- Kevin Spacey, 64, was fired from the Netflix series House of Cards in 2017
Sharon Stone and Liam Neeson are the latest celebrities calling for Kevin Spacey to be allowed to resume his Hollywood acting career after being cleared of sexual assault charges.
Stephen Fry, F. Murray Abraham and Sir Trevor Nunn have also come out in defence of the two-time Oscar winner since the airing of Channel 4‘s documentary Spacey Unmasked last week.
The two-part film featured previously unheard testimonies about the actor’s alleged inappropriate behaviour.
Mr Spacey, 64, was fired from Netflix series House of Cards in 2017, after being accused of molesting actor Anthony Rapp when he was 14 and Spacey was 26.
Kevin Spacey addresses the media gathered outside Southwark Crown Court after being found not guilty of sexual offences between 2001 and 2013
Mr Spacey, 64, was fired from Netflix series House of Cards (pictured) in 2017, after being accused of molesting actor Anthony Rapp when he was 14 and Spacey was 26
Liam Neeson (pictured in 2014 movie Non-Stop) is calling for Kevin Spacey to be allowed to resume his Hollywood acting career after being cleared of sexual assault charges
Defending Mr Spacey, Sharon Stone said she ‘can’t wait to see Kevin back at work’
He was found not liable during a civil trial in New York in 2022, with the jury concluding that the event had not taken place.
Spacey was also cleared of sexual assault allegations by four other men in a criminal trial in London last year.
Spacey won two Academy Awards as best supporting actor for The Usual Suspects in 1996 and best actor in 2000 for American Beauty, which also secured him a Bafta for leading actor.
Defending Mr Spacey, Sharon Stone said she ‘can’t wait to see Kevin back at work’.
‘He is a genius. He is so elegant and fun, generous to a fault and knows more about our craft than most of us ever will,’ she told the Daily Telegraph.
The Basic Instinct star, 66, said it was clear aspiring actors had ‘wanted and want to be around him’.
Liam Neeson also gave a glowing testimony of Spacey’s character.
‘I was deeply saddened to learn of these accusations against him. Kevin is a good man and a man of character,’ he said.
Spacey was also cleared of sexual assault allegations by four other men in a criminal trial
Oscar-winning actor F. Murray Abraham said he vouched for Spacey ‘unequivocally’ and accused ‘vultures’ of attacking the fallen star
Meanwhile, Stephen Fry accepted Spacey had been ‘clumsy’ and ‘inappropriate’ but should not be lumped in ‘with the likes of Harvey Weinstein’
‘He’s sensitive, articulate and non-judgemental, with a terrific sense of humour. He is also one of our finest artists in the theatre and on camera. Personally speaking, our industry needs him and misses him greatly.’
Oscar-winning actor F. Murray Abraham told The Telegraph he vouched for Spacey ‘unequivocally’ and accused ‘vultures’ of attacking the fallen star, saying he has ‘publicly accepted his responsibility for certain behaviour, unlike so many others’.
Meanwhile, Stephen Fry accepted Spacey had been ‘clumsy’ and ‘inappropriate’ but should not be lumped in ‘with the likes of Harvey Weinstein’.
He added: ‘I think he has paid the price.’
Sir Trevor Nunn, who directed Spacey at The Old Vic on two occasions, said ‘it is time for this man to be forgiven for whatever poor judgments he may have made in the past’ and resume acting after ‘seven years of exile’.
Channel 4 said it stood by its documentary as an ‘important film’, giving a voice to those who feel unable to speak up.