Doing some doodling this evening, I wanted a little Centauri moment. It’s been so long since I’ve just doodled these two. I need to get back into the habit!
Vir Cotto is now sleeping in light. Rest in peace to director, producer, author, and actor Stephen Furst who played the aforementioned Centauri diplomatic attaché on “Babylon 5”.
“I had never heard of Babylon 5. I go into the audition and there are 10 guys sitting around the room with their hair up like Patti LaBelle. So I’m sitting there looking at them…they knew something that I didn’t, and I was petrified. So I’m going, ‘Hell, I’ve gotta put my hair up.’ So I went to the men’s room and took out my pocket comb, and I’m trying to put my hair up. It’s not standing up, so I’m putting water on it, trying to make a peak, and that’s not working. So I go to the soap dispenser and I put soap on it. The soap gets in my eye, my eye is tearing, I’ve got hair that looks horrible, and they call my name to come in.
So I go into the audition and I say, ‘Before I start the audition I just want to let you know I—I didn’t know anything about the hair. I went into the bathroom and put soap on it and I got soap in my eye,’ and they say, ‘Oh my God, it’s Vir.’”
I have no words to express my sadness at learning of the passing of Stephen Furst today. Thank you, you funny, lovely, brilliant man for bringing the wonderful Vir Cotto to life in a way no one else could have. Thank you for the laughs, the smiles, and the heartwarming moments, and for your contribution to the greatest show that has ever existed. Sleep in light.