Actor and longtime New Mobility contributor Alan Toy has been cast as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in NBC’s upcoming Annie Live! holiday special. Like the president, Toy contracted polio that resulted in paralysis. He will be the first polio survivor to portray FDR in a major production.
“It is a huge honor to join such a talented ensemble,” Toy said. “FDR has always been a role model of accomplishment for me, and I’m thrilled to be able to play him. I tip my hat to NBC and the producers of Annie Live! for authentically casting a person with a disability for this role. I’m proud to represent the community and hope that we will continue to see more of the disability community in roles across entertainment media.”
As an actor for over 35 years, Toy has worked to bring changes to the way people with disabilities are portrayed in the entertainment industry. He has been in dozens of films and television shows like Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator and Beverly Hills, 90210.
Toy joins an A-list ensemble that includes Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan, Harry Connick Jr. as Daddy Warbucks, Nicole Scherzinger as Grace, Tituss Burgess as Rooster, Megan Hilty as Lily St. Regis and Celina Smith in the title role of Annie.
Annie Live! airs Thursday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
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