# Lackawanna Blues (film)

Lackawanna Blues is a 2005 American biographical drama television film directed by George C. Wolfe and written by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. It aired on HBO on February 12, 2005. It is based on the play of the same name by Santiago-Hudson. Wolfe had commissioned the stage version.
For her work in the movie, S. Epatha Merkerson won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2006.

## Premise

Lackawanna Blues is the true story of Ruben Santiago Jr. growing up in Lackawanna, New York. He was raised by his father and mother and the neighborhood boarding house lady known as Rachel "Nanny" Crosby. Ruben was born in 1956 to his Puerto Rican father Ruben Santiago and his African-American mother Alean Hudson. His mother was too mentally unstable to take good care of him; residing in mental hospitals, Alean disappears and reappears throughout Ruben's life. His father stayed at Nanny's boarding house, but he was frequently not around due to working long hours or out looking for work. Nanny more or less took care of Ruben Jr. as a mother figure. The television movie depicts his life growing up there and the diverse characters that he meets during his and their stays at the boarding house.

## Cast

* S. Epatha Merkerson as Rachel "Nanny" Crosby
* Hill Harper as Ruben Santiago Jr. as an adult
** Marcus Carl Franklin as Ruben Santiago Jr. as a boy, ages 7–10
* Jimmy Smits as Ruben Santiago Sr., Ruben's father
* Terrence Dashon Howard as Bill Crosby, Nanny's much younger husband
* Mos Def as The Bandleader
* Carmen Ejogo as Alean Hudson, Ruben's mother
* Louis Gossett Jr as Ol'lem Taylor, a retired Negro league baseball player
* Macy Gray as Pauline, a resident and Jimmy's girlfriend
* Michael K. Williams as Jimmy, a resident and Pauline's boyfriend
* Ernie Hudson as Dick Barrymore, a cabaret owner
* Delroy Lindo as Mr. Lucious, a resident
* Rosie Perez as Bertha, a hairdresser and resident
* Adina Porter as Ricky, a resident
* Jeffrey Wright as Small Paul
* Barry Shabaka Henley as Shakey Winfield, a resident and Nanny's cousin
* Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Freddie Cobbs, a World War II veteran
* Saul Williams as Lonnie, a resident and Vietnam War veteran
* Liev Schreiber as Ulysses Ford, a social worker
* Julie Benz as Laura, an abused wife
* Henry Simmons as Jesse, Laura's abusive husband
* Patricia Wettig as Laura's Mother
* Ron Kellum as Fish Fry guest
* Robert Bradley as Otis McClanahan (credited as "Robert A. Bradley" in some sources)
The blind Detroit street singer Robert Bradley from the band Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise appears in the film. He performs on-screen and has three songs featured on the soundtrack (including a duet with Macy Gray).

## Production

Began shooting March 1, 2004 and completed shooting April 1, 2004.

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| 2005 | Artios Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Movie of the Week Casting | John Papsidera and Wendy O'Brien | Won | |
| 2005 | Humanitas Prize | 90 Minute or Longer Network or Syndicated Television | Ruben Santiago-Hudson | Won | |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Motion Picture Made for Television | Best Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Marcus Carl Franklin | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | S. Epatha Merkerson | Won | |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Terrence Howard | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Macy Gray | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries | George C. Wolfe | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Ruben Santiago-Hudson | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Won | |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Costume Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Best Costume Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Editing in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Best Editing in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Lighting in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Best Lighting in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Meshell Ndegeocello | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Production Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Best Production Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Sound in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Best Sound in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Made for Television Movie | Halle Berry, Vincent Cirrincione, Shelby Stone, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, and Nellie Nugiel | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie | S. Epatha Merkerson | Won | |
| 2005 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special | George C. Wolfe | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or Special | John Papsidera | Won | |
| 2005 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Charles Gregory Ross and Fay Kelly | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Non-Prosthetic) | Edna Sheen, Denise Pugh-Ruiz, and Karen Westerfield | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie | Susumu Tokunow, Rick Ash, and Adam Jenkins | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Satellite Awards | Best Motion Picture Made for Television | Best Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | S. Epatha Merkerson | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Television Critics Association Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials | Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Women's Image Network Awards | Actress in Made-for-TV Movie/Miniseries | S. Epatha Merkerson | Nominated | |
| 2006 | AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | Best TV Movie | Best TV Movie | Nominated | |
| 2006 | American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for Non-Commercial Television | Brian A. Kates | Won | |
| 2006 | BET Awards | Best Actor | Terrence Howard | Won | |
| 2006 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series | Halle Berry and Vincent Cirrincione | Won | |
| 2006 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Director, TV Movie or Mini-Series | George C. Wolfe | Won | |
| 2006 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series | S. Epatha Merkerson | Won | |
| 2006 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series | Terrence Howard | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series | Jeffrey Wright | Won | |
| 2006 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series | Carmen Ejogo | Won | |
| 2006 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series | Rosie Perez | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series | Adina Porter | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Screenplay, TV Movie or Mini-Series | Ruben Santiago-Hudson | Won | |
| 2006 | Cinema Audio Society Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Movies and Mini-Series | Susumu Tokunow, Rick Ash, and Adam Jenkins | Won | |
| 2006 | Costume Designers Guild Awards | Outstanding Made for Television Movie or Miniseries | Hope Hanafin | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television or Miniseries | George C. Wolfe | Won | |
| 2006 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Miniseries or Television Film | Best Miniseries or Television Film | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film | S. Epatha Merkerson | Won | |
| 2006 | Golden Reel Awards | Best Sound Editing in Television Long Form – Dialogue and Automated Dialogue Replacement | Jon Mete, Michael Hertlein, and Paul Longstaffe | Won | |
| 2006 | Gracie Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries | S. Epatha Merkerson | Won | |
| 2006 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best First Feature | Best First Feature | Nominated | [19] [20] |
| 2006 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Female Lead | S. Epatha Merkerson | Nominated | [19] [20] |
| 2006 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Won | |
| 2006 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Terrence Howard | Won | |
| 2006 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Jeffrey Wright | Nominated | |
| 2006 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Carmen Ejogo | Won | |
| 2006 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Macy Gray | Nominated | |
| 2006 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | S. Epatha Merkerson | Won | |
| 2006 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Rosie Perez | Nominated | |
| 2006 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Directing in a Feature Film/Television Movie | George C. Wolfe | Nominated | |
| 2006 | NAMIC Vision Awards | Best Drama | Best Drama | Won | |
| 2006 | NAMIC Vision Awards | Best Dramatic Performance | S. Epatha Merkerson | Nominated | |
| 2006 | National Board of Review Awards | Best Film or Mini-Series Made for Cable TV | Best Film or Mini-Series Made for Cable TV | Won | |
| 2006 | Producers Guild of America Awards | David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television | Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Halle Berry, Vincent Cirrincione, Shelby Stone, and Nellie Nugiel | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie | S. Epatha Merkerson | Won | |
| 2006 | Writers Guild of America Awards | Long Form – Adapted | Ruben Santiago-Hudson – Based on his play | Nominated | |