Movies News Talk
Power's Joe Proctor: A Look at Jerry Ferrara's Iconic Role and His Emotional Farewell!
Joe Proctor (played by Jerry Ferrara) was a major player in Starz's hit Crime Drama, Power. His death was a shock— for viewers AND Ferrara himself. Power's entire cast is constantly in this high-stakes battle for power; some working to achieve success in life or just trying to use connections for themselves! The character Joe Proctor, Ghost's (Omari Hardwick) lawyer and something of a consigliere, really makes his presence felt.
He's introduced in Season 2, Episode 8 ("Three Moves Ahead") and soon became a main player; especially in Seasons 4 and 5. He was pretty much a central figure– until he gets violently taken out. He would have also greatly benefitted from having a spinoff—that’s the kind of awesome material found throughout those later parts in his plot arc! But, nope. He dies the way he lived: in a blaze of bullets.
The final season of Power (season 6) sees things close in for everyone! Tommy (Joseph Sikora) was already responsible for killing Angela Valdez (Lela Loren) in that prior season; putting him in serious trouble which results in many dangerous encounters and his decision to take care of loose ends and enemies.
In "King's Gambit" (Episode 5), Proctor gets cornered– he's forced to name someone for Angela's death (the bosses demand it’s Ghost). But Proctor refuses to sell Ghost out. He tells the truth, pointing the finger at Tommy. And you've guessed it— Tommy hears that. A serious gunfight erupts; Tommy corners Proctor. Their last intense exchange, “This isn’t fking over” followed by several gunshots shows that very brave death– showing immense integrity; even as he faces his own demise!
Ferrara knew his time was probably limited. He did talk about his character’s eventual demise in an interview with EW. He felt fine about things initially; and his belief that his exit would be similar to that of a character—that kind of stoic portrayal. This entire feeling changed completely.
“I've never necessarily felt safe, but then you make it a certain amount of time and you're like, 'Oh, maybe I'm going to see the end of this thing.'... My whole thought had been, 'When it comes for me, I'm going to take it like a soldier. I'm not going to show that I'm upset.' And then I got upset in the room. [Laughs] I was like, 'Aw man, why now? It couldn't be three more episodes?' ”
Power was massive for him! He really admired the entire team; he said as much— highlighting just how great the experiences surrounding this series truly were. That deep feeling of regret; not merely his exit but losing the connection he’d grown; that regret was extremely impactful, made more clear and Powerful as a result.
After Power's end (2020), Ferrara kept acting: even returning as Proctor in Power Book II: Ghost. He has an upcoming part in Second Chances (post-production), and this entire article explores just how this extremely skilled and popular actor has an incredibly rich future which likely will contain an enormous level of production from years to come. He’s proven his skills to be amongst the best and is ready for bigger, exciting things. Joe Proctor might be gone, but Ferrara's got an incredibly exciting career awaiting him.
Joe Proctor's death was both brutal and meaningful. It's a moment that perfectly captures the entire Power universe – the intensity and uncertainty which only such a high stakes production and experienced individuals could convey so effortlessly! It remains iconic; a truly unforgettable scene.
This success is made more interesting because of the genuine feelings of Jerry Ferrara regarding this character’s fate! This emphasizes that the level of commitment portrayed and generated had real emotional meaning, producing an entire legacy which will make many people interested; especially with an ending that remains utterly memorable. That sincere emotional response makes it incredibly worthwhile to look at.