Edward Norton Admits He Based Death to Smoochy Character on Woody Harrelson

What was said

"I just decided, like, that Sheldon Mopes was Woody. And, you know, and it took Danny, like, it took Danny a couple days too, where he was like, oh my God."

Edward Norton revealed that his character Sheldon Mopes in the 2002 film Death to Smoochy was directly based on mimicking Woody Harrelson's voice and mannerisms. Norton described using Harrelson's vocal patterns for the granola-eating, morally righteous children's entertainer, saying he told director Danny DeVito during filming that the inspiration would come to him. DeVito initially questioned what Norton was doing but eventually loved the choice after a few days of shooting.