Why Sigourney Weaver Avoided Harry Connick Jr. on 'Copycat' Set: Actor Shares Shocking Story

Sigourney Weaver made a point to avoid Harry Connick Jr. during the filming of the 1995 film Copycat. Directed by Jon Amiel, this psychological thriller features Weaver as a forensic psychologist who becomes agoraphobic after a harrowing encounter with one of her patients—played by Connick as the psychotic serial killer Daryll Lee Cullum. Connick recently shared that Weaver's avoidance continued off-camera, similar to her character's behavior in the film.

In an appearance on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show With Julia Cunningham, Connick revealed, "Sigourney Weaver, she's so unbelievable. She wouldn't talk to me. I didn't meet her until the premiere. Every time I approached, she went the other way, like, 'I don’t want to be around that guy!'” Connick humorously compared the experience to high school days.

The film also stars Holly Hunter as Detective M.J. Monahan and Dermot Mulroney as her partner Ruben Goetz, who enlist Weaver’s character, Dr. Helen Hudson, to help solve a string of murders inspired by famous serial killers. The plot uncovers that Daryll plays a more significant role in the case than initially thought.

During his visit to The Jess Cagle Show, Connick recounted how he landed the role of the obsessed psychopath just as he was contemplating a break from acting. "My manager told me about Jon Amiel, a British director making a film called Copycat," Connick said. "I didn’t know much about it, but I agreed to meet him."

Connick described how Amiel asked him about his knowledge of serial killers and his New Orleans accent during the audition. "I started sharing some Southern expressions, and he said, 'Okay, thank you.' I thought I didn’t make a good impression,” Connick noted. “Later, my manager called to say he wanted me for the role, and I was surprised at what might have convinced him.”

Watch Connick’s account of Weaver’s avoidance in the clip above.