‘Better Call Saul’ Actor Todd Latourette Admits Cutting Off Arm & Posing As Veteran To Book Roles

Todd Latourette, an actor who appeared in small roles on Better Call Saul and Longmire admitted to cutting off his arm so that he could pose as a wounded veteran to help him book more acting roles.

“I severed my hand with a Skilsaw,”  Latourette told news station KOB-TV during a recent interview explaining that he later cauterized the wound. “The state of my mind was a psychotic episode.”

During the interview, the actor also revealed that he is bipolar and was off his medications when he injured his arm 17 years ago. 

While auditioning for roles, Latourette told people within the industry that he was wounded overseas. He then went on to land parts on the small screen, including the 2009 George Clooney film, The Men Who Stare At Goats, the 2014 American drama series, Longmire, and a Season 4 episode of Better Call Saul which aired in September.

“The film industry obviously took a different angle. That I was different, and so they liked that,” he recalled. “They trusted me that I was exactly who I said I was. I was a war veteran. I was hired because I lied.”

Latourette has decided to come clean even though it could potentially hurt him professionally because he feels that his actions were dishonorable. “I’m killing my career by doing this,” he said. “If anyone thinks this was for personal edification, that’s not the case. I’m ousting myself from the New Mexico Film Industry. And gladly so, just to say what I’ve said.”

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Now back on his medication, Latourette hopes that his story will help and encourage those that are suffering from similar issues. 

“The power is in your hands to take your medication in the morning or at night. So that … this discourse of my life doesn’t need to necessarily be yours. Because it happens quick,” he said.