The White Lotus has seen many famous faces check in at the resort over the course of its three seasons. But it just added an Academy Award winner to the guest list, in a very unexpected way. And he has more than one connection to Season 3’s cast!
In Episode 5 of the acclaimed HBO series, Rick (Walton Goggins) travels away from the titular resort to visit Bangkok, in the hopes of getting revenge on the hotel owner who allegedly murdered his father. To assist him, he meets with an old acquaintance, who provides him with a weapon, as well as too much information about his life abroad. And fans were shocked to find the acquaintance was played by Sam Rockwell.
Rockwell is best known for his Oscar-nominated work in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Vice, but he is also an Emmy-nominated and Tony-nominated for his work in Fosse/Verdon and American Buffalo, respectively. Other notable film roles include The Green Mile, Charlie’s Angels, Seven Psychopaths and Jojo Rabbit.
Rockwell’s character and Rick meet in a hotel lobby, as he provides the latter with a gun. The two drink to catch up, and Rick is surprised at some of the things he learns about his old friend. The first shock comes in the fact that Rockwell’s character has been stone-cold sober, and has found religion in the form of Buddhism.
Forced to leave America, Rockwell chose Thailand, having always been attracted to Asian girls. The character continues in a monologue that grows increasingly absurd in the way only Mike White can craft. He narrated the eventual epiphany he came to; the more he slept with Asian women, the more he wondered if he wanted to be one. He then outlined one particular lewd phase of his life, where he would invite many strangers–men and women alike–into his home for long, passionate nights. Finding Buddhism, however, seemed to break him out of that phase of his life.
Related: ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Features a Surprise Voice Cameo From an Oscar-Winning Actor
Rick tries his best to handle the very different state he thought his acquaintance would be in from when they first met. But he ultimately succeeds in his goal, supplied with the weapon he needs to get his revenge. But, before they say goodbye, he asks for another favor before they say goodbye, telling him to keep his schedule free in case he needs him for some “role play” the next night.
What makes Rockwell’s cameo even more fun is his off-screen connection to another White Lotus Season 3 star. The Oscar winner has been in a relationship with actress Leslie Bibb since 2007 in a place called Tinsel Town: the Chateau Marmont. Bibb is most well known for her roles on the WB dramedy Popular and the Apple TV+ series Palm Royale. On The White Lotus, she plays Kate, one of three longtime friends reconnecting on a trip to Thailand–and finding excuses to talk behind each other’s backs.
There is a very slim chance that Rockwell and Bibb will share the screen on The White Lotus, given the fact that the former is seemingly permanently located in Bangkok. But it won’t be long before we get a story from either one of them or White himself as to how this Hollywood power couple got to make their White Lotus debut at the same time.
Related: Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell’s Relationship: A Classic Hollywood Romance
