If you watch the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, then you know newest star Erika Jayne is married to Thomas Girardi. But her husband isn't just known for appearing on the Bravo show, he is also a famous lawyer recognized for his work on the 1993 Pacific Gas and Electric Company case. Yep, the same case that inspired Erin Brockovich, which earned Julia Roberts an Academy Award. Jayne bragged about her husband's accomplishments during her first episode of RHOBH, and rightfully so. That said, let's ask the question I'm sure all fans are pondering: Who played Thomas Girardi in Erin Brockovich ?
Even though Girardi tried the case in 1993 and won a $333 million settlement for 650 residents in Hinkley, California, it appears he was portrayed in the film under a different name. While chatting with Attorney at Law magazine, Girardi claims Peter Coyote played him, but as the character "Kurt Potter." Apparently, Girardi was an adviser for Erin Brockovich, too.
He said,
Peter Coyote played me. I was on the set every day and it was a true story. The thing that was good about it was that it did bring up a subject that nobody really gave any thought to before that time and obviously to see Julia Roberts five days a week wasn’t too bad either.
IMDb even lists Girardi under the "special thanks" section, which goes to show that he did contribute to the film and more than as the inspiration for Coyote's character. Despite not being mentioned by name in the Oscar-winning film, it's clear that Girardi had a huge impact in the case and influenced the movie in more ways than one.
Well, at least he's getting some screen time on RHOBH, right?
