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- Sam Rockwell Says He Gets Residuals from the 1989 Film "Lean on Me", Despite Not Being in the Movie — Here's Why</p>
<p>Toria SheffieldJuly 6, 2025 at 1:00 AM</p>
<p>Manoli Figetakis/Getty for Tribeca Festival</p>
<p>Sam Rockwell</p>
<p>Sam Rockwell says he still receives residual checks for the 1989 film Lean on Me — despite not appearing in the movie</p>
<p>The actor, 56, says he was cast to say one line and was paid for one day of work, but actor Michael Imperioli ultimately played the role</p>
<p>Rockwell told the story while on a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast</p>
<p>Sam Rockwell is still getting checks for the film Lean on Me — even though he wasn't in the movie.</p>
<p>The actor shared the information while appearing on a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast with host Josh Horowitz. During the conversation, Rockwell, 56, said that when he was still a struggling young actor, he and several other up-and-comers drove to New Jersey together for an audition.</p>
<p>"Michael Imperioli and I — and Kevin Corrigan — drove in a van to New Jersey to audition for one line in Lean on Me," Rockwell recalled.</p>
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<p>He continued, "And I got it, and then they never got to my scene [during the shoot day], so they had to let me go because they didn't want to pay me for a week … they either have to pay you for a day player or a week. So they let me go … because they were like, 'Eh, we can't pay him for a week for one line.' And they hired Michael [...] Michael's in the movie. And I still get residual checks for that even though I'm not in it."</p>
<p>Barry Wetcher/HBO</p>
<p>Michael Imperioli in 2006</p>
<p>The 1989 drama starred Morgan Freeman as a radical educator tasked with saving a New Jersey high school riddled with gang violence and drug use. The film marked Imperioli's first film role.</p>
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<p>Later in the podcast, Rockwell went on to share that the movie wasn't the only time he and Imperioli crossed paths in the early days of their career.</p>
<p>"They called me to do Celebrity, and I was part of [Leonardo] DiCaprio's entourage. And I had a few lines, and they said [director] 'Woody [Allen] wants you to dye your hair bleach blonde.' And I said I'm not dying my hair bleach blonde for like five lines — what are you crazy?' And they're like, 'Woody wants you to do it!' And I'm like, 'Well, I'm not doing it!' "</p>
<p>"And they're like, 'Well, Michael Imperioli was gonna do it!' "</p>
<p>"Because he [Michael] had dropped out [of the project], and I was replacing Michael because Michael was gonna do a little pilot called Sopranos," Rockwell explained before joking, "That I heard didn't go anywhere."</p>
<p>"And I said, 'Alright, I'll dye my hair.' "</p>
<p>Miramax</p>
<p>Sam Rockwell in 1998's 'Celebrity'</p>
<p>Most recently, Rockwell garnered fresh critical acclaim and fan recognition for his role in the third season of HBO's White Lotus, in which he appeared with his longtime partner, actress Leslie Bibb.</p>
<p>Rockwell and Bibb, 51, have been together for 18 years after meeting in the lobby of the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles. They also both appeared in 2010's Iron Man 2.</p>
<p>Michael Kovac/Getty for AFI</p>
<p>Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell attend the 2024 AFI Fest in L.A. on Oct. 27, 2024</p>
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<p>Rockwell will also be reprising his role as "Mr. Wolf" in DreamWorks' The Bad Guys 2, which premieres in theaters nationwide on August 1.</p>
<p>on People</p>
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