawaguchi)—to hold his newborn child in a moment of overwhelming emotion. 'This kumbaya ending is absurd,' O'Leary said, arguing Marty should suffer for his ruthless ambition. He pitched Safdie on having Rachel (Odessa A'Zion) die in childbirth and even Milton biting Marty, ideas the director considered but rejected as too extreme.
O'Leary, a former film editor, adapted to the non-democratic set environment, learning from cinematographer Darius Khondji's perfectionism with 35mm film. He views AI as a tool for efficiency, like using blow-up dolls in past shoots, but insists it won't replace actors' magic. Looking ahead, O'Leary eyes more roles, including a villain in a James Bond film.
