On July 16 Paramount Plus released Mafia Spies on their streaming service. Mafia Spies is a six part documentary based on the book by Thomas Maier of the same title. The series reveals some startling information about important events during the 1960s in American politics. The public perception of many of these events are now being questions as top secrets governments which are now unclassified reveal the truth about what really happened. Some of these astonishing events uncover what really happened in the cold war relationship between the United States, Cuba and the Soviet Union. There are also some incredible revelations about such high level personalities like John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Fidel Castro, Frank Sinatra, the mafia and the James Bond Phenomenon that have most viewers shaking their heads in unbelief.
In Mafia Spies, Douglas Vermeeren plays one of the lead FBI agents who along with the CIA tries to unravel this bewildering web of secrets and forbidden agreements. Without giving away too much of the plot you’ll find that the most startling revelation is that the CIA actually partnered with the heads off organized crime on a plot to assassinate Fidel Castro. However things become even more dangerous as the US government double crosses the mob in a plot which could be closely tied to the assignation of JFK.
We caught up with actor Douglas Vermeeren to discuss the project and some of the interesting insights and challenges in bringing Mafia Spies to screens everywhere.
Indie Wrap: Mafia Spies is currently one of the hottest series on Paramount Plus. Why do you think it’s attracting so much attention?
Douglas Vermeeren: I think the 1960s were such an interesting time in the history of the world. This was the time of the cold war and spies. It was also a time of conspiracy theories and distrust in the government in general. Mafia Spies pulls back the curtain and brings to light so many newly unclassified top secret documents that in many cases confirms some of the suspicions that many people had about what was going on in the shadows.
Indie Wrap: In Mafia Spies you play the lead FBI investigator that is tasked with confronting some of the key players in organized crime during the 1960s. What surprised you most about Mafia Spies as you played this character?
Douglas Vermeeren: As I was first invited to be part of this production there were a lot of things that I began to learn about this time in history that really surprised me. I don’t want to spoil anything for people who haven’t yet seen the series, but if I were to share two things that many people already suspected it would be how connected JFK was to the mafia and his affair with Judy Campbell and the other was Frank Sinatra’s involvement. Just mind blowing.
Indie Wrap: What were some of your favorite moments being involved in Mafia Spies?
Douglas Vermeeren: As a person I always fantasized about what it would have been like to live in the 1960s. It always seemed like such a simpler time and filled with so many life changing events. It was really a treat as an actor to get to put on the clothing, drive the cars, walk down the streets and kind of live in that time period for a while. It was really fun and insightful. Perhaps it wasn’t as romantic as I had imagined.
I also have to mention another experience that was incredibly special to me. Part of the series was filmed on the Paramount Pictures lot. At the beginning of my first day there I was shown on the lot where Elvis Presley stayed while he worked on a few of the films he did while there. Elvis is one of my cousins so it was interesting to see that.
But the really cool experience happened later that day. To give the background to help you understand why this was meaningful I guess I should start at the beginning. On one of my first trips to LA as a young man I had the opportunity to take the Paramount Pictures Backlot studio tour. On this tour they put everybody onto a golf cart type truck and they show you all the movie sets where many famous movies were filmed. On that tour it is not uncommon to see movies and tv episodes actually being filmed. While on this tour we had such an experience. Our cart stopped and we saw a show being filmed in the distance. Our tour guide invited us all to be extremely quick as we were now on a ‘hot set.’ It was incredibly cool. I knew right there that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. The tour guide then said if we were really lucky maybe some of the actors would come over and say hello. Unfortunately they did not come and I thought to myself how cool that would have been. I vowed in my heart that one day I would work on the Paramount lot and if given the chance I would certainly come over and say ‘hi’ to those on the tour.
Well, fast forward to that first day on Mafia Spies. Here I was in full costume on the the Paramount Pictures lot as an actor. I made it! But what made it even cooler was around lunch time the tour came. Naturally I remembered my earlier experience. And I am so thankful to our incredible director Tom Donahue, who allowed us to go over and say hi. And the coolest thing is that there was a young guy in that tour who was probably about the same age as I was when I was on the tour. And he told me of his dream to be an actor and also return back to the Paramount lot exactly like I was doing. My journey truly felt as though it had come full circle. It was the coolest and still sends shivers up my spin when I think about it.
Indie Wrap: So what’s next for Douglas Vermeeren?
Douglas Vermeeren: It’s been a pretty booked year and still lots coming. There are a few really exciting projects that I’m really looking forward to. In October, the spectacular western Martial arts film Black Creek. This incredible film is a must see for all action fans. The films is the work of martial arts legend Cynthia Rothrock. She is absolutely incredible in the film. The first sizzle trailer just dropped and I’ll tell you what, Cynthia has never been cooler. This is going to be one her best films yet. In the film I play one of the villains Hank Winslow. Winslow runs a bare knuckle brawling ring on the wild frontier. And as you can imagine with a legend like Cynthia you need to have some powerful challengers for her to fight. The film is jam packed with so many legendary martial artists it’s almost unbelievable. Along side Cynthia you’ll see Richard Norton, Don ’The Dragon’ Wilson, Keith Cooke, R. Marcus Taylor, Benny ‘The Jet’ Urquidez, and many others. It’s literally the who’s who of martial arts. I have a feeling this film is going to be a definite fan favorite. The film will premiere October 9 at a special VIP red carpet event in Beverly Hills. I understand that a handful of tickets for this exclusive event are being made available to the public. If you google Black Creek you cna probably find more info on that.
Indie Wrap: Any last words you’d like to share with your fans and followers?Douglas Vermeeren: The most important thing I could say is thank you. I am thank you to all who have supported my work and also made their way back to the movie theater. I still think that is the best way to watch a movie. That’s how they were designed to be watched. I am excited for the journey
