Steve Carell to Play NJ Gay Rights Activist

Steve Carell, will replace fellow actor and comedian Zach Galifianakis in the movie Freeheld — a film based on a 2007 documentary about the late Ocean County Detective Lieutenant Laurel Hester, who fought to leave her county pension to her life partner, Stacie Andree, as she was dying from cancer in 2006.

Hester was a detective with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office for 24 years. As she battled terminal lung cancer, she spent 14 months fighting the local Board of Chosen Freeholders in an effort to leave her pension to Andree, so she could afford to keep their Point Pleasant home.

The freeholders originally refused to allow Hester to make Andree her beneficiary because the two were not married. Same-sex marriage was not approved by law in New Jersey until October 2013.

Hester’s battle to leave her pension to her partner became headline news across the country and drew the attention of the public and gay rights organizations.

Finally, at a special meeting in January 2006 in the wake of widespread criticism, the freeholders reversed their decision. Hester died less than a month later.

A documentary film by the same name, which was shot and directed by filmmaker Cynthia Wade, won an Oscar for best documentary short in 2008.

According to Deadline Hollywood, Carell will play Steven Goldstein, the prominent New Jersey gay rights activist and founder of Garden State Equality, who worked closely with Hester to gain support for her cause. Joining Carell in the cast are Julianne Moore as Hester and Ellen Page as Andree.

Galifianakis, who was originally cast as Goldstein, had to drop out due to reported scheduling conflicts.

The movie, written by Ron Nyswanerr and directed by Peter Sollett, is in pre-production.

For more on the documentary film and Hester’s journey, visit freeheld.com.

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