Todd Latourette, a local Albuquerque actor best known for Better Call Saul. Photo / KOB4
Todd Latourette, a local Albuquerque actor best known for Better Call Saul. Photo / KOB4
A local Albuquerque actor who is best known for making an appearance on the hit AMC show Better Call Saul says he lied about being a wounded veteran to help his career.
Todd Latourette appeared in an episode during the fourth season of the hit series. He played Skell in the episode titled 'Quite a Ride,' according to IMDb.
His other credits include the Hollywood film The Men Who Stare at Goats and TV series Manhattan and The Messengers.
But Latourette is now coming clean and admitting that he lied all these years by making people think he had lost his hand in a war, the DailyMail reports.
Instead, Latourette says that he lost his hand after sawing it off during a psychotic episode, according to KOB-TV.
Latourette lied all these years by making people think he had lost his hand in a war. Photo / Facebook
"I severed my hand with a skill saw," said Latourette. "The state of my mind was a psychotic episode."
Latourette said he is bipolar. Seventeen years ago, he stopped taking his medication. He says this drove him to cut off and cauterize his own arm - this is the practice of burning a part of the body in order to close a wound and prevent infection.
"The film industry obviously took a different angle [when they saw me with one arm]," he said. "That I was different. And so they liked that."
After telling Hollywood producers that he suffered his injury overseas, Latourette now says that he is looking to rid himself of the guilt brought on by his lying.
He says he is admitting his lie even if it means destroying his chances of landing another role.
"I was dishonorable. I'm killing my career by doing this, if anyone thinks this was for personal edification, that's not the case. I'm ousting myself from the New Mexico Film Industry. And gladly so, just to say what I've said."
Latourette hopes that anyone suffering from mental illness will heed his warning and take their medication.
"The power is in your hands to take your medication in the morning, or at night. So that this, this discourse of my life doesn't need to necessarily be yours. Because, it happens quick... it happens quick."
Where to get help:
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7) • Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7) • Youth services: (06) 3555 906 • Youthline: 0800 376 633 • Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7) • Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm) • The Word • Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7) • Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155 • CASPER Suicide Prevention If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
