Many businesses and industries value getting military veterans work after they have completed their service. When veterans get back from war, it can be a tough transition to adapt back to everyday life and finding them work can help with that transition.
Unfortunately, that form of generosity can sometimes be abused and that was the case with actor Todd Latourette, who admitted to cutting off his own hand and crafted a story about losing it while in the military, which led to acting roles once people heard his story.
Latourette told KOB 4 in Albuquerque that he cut off his hand with a skil saw years ago when he wasn’t taking his medication for bipolar disorder. That led to him receiving various roles for shows and movies that filmed in the Albuquerque area, most recently playing a character named “Skrell” in this past season of Better Call Saul.
In a situation where the original lie snowballs more and more to the point where it can no longer be controlled, Latourette picked this time to admit what he did in hopes that people will use it as a warning to take mental illness seriously and take their meds.
“I was dishonorable. I’m killing my career by doing this, if anyone thinks this was for personal edification, that’s not the case,” says Latourette. “I’m ousting myself from the New Mexico Film Industry. And gladly so, just to say what I’ve said.”
“The power is in your hands to take your medication in the morning, or at night. So that, this, this discourse of my life doesn’t need to necessarily be yours. Because, it happens quick… it happens quick.”
It seems like Latourette is in a better place mentally, and although he did something reprehensible, hopefully it is taken as a good lesson for people suffering mental illness to take this head on and be honest about what they’re dealing with. And as for Latourette, hopefully he can find work in some other industry on his own merits.
[KOB 4]