Clarence Bell
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Clarence Bell, played by Gary Anthony Williams, is a male secretary on the ABC dramedy Boston Legal.
[edit] Background
He first appeared with Claire Simms (Constance Zimmer) and Alan Shore (James Spader) in the third season as a crossdresser who sues "her" company when they won't give him maternity leave were he to wish to adopt a child. Claire takes it upon herself to be his friend. She attempts to help him become comfortable in social situations without donning his extravagant personas. In the season 3 episode "The Nutcrackers," he becomes Claire Simms' new secretary. In the next episode, "Angel of Death," he sues his gym for gender discrimination.
Bell has three egos. The first is his actual identity "Clarence." He also plays the loud-mouthed and sassy woman "Clarice." Also, he portrayed his brother "Clevant" in an episode.
Bell also has special personas that he exudes during specific times of the year. In the episode "Nuts", Bell explains that around Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, he exudes a persona as the late civil rights leader. He has since changed this to Oprah Winfrey as most children these days, according to Bell, don't know who King is.
Bell is now Claire's boyfriend. After they became "exclusive", he asked Claire to be reassigned since he didn't want to work for his girlfriend. He is now Alan Shore's assistant.
Clarence ends up taking his first trial case since there is a shortage of public defenders. Clarence defends a young Haitian woman who has served a life of servitude since she was seven years old, with assistance from Paul Lewiston and Bethany Horowitz.
