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Revision as of 21:27, 8 August 2007 by 64.123.4.106 (talk) (→Background)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Fictional character| Clarence Bell | |
|---|---|
| First appearance | "New Kids on the Block" September 26, 2006 (Boston Legal, Season 3) |
| Created by | David E. Kelley |
| Portrayed by | Gary Anthony Williams |
| In-universe information | |
| Occupation | Legal Assistant |
Clarence Bell, played by Gary Anthony Williams, is a male secretary on the ABC dramedy Boston Legal.
Background
Clarence is so hopelessly shy that speaking to people causes him such anxiety that he agonizes with making eye contact and getting his words out. It is not known how he got this way, although he says he vaguely remembers being bullied extensively as a child. In order to function properly in society, Clarence adopts alter egos of people who do not possess his own personal shortcomings. Despite acting out identities that are not his own, he is not schizophrenic; the alter egos are simply his way of circumventing a shyness so severe that it becomes a debilitating handicap.
He first appeared with Claire Simms (Constance Zimmer) and Alan Shore (James Spader) in the third season as a crossdresser who sues "her" company when they won't give him maternity leave were he to wish to adopt a child. Claire takes it upon herself to be his friend. She attempts to help him become comfortable in social situations without donning his extravagant personas. In the season 3 episode "The Nutcrackers," he becomes Claire Simms' new secretary. In the next episode, "Angel of Death," he sues his gym for gender discrimination.
Bell has three identities. The first is his actual identity, Clarence. His primary alter ego is "Clarice," a loud-mouthed, sassy and confident woman. He cross-dresses when he becomes her. From time to time, he will also adopt the identity of "Clevant," who looks exactly like Clarence, but is rude and aggressive where Clarence is kind and passive.
Bell also has special personas that he exudes during specific times of the year. In the episode "Nuts", Bell explains that around Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, he exudes a persona as the late civil rights leader. He has since changed this to Oprah Winfrey as most children these days, according to Bell, don't know who King is.
Bell is now Claire's boyfriend. After they became "exclusive", he asked Claire to be reassigned since he didn't want to work for his girlfriend. He is now Alan Shore's assistant.
Clarence ends up taking his first trial case since there is a shortage of public defenders. Clarence defends a young Haitian woman who has served a life of servitude since she was seven years old, with assistance from Paul Lewiston and Bethany Horowitz.
Clarence briefly slips back into Clarice in episode 19, after Claire spots him as "Clevant" with another woman. After Claire breaks up with him, he slips back into Clarice for a brief period of time, but with some probing by Alan, quickly resumes Clarence, and patches up his relationship with Claire.
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