Jackson White got a very special visit during Tell Me Lies fifth episode from his real life mom Katey Sagal. The actors character Stephen in the Hulu series returns home from college for the holidays when viewers meet his mother Norah who is played by the Sons of Anarchy and Married With Children alum. 





Norahs manipulative behavior immediately sheds light on Stephens own dishonest behavior especially when it comes to his relationship with Lucy played in the show by Grace Van Patten. Casting Sagal as Stephens mother in Tell Me Lies was a no brainer for showrunner Meaghan Oppenheim who told ABC News but first she wanted to get the blessing of her leading man. 


 I felt I had to ask Jackson before anyone else. So I texted him. I said How would you feel if your mom played Norah? she recalled.  And he did not respond for a while and then he was like I love it. Lets talk to her. Sagal noted that after a brief conversation with Oppenheim her response was an  immediate yes.


White called the whole experience  insane and  perfect casting. He explained of shifting their real-life dynamic to that of Stephen and Norahs I am friends with my mother and we had to be extremely passive aggressive and tense but it was so fun and exciting to build that relationship and talk to each other how we have never really talked to each other. Sagal agreed It was a challenge to leave our very close relationship at the door and take on the extremely toxic dynamic between Stephen and his mom. Jackson shows up fully on set ready to play present and collaborative. It was beautiful.


Van Patten agreed that it was her  favorite episode getting to see Stephens roots just as the audience was turned completely against his character.  Its such a good middle mark because you can not hate Stephen really any more than you do before episode four  so then five comes in and it slaps some empathy on you reboot your feelings and possibly understand him a little bit more  she explained. Tell Me Lies is streaming now on Hulu.