Lee Daniels’ ‘Star’ Casts Darius McCrary; Frank Whaley Joins ‘Empire’

Family Matters alum Darius McCrary has booked a recurring role opposite Queen Latifah in new Fox series Star, created/executive produced by Lee Daniels and Tom Donaghy. Set in Atlanta, Star revolves around three talented young singers (Jude Demorest, Ryan Destiny and Brittany O’Grady) who navigate the cutthroat music business on their road to success. McCrary will play Otis Leecan, a nasty piece of work who’s obsessed with his foster daughter Simone (O’Grady). He will do everything in his power to drag her back from Atlanta after she runs away. He’s clever, manipulative and dangerous. But he’s met his match in Simone and her sister Star (Demorest). McCrary, known for his starring role as Eddie Winslow on Family Matters, recently recurred on Minority Report and The Leftovers.

Another Lee Daniels series is adding cast. Veteran actor Frank Whaley has booked a recurring role on Season 3 of Fox’s hit Empire, co-created and executive produced by Daniels. He’ll play Edison Cruz, a talented, brilliant, and relentless right-wing blogger who poses an unforeseen threat to Angelo’s rising popularity in the NYC mayoral election with his vicious attacks and rhetoric. Whaley can currently be seen in a recurring role on Netflix’s Luke Cage and will next be seen in Paramount’s Monster Trucks. He’s repped by Karen Forman Management.