Where was "Abe" in new West Side Story?

[Beartracks]

I finally saw Spielberg's West Side Story, and in the end credits there's a character named Abe, played by Curtiss Cook. I couldn't place who Abe was, so I looked up the actor to see if I recognized him from the movie. Nope... But I did find a lot of press on how Abe was a new Black character created for this movie; apparently (and I didn't realize this) there were no Black characters -- or even extras? -- in the 1961 film, and Spielberg and Co. noted that that was not representative of 1950s New York City. Anyhow, the articles all mention that the role of Abe is not a re-casting of a Puerto Rican part and it is also apparently not a "small part" like Officer Krupke (which is not an insignificant part). Yet I do not recall any Black characters in the movie, except for background extras, since the story focuses on the whites and the Puerto Ricans. What am I missing? Who/where was "Abe" in this movie?



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[Mike Nelson]

1. Probably...

... he was cast as Puerto Rican? Maybe the actor identifies as Black? Many people identify as Black when they are biracial... and "Black" has a big range of skin color. Eventually, we will all be Beige!

[bbernardini]

2. There are a few Black people as extras in the original film.

They're all in the dance at the gym scene.

[Chipper Chat]

3. Maybe Abe's scene was cut.

[Beartracks]

4. Should've thought of that possibility.

I hadn't found any press on the actor or his role AFTER the movie came out, but everything beforehand gave the impression his role was going to be a speaking part

I knew someone in a big Hollywood movie who had a meaningful conversation with the star... but when the movie came out the scene starts RIGHT AFTER that conversation ends. The star stands up and the camera follows -- so my friend's appearance was just a brief glimpse of his shoulder as the lead steps away. He was still in the credits, though, as I recall.

So, yeah... That could be what happened to Abe.



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