What was the butler’s name in The Birdcage?

The butler’s name in the 1996 comedy film The Birdcage is Agador Spartacus. The film, directed by Mike Nichols and based on the 1978 French play La Cage aux Folles, features Robin Williams and Nathan Lane as a gay couple who own a drag club in South Beach, Florida. When their son Val announces his engagement to the daughter of a conservative politician, Armand and Albert must pretend to be a straight couple and hide their flashy gay friends and lifestyle. This leads to hilarious antics and complications when the politician and his wife come to dinner.

Agador Spartacus, played by Hank Azaria, is the Guatemalan housekeeper of Armand and Albert. Fiercely loyal to his employers, he gamely dresses up as a stereotypical housewife named Martha to help maintain the charade for the conservative Keeleys. With his thick accent and energetic mannerisms, Agador Spartacus delivers some of the most memorable comedic moments in the film.

More About The Birdcage

The Birdcage is considered a classic American comedy film. Here are some more details about the movie:

• Released in 1996
• Directed by Mike Nichols
• Screenplay by Elaine May, based on the play La Cage aux Folles by Jean Poiret
• Starring:
  • Robin Williams as Armand Goldman
  • Nathan Lane as Albert Goldman
  • Gene Hackman as Senator Kevin Keeley
  • Dianne Wiest as Louise Keeley
  • Dan Futterman as Val Goldman
  • Calista Flockhart as Barbara Keeley
  • Hank Azaria as Agador Spartacus
• Budget: $31 million
• Box office: $124.5 million
• Nominated for 1 Academy Award (Best Supporting Actor for Nathan Lane)

The Birdcage was a mainstream hit and significantly helped to bring gay themes into wider public awareness and acceptance in 1990s America. While controversial for its time, the comedy film is now considered a significant milestone for LGBTQ representation and rights in cinema.

About Agador Spartacus

As mentioned, Agador Spartacus is the energetic Guatemalan housekeeper and loyal assistant to owners Armand and Albert Goldman in The Birdcage. Here are some key facts about the scene-stealing character:

• Played by actor Hank Azaria
• Real name is Pepe
• Speaks English as a second language with a thick Guatemalan accent
• Works as housekeeper and cook for the Goldman household
• Dresses up as a maid named Martha when the Keeleys visit
• Over-the-top, flamboyant personality
• Provides much of the physical comedy and laughs in the film
• Memorable lines include “I no longer sputter and spit when I speak!”

Agador Spartacus pretends to be a heterosexual housewife when the Keeleys visit Armand’s home for dinner. His outrageous appearance and mannerisms as Martha create hysterical comedy. He frequently steals scenes with his energetic delivery and exaggerated Guatemalan accent.

The character was masterfully played by Hank Azaria and represents a broadly comedic gay stock character. While some viewers contend Agador embodies outdated stereotypes, others appreciate the humor and affection he brings to the role. His presence enabled The Birdcage to appeal to mainstream audiences of the time period.

Significance of Agador Spartacus

As an integral supporting character in The Birdcage, Agador Spartacus serves several important functions:

• Comedic relief – His slapstick physical comedy and exaggerated accent provide frequent laughs.
• Loyal helper – Despite his flamboyant nature, he is devoted to Armand and Albert.
• Voice of reason – He calmly tells Armand when he is overreacting.
• Cultural diversity – As a Guatemalan immigrant, he adds ethnic diversity to the cast.
• Plot device – His role as the housewife Martha is crucial to maintaining the ruse for the Keeleys.
• Scene stealer – Though a supporting character, he stands out in many memorable scenes.

So while minor compared to the lead roles, Agador Spartacus plays an indispensable part in conveying the film’s comedy, heart, and themes. He demonstrates that loyalty and support can come from even the most unexpected personalities.

Behind the Scenes

Here are some interesting facts about the behind-the-scenes creation of the character Agador Spartacus:

• Actor Hank Azaria came up with the voice and laugh for the character.
• He worked with a dialogue coach to develop Agador’s unique Guatemalan accent.
• The name Agador Spartacus was inspired by the historical figure Spartacus, who led a slave revolt against Rome.
• Azaria improvised many of his lines to make scenes more comedic.
• He shaved his body hair for the drag club scene where he wore a red swimsuit.
• The housekeeper outfit was padded to give Agador an exaggerated large rear end and hips.
• Azaria modeled some of Agador’s mannerisms on his grandmother’s Guatemalan housekeeper.

Director Mike Nichols and other cast members praised Azaria’s performance as show-stealing and iconic. Agador Spartacus remains one of Azaria’s most popular roles.

Impact on LGBTQ Representation

For 1996, The Birdcage provided groundbreaking LGBTQ representation in a major Hollywood film. While containing gay stereotypes, characters like Agador Spartacus helped introduce American mainstream audiences to more diverse depictions of homosexuality.

• Helped bring acceptance of gay relationships and marriage into wider society.
• One of first major films to portray openly gay lead characters in a compassionate light.
• Brought discussion of LGBTQ rights and AIDS epidemic into public awareness.
• Showed that a gay couple could have the same love, relationships, and family bonds as straight couples.
• Paved the way for more nuanced LGBTQ characters in later films.

While the flamboyant Agador embodies some controversial stereotypes, his place in the film signified greater acceptance and representation for the gay community in 1990s cinema and culture.

Later Appearances

Given his memorable performance, Hank Azaria has gone on to reprise the role of Agador Spartacus:

• Appeared as Agador on a 1999 episode of the sitcom Friends titled “The One With The Ultimate Fighting Champion.”
• Reprised the role in several interviews and comedic sketches over the years.
• Voiced Agador for the animated series The Simpsons in the 2016 episode “Looking for Mr. Goodbart.”
• Played Agador in a 2020 COVID quarantine virtual reunion with the cast of The Birdcage hosted by Rosie O’Donnell.

These appearances speak to the lasting pop culture impact and fan appreciation for the flamboyant character. Agador clearly left an imprint as one of the most uproarious parts of The Birdcage.

Comparison to Original Play

The Birdcage was based on the earlier French play La Cage aux Folles. Here is how Agador Spartacus compares to the original housekeeper character in the play:

So while the purpose remains similar, the film version expanded the character into a more energetic, overtly comedic role to appeal to movie audiences. The exaggerated Guatemalan identity and costumes helped make Agador a breakout character.

Conclusion

In the classic comedy film The Birdcage, the flamboyant housekeeper Agador Spartacus serves as a loyal assistant who provides outrageous comedic relief. As played by Hank Azaria, Agador steals scenes with his slapstick physical humor, exaggerated Guatemalan accent, skimpy costumes, and memorable one-liners.

While a supporting role, Agador is crucial to the plot and themes. He demonstrates gay stereotypes but also helped bring greater LGBTQ acceptance into the mainstream for 1996 audiences. The character paved the way for more nuanced representations in future movies.

Agador Spartacus remains one of the most uproariously funny parts of The Birdcage over 25 years later. His enduring popularity speaks to the uniquely comedic skills of Hank Azaria and the scene-stealing impact left by this energetic Guatemalan housekeeper.