Bean, Place in 'Malkovich'

Thesps join Diaz, Cusack in Jonze-helmed comedy

By BENEDICT CARVER

Orson Bean and Mary Kay Place have joined the cast of Gramercy Pictures' "Being John Malkovich."

Pic, a co-production between Propaganda Films and Single Cell Pictures, is shooting in Los Angeles.

John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener and John Malkovich are starring in the comedy, about a puppeteer-turned-clerk (Cusack) who finds a porthole to Malkovich's brain.

Vet actor Bean will play the part of Dr. Lester, Cusack's boss. Place plays his hearing-impaired executive liaison, Floris.

Pic marks the feature debut of musicvid and commercials helmer Spike Jonze and the debut of screenwriter Charles Kaufman.

Producers are Propaganda chief Steve Golin and Vincent Landay, and Single Cell principals Sandy Stern and Michael Stipe.

Propaganda and Gramercy are units of Polygram Filmed Entertainment. Polygram Film Intl. will distribute the pic outside the U.S.