Former U.S. Senator Al Franken returns to acting in Netflix's new murder mystery series "The Residence," playing a fictional senator in his first major screen role since leaving politics in 2018.
The 73-year-old former Saturday Night Live comedian portrays Senator Aaron Filkins in the Shondaland production, which premiered March 20. The series follows Detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba) as she investigates a murder at the White House during a State dinner gone wrong.
For Franken, the role came naturally given his real-world experience. "I had to tell everyone around me how to act," Franken told PEOPLE at the show's premiere. "You're thinking of a different kind of performance art when you're in the Senate than when you're actually acting."
The former Minnesota senator drew inspiration from past colleagues to shape his "avuncular" character, citing Chuck Grassley, Lindsey Graham, and Lamar Alexander as references. He transformed into the role with new glasses and a different hairstyle.
Franken served in the U.S. Senate from 2009 until his resignation in 2018 following allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women. The most prominent case involved radio host Leeann Tweeden, who alleged Franken groped and forcibly kissed her during a 2006 USO tour. The controversy led to calls for his resignation from several Democratic senators.
During his departure from the Senate, Franken maintained that some allegations were untrue while acknowledging others he remembered differently. He stated his resignation was ultimately about serving Minnesota's interests rather than himself.
Before his political career, Franken was best known for his work on Saturday Night Live from 1975-1995 as both a writer and performer. He recently appeared at SNL's 50th anniversary celebration and in the documentary "SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night."