Content warning: This article discusses and compares the looks and appearances of real people and discusses crimes that were allegedly committed.
When real people are being depicted in any given movie or TV show, it’s easy to compare the looks of the actor to the appearance of the real-life persona they portray. Joe Vs. Carole is no exception, especially when the real people have been so present in pop culture, with Tiger King becoming an instant hit in March of 2020.
Joe Vs. Carole stars John Cameron Mitchell and Kate McKinnon as the leads and iconic titular rivals. Other big stars such as Nat Wolff, Kyle MacLachlan, and Dean Winters share the screen in this dramatization of the Netflix series.
John Cameron Mitchell as Joe Exotic
John Cameron Mitchell started his acting career with guest roles in The Equalizer and Our House. He is possibly most well-known for his award-winning role in Hedwig & The Angry Inch. Mitchell plays Joe Exotic in Joe Vs. Carole, the wild cat-lover who allegedly heads the murder-for-hire plot against Carole Baskin.
Mitchell gets into character with the bedazzled outfits and the hair. There are some differences in the looks, mainly the face shape, but it can be overlooked.
Kate McKinnon as Carole Baskin
Kate McKinnon is best known for her iconic Saturday Night Live performances, but she has also starred in Yesterday, Rough Night, and several other comedies, dramas and animated features. In Joe Vs. Carole, Kate plays Carole Baskin, the woman who dedicates her life to helping big cats and is rumored to have murdered her ex-husband.
McKinnon has the hair and the acting capability to play Carole Baskin. She is thinner than Carole is today, but when she stars in flashbacks, her appearance works very well. Carole Baskin herself expressed concern for Kate McKinnon’s portrayal of her, admitting she felt McKinnon was too young to play her. However, she also shared that she and her husband looked forward to watching to show and seeing what Kate can bring.
Sam Keely as John Finlay
Sam Keely has starred in several movies, including What Richard Did and After Death. He’s also been in shows such as Dublin Murders and 68 Whiskey. In Joe Vs. Carole, Keely plays John Finlay, Joe’s ex-husband. Finlay left Joe and the zoo when he got a co-worker pregnant.
Keely’s hair is accurate to Finlay’s style in Tiger King. He is six years older than John and his face is longer, but his youthful appearance helps him pulls off the character. Reddit user Kusokuso69 criticizes the show, however, stating they believe Finlay was treated “with kid’s gloves.” The user references interviews in which John Finlay is said to have done terrible things at the expense of others and the tigers.
Kyle MacLachlan as Howard Baskin
Possibly the most well-known actor in Joe Vs. Carole, Kyle MacLachlan has 75 acting credits to his name. Recent projects include Portlandia and Twin Peaks, but his resume goes back to 1984. MacLachlan plays Howard Baskin, Carole’s husband.
Aside from the build and signs of older age, MacLachlan lacks resemblance to his real-life counterpart. His performance, however, has been praised by some viewers. Redditor Sam_Buck shares “I think Kyle [MacLachlan] was cast perfectly as [Carole’s] milquetoast husband.” In Tiger King, Howard is portrayed to be quiet and feeble. MacLachlan plays this well but he also makes sure to give Howard depth.
Brian Van Holt as John Reinke
Brian Van Holt has been in several Hollywood hits including Black Hawk Down and Den of Thieves. In Joe Vs. Carole, Holt plays John Reinke, possibly the most likable character in Tiger King. He maintains the charm and charisma of the character in this Peacock original.
Brian Van Holt is nearly a spitting image of John Reinke in Joe Vs. Carole. Holt has a slightly tougher build, but his character is easily recognizable. His facial hair and bubbly personality are spot on. One of the only problems with Holt’s portrayal is the use of pants to hide his legs. In real life, Reinke has prosthetics, and while they show them a few times in Joe Vs. Carole, the character is most frequently seen in long pants.
Lex Mayson as Saff
Lex Mayson is a fairly new actor with only a few acting credits. Mayson has performed in small TV roles and in two short films created in the mid-2010s. Lex plays Saff in Joe Vs. Carole, a transgender man working at the GW zoo who gets his arm bitten off by a tiger.
Mayson shares a similar look to Saff. Their face shapes and builds are alike, though Mayson appears to be shorter. Saff, like Reinke is one of the most likable and least problematic people in Tiger King. His ability to stay out of drama regarding Joe and his shady dealings is commendable. Mayson portrays this well and adds a sense of innocence to the character in their voice and perky demeanor.
Nat Wolff as Travis Maldonado
Nat Wolff has been going strong in his acting career since The Naked Brothers Band in 2005. He has been in several movies such as Home Again and Paper Towns. Wolff plays Travis Maldonado, one of Joe’s husbands and a young man who passed away too soon.
Nat Wolff doesn’t share much resemblance to Travis Maldonado aside from his youthful appearance. Several features are noticeably different, including his figure and the definition of his mustache. The greatest contrast may have been the height difference. Kusokuso69 from Reddit says “Travis’ actor not being [tall], really throws off the dynamics of the characters.”
Joel Marsh Garland as James Garretson
Joel Marsh Garland is known for his roles in The Last OG, Orange is the New Black and The Book Of Henry. In Joe Vs. Carole, Garland takes on the role of James Garretson. Garretson was an acquaintance of Joe’s who sold him out to the FBI to evade his own arrest.
Viewers may have done a double take when they first saw Joel Marsh Garland as James Garretson. His first appearance may have led viewers to believe the real Garretson was making a cameo in the reality drama series, as Garland’s look is nearly identical to the man seen in Tiger King. Garland’s haircut and body and face shape make for a striking resemblance to Garretson and his amazing performance just adds to the illusion.
Dean Winters as Jeff Lowe
Dean Winters portrays Jeff Lowe in Joe Vs. Carole. Lowe is a con artist with a criminal past who takes over Joe’s zoo. Winters is known for his legendary guest roles and critically acclaimed projects such as John Wick and The Devil You Know.
Dean Winters as Jeff Lowe has garnered mixed reactions from viewers. Some believe his height should have been a dealbreaker. Others, such as Redditor Firebrand777, say the “Guy playing Jeff looks just like him.” People are also split on how his performance was. Your_acceptable says the “edit on Jeff Lowe was absolutely inaccurate,” while Netflix_gohomecrying says “he’s the stand out in the series.”
Tom Rodgers as Dillon Passage
Tom Rodgers is a new actor from Australia, with only three acting credits to his name. One of his projects, however, is a short film he also wrote, directed, and edited called Billy Blue Eyes. In Joe Vs. Carole, Rodgers portrays Dillon Passage, Joe’s ex-husband who stayed with Joe until his arrest.
Rodgers was cast well, as he looks very similar to Dillon. They could be brothers. He has the haircut, the face shape, the smile and the figure. The wardrobe department also did not disappoint. The modern beach vibe Dillon gives off in Tiger King was echoed in Rodgers’ performance. He also does a good job portraying the internal conflict Dillon has to deal with when Joe is arrested. Rodgers’ may be a new actor, but no one would know it.