![Gary Anthony Williams as Clarence Bell in 3x10 [The Nutcrackers] Gary Anthony Williams as Clarence Bell in 3x10 [The Nutcrackers]](http://image.wetpaint.com/wiki/bostonlegal/image/1z50Dn+AybVfVFm$NI149xQ==57450/GW312H237)
Played by Gary Anthony Williams
Clarence "Clarice" Bell is a transvestite client who requested legal help after being fired from his job in episode
3x02 [New Kids On The Block]. "Clarice" insisted, at least initially, that she was a woman and was fired for requesting maternity leave if she were to adopt a child.
Alan Shore and
Claire Simms handled the case, and they convinced Clarice's employer, Mr. Faber, to agree to hire "her" back as long as "she" didn't use the women's restroom. Clarence initially said he would reject the offer, but in
3x10 [The Nutcrackers], he stated that he had, in fact, returned to his earlier job and later quit.
"Clarice" has a brash and sassy personality and tends to be extremely rude to people while Clarence is shy and soft-spoken. In private conversations (partly overheard by Alan), Claire helped Clarence realize that he was simply hiding behind the "funnier and smarter" character of "Clarice". To help him gain confidence as Clarence, Claire asked him to go to a movie with her.
"Clarice" later applied for the position as Claire's assistant. Clarence revealed to her that he had gone to law school, and Claire agreed to hire Clarence - but not "Clarice". After being hired, Clarence did some research on his own regarding the lightning-strike case being handled by
Denise Bauer,
Brad Chase, and
Jeffrey Coho and found some cases which helped them achieve a settlement. Later, he revealed to Claire that he had actually passed the bar exam but did not feel confident enough to actually practice law.
Besides, "Clarice", Clarence has at least teo other alter-ego'd, his confident and stern 'brother' Clevant and on special ocasions Oprah Winfrey. He once also states that he used to dress up as Martin Luther King but stopped because kids today don't know who M.L.King was. He does not suffer from multiple personalities disorder, the alter-ego's are only a way for him to deal with the world.
With a little help from Alan Shore, Claire Simms and Jerry Espenson he later becomes a good attorney, but before that happens he needs to rely on Alan's help a few times, once actually so he doesn't lose his house. When he first meets Carl Sack they start off on the wrong foot and after Carl finds out Clarence sometimes still dresses as a woman he nearly fires him. Eventually Clarence appeals to Carl's softer side and Carl actually comes watch a competition (quarter-finals) where Clarice is singing on stage and later even represents Clarence when they decide to sue Youtube for showing Clarence's outburst without a context.
Gary Anthony Williams
Atlanta native Gary Anthony Williams' early career included stage performances at the
Laughing Matters comedy club and in the
Georgia Shakepeare company. His first television credits were in episodes of
In The Heat Of The Night (1990) and
I'll Fly Away (1991) that were filmed in Georgia. He continued to find some work nearby, such as the film
Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil (1997), but he eventually moved to Los Angeles in 1998. His main television credits include a recurring role on
Malcolm In The Middle (2000-6) and a voice role on the animated series
The Boondocks (2005-6). He also played various characters in the short-lived WB comedy sketch show
Blue Collar TV (2004) and appeared on two episodes of
Lovespring International (2006), with
Jane Lynch.
Gary Anthony Williams at the Internet Movie Database.
Gary Anthony Williams at Wikipedia
Episode Appearances:
3x02 [New Kids On The Block]3x10 [The Nutcrackers]3x11 [Angel Of Death]