Movie actor charged with rape |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. ¡¦|? Anthony Anderson, the rotund comedic co-star of
"Kangaroo Jack" and the original "Barbershop," has been arrested and charged with aggravated rape while shooting a movie.
An unidentified woman accused the 33-year-old actor of luring her into a trailer on the set of his latest movie, "Hustle & Flow," and sexually assaulting her. Also accused is the film's assistant director, Wayne Witherspoon.
Both men were charged Wednesday after being taken into custody by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department.
The rape allegedly occurred Tuesday afternoon at the Shelby County Correctional Center, a penal farm on the outskirts of Memphis, where filming was under way.
Sheriff's spokesman Steve Shular said a passer-by heard screams from the trailer and opened the door.
"And she ran out nude," Shular said.
Both suspects were released Wednesday evening after posting $20,000 bond each.
Anderson's spokesman, Allan Mayer, said his client "absolutely denies the heinous charges."
"Anthony is a happily married family man who has never been accused of ¡¦|? no less involved in ¡¦|? anything remotely like this, and we are confident that when all the facts come out, he will be completely exonerated," Mayer said.
Anderson, who is married with two children, was raised in Compton, Calif., and has appeared in several comedies. He played one of Jim Carrey's illegitimate genius sons in 2000's "Me, Myself & Irene."
The actor specializes is physical comedy. He has been brutalized by Jet Li in "Romeo Must Die," pummeled by Steven Seagal in "Exit Wounds," crushed by a cash machine in "Barbershop" and menaced by a rogue marsupial in "Kangaroo Jack."
He starred last year in the WB's short-lived sitcom "All About the Andersons."