Who Played Me in "Do the Right Thing"? Quiz

Answer: Samuel L. Jackson

Jackson, born on December 21st, 1948 in Washington, D.C., was cast as Mister Senor Love Daddy. Mister Senor opened up the film by speaking to his radio listeners when he mentioned they likely had his radio station as the last on their dial but the first in their hearts. Mister Senor kept talking about the way he approached being a jockey by only playing music which mattered. Mister Senor then put on a record to play while he grabbed a cup of coffee. Mister Senor issued that day's weather forecast, claiming it would be scorching while the color of the day would be black. Mister Senor explained that black would be the color since it would absorb the heat for later usage. Jackson starred in the films "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith", "A Time to Kill" and "Snakes on a Plane".

Answer: Ossie Davis

Davis, a native of Cogdell, Georgia, played Da Mayor. Da Mayor heard Mister Senor speaking on the radio, as he began to slowly awaken for the day. He peeked outside his window only to grumble over the major heat wave New York City was experiencing that day.

A little bit later, Mother Sister wished Da Mayor good morning while reminding him how he nearly got killed last night. Da Mayor stated that was not the first time that happened to him, so he asked Mother Sister if she slept last night. She responded about how worrying for his safety prevented her from sleeping. Da Mayor commented on his hope that the block was still standing after the previous night's incident, to which she replied that it was.

In a later scene in the movie, Da Mayor spoke with Mookie and he instructed him to always remember one thing in his life. Mookie asked him what it was, so Da Mayor simply told him to always do the right thing, a reference to the film's title. Davis guest starred on the TV series "Philly", "Touched by an Angel" and "City of Angels".

Answer: Spike Lee

Lee, born in 1957 in Atlanta, Georgia, portrayed Mookie. Mookie was at his apartment counting money when he went towards the bed in order to wake up his sister. She yelled at him for always bothering her while she was asleep, so he simply told her it was time to wake up for the day.

She demanded that he not breathe down her neck and kept wanting to sleep in a little while longer. Mookie warned her that it would be hot that day, and his sister continued to whine about Saturday being the only day she could sleep in late. Mookie then began to slap her shoulders to try and prevent her from going back to sleep, which led to her yelling at him to stop. Mookie later got involved in a fight with Pino and told him how much he disliked his pizza. Lee had roles in the movies "Summer of Sam", "Jungle Fever" and "Malcolm X".

In 1990, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay for "Do the Right Thing" but lost to Tom Schulman for "Dead Poets Society". Other Oscar nominees for Best Original Screenplay that year were Woody Allen for "Crimes and Misdemeanors", Steven Soderbergh for "sex, lies, and videotape" and Nora Ephron for "When Harry Met Sally".

Answer: Joie Lee

Lee landed the role of Jade in "Do the Right Thing". Jade was Mookie's sister, and she disliked Mookie bothering her so much while she was asleep that she commented it would be better if she get a lock on her door to keep him out. Jade yelled at Mookie to go to work so she could finally not be bothered by him. Jade advised Mookie to brush his teeth to prevent his breath from disgusting other people due to its hideous odor. Jade was also seen discussing with Mookie the importance of responsibility when it came to his son. Jade noted how she felt that she had a better job than Mookie as well as a more suitable purpose in life. Lee guest starred on the TV shows "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", "100 Centre Street" and "The Cosby Show".

She is the real life sister of Spike Lee, who wrote, produced, directed and starred in "Do the Right Thing".

Answer: Ruby Dee

Dee, born on October 27th, 1924 in Cleveland, Ohio, was cast as Mother Sister. Mother Sister noticed Mookie walking down the street where she lived on his way to work at the pizzeria. He said hello to her, so she reminded him about the heat wave their neighborhood would be expecting.

She claimed it was possible that working hard in very hot weather could cause medicinal problems, so Mookie acknowledged her advice and thanked her for it. Mother Sister informed Mookie she would watch out for him. In another scene, Mother Sister blasted Da Mayor for drinking right in front of her home and that she wanted him to not block her view. Da Mayor asked Mother Sister what he ever did to her to earn her dislike of him, so she simply said she disliked his alcoholic ways. Dee starred in the films "Jungle Fever", "Gone are the Days!" and "A Raisin in the Sun" (1961).

In 2008, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the film "American Gangster", but lost to Tilda Swinton for "Michael Clayton".

Other Oscar nominees for Best Supporting Actress that year were Saoirse Ronan for "Atonement", Amy Ryan for "Gone Baby Gone" and Cate Blanchett for "I'm Not There".

Answer: Bill Nunn

Nunn, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, portrayed Radio Raheem. Radio was seen in many parts listening to Public Enemy's "Fight the Power" on his boombox. There was one scene when Radio Raheem went to talk to Ella, Ahmad and a couple others while blasting the song and they all said hello to him.

After having a very brief conversation, Radio walked across the street to say hello to Mister Senor. Mister Senor noted that Radio was once again carrying around his boombox throughout the neighborhood. Radio Raheem later told a couple of friends one story about a Right Hand and Left Hand, which he claimed spoke about love. Nunn is best known for his portrayal of Joseph "Robbie" Robertson in the films "Spider-Man", "Spider-Man 2" and "Spider-Man 3".

Answer: Giancarlo Esposito

Esposito, born in 1958 in Copenhagen, Denmark, played Buggin Out. Buggin often had conflict with Clifton and there was one scene when Buggin asked him in a rude way why he never went back to Massachusetts. Clifton corrected his insinuation by stating he never was from Massachusetts but always was a born and bred Brooklyn resident. Clifton bumped into Buggin, at one point, so he responded by yelling at him for his careless conduct. Clifton apologized, even though Buggin still got upset once Clifton stepped on his new Air Jordan shoes.

The two then sparred over personal space, since Buggin Out accused Clifton of trespassing on his block and in his neighborhood. In a scene with Mookie, Buggin Out told him to "stay black". Esposito had guest starring stints on the TV series "CSI: Miami", "Law and Order" and "Law and Order: Trial by Jury".

Answer: Martin Lawrence

Lawrence, born on April 16th, 1965 in Frankfurt, Germany, landed the role of Cee. Cee hung out with a couple friends in his first scene when he noticed Radio Raheem playing Public Enemy's "Fight the Power" once again. In a subsequent scene, Cee was in his neighborhood when his friend busted open a water hydrant in order to cool off that hot day.

A gentleman came by and asked them not to spray his car with water. Cee and the friend promised, but once the guy drove by, they flooded the car with water.

They immediately ran away, resulting in the gentleman asking two police officers to take a report of the incident. However, nobody around wanted to help him get Cee and Cee's friend in trouble, much to the man's anger. Lawrence had roles in the movies "Bad Boys", "Bad Boys II" and "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate".

Answer: Frankie Faison

Faison, a native of Newport News, Virginia, was cast as Coconut Sid. Coconut Sid spoke with ML and Sweet Dick Willie one day when they noticed two cops drive right past them with sour looks on their faces. ML then complained to both Coconut Sid and ML about the Koreans across the street, since they established a business in their neighborhood just a short while after moving into the area. ML said to Sweet Dick Willie and Coconut Sid the reason for this had to be either the Koreans were geniuses or the blacks were just plain dumb. Coconut Sid said the only explanation was due to the men being black. ML and Coconut Sid then began to argue until Sweet Dick Willie intervened to stop them from shouting at one another.

In another scene, Coconut Sid was seen taking out a cloth to wipe down his sweaty face. Faison had guest starring stints on the TV shows "Grey's Anatomy" and "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit". From 1998 to 1999, he played Frank Dawson on the ABC soap opera, "All My Children".

Answer: Gwen McGee

McGee portrayed Louise in "Do the Right Thing". Louise noticed that her son named Eddie had fallen down on the street, so she ran to him to ask what occurred. Eddie explained that Da Mayor knocked him down so Louise told Da Mayor he ought to feel shame for what he did. Da Mayor claimed that he had to knock Eddie down in order to prevent a car from hitting him. Louise then asked Eddie if what Da Mayor told him was accurate, a question he refused to answer. Louise then could tell by the look in Eddie's eyes that he fibbed to her so she spanked him. Da Mayor told Louise that Eddie already was scared enough and did not deserve the spanking. Louise drew a line with Da Mayor, asking him not to interfere with her parenting. McGee portrayed guest starring characters on the TV series "Touched by an Angel", "Dharma and Greg" and "My Name is Earl".