When the season four premiere of “Power” hit the Starz app Sunday, Charlie Murphy started trending on Twitter.
In January, EW revealed that Murphy would join the original series as prison guard Marshal Williams. Then on April 12, the world was stunned when the comedian passed away after battling Leukemia. He was 57.
Count his castmates on “Power” in the surprised; TMZ reported that Murphy hid the condition from his colleagues on set. The actor simply soldiered on and turned in a very compelling performance across from the show’s lead, “Ghost” played by Omari Hardwick.
Of course in hindsight, Murphy appears gaunt. But it didn’t seem to affect his role – something his fellow actors hope to honor as the show’s new season rolls out.
“In many ways it’s not as difficult, because celebrity is tough for me,” Hardwick responded when asked by The Knockturnal if Murphy’s death would make the show’s latest installment more difficult to promote. “So I always need something that I can kind of grab on to, to be the gasoline, to be the fuel to tell the world what I’m doing.”
“Promoting is not that easy for me,” he continued. “But with Charlie having passed, I feel honored to promote the show this season if that makes sense. It’s more of an honor because he was such a part of this season. We’re all better because we got to work with his crazy ass.”
Murphy’s character takes a special interest in “Ghost,” which proves problematic for the night club owner as he attempts to navigate prison without revealing his ties to the underworld.
Season four of “Power” will debut with new episodes every Sunday at 12:01 am on the Starz app.
