NEW YORK, Oct. 18 (UPI) — American Gods and Sleepy Hollow alum Orlando Jones says he was happy to learn his American Horror Story 13 character Papa Legba, gatekeeper to the underworld, would be the one to finally answer some of the show’s biggest questions in Episode 10.
This weekend’s installment saw Papa Legba revealing to a coven of witches — played by Angela Bassett, Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Emma Roberts and Billie Lourd — that Satan bet God long ago that if the devil could survive 100 years in a human body, he would be given Heaven, Earth and Hell to rule.
Now that he is 97, the devil and his minions are wreaking havoc, trying to eliminate anyone, including the witches, who might keep him from achieving his goal.
“I laughed because everybody kept saying, ‘I don’t know what the hell’s going on,'” Jones, 58, told UPI in a recent Zoom interview.
“I was like, ‘I know exactly what’s going on.’ It was fun. I think a lot of it was a relief. But a fun character and exciting and crazily and wonderfully written by Ryan [Murphy] and Charlie [Carver] and the guys.”
Angela Bassett attends the 2026 Disney Upfront at the Jacob Javits Center on May 12 in New York City. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI
The role was previously played in Seasons 3 and 8 by Lance Reddick, who died in 2023 at the age of 60.
“Taking over the role from a close friend of mine was a crazy, emotional roller coaster at the same time,” Jones said.
Jessica Lange arrives on the red carpet at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles in 2024. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
“Lance was so calm and still and I loved that,” Jones added, noting Papa is in a different place emotionally in Season 13.
“This guy’s agitated. This guy is pissed. He is fit to be tied from the start. Somebody’s missing from Hell. I didn’t know they were gone. There’s apparently a loophole.”
Most of Jones’ scenes place Papa Legba in the middle of a mansion powerfully explaining to the witches the rules of lost magic.
Despite the fact that he has tons of lines and is surrounded by famous actresses, Jones said he didn’t feel like he was under tremendous pressure.
“No, no. Angela and I did Fences together years ago. So, there’s a familiarity there,” he said.
“Sarah, I hadn’t worked with, but, obviously, I am a massive fan of hers and, to be completely honest, little me, King Kong fan me, completely agrees with Kong that if you were going to chase someone around New York and tear the whole damn city up, Jessica Lange is the right choice [to do that for]. I concur. She’s wonderful and lovely.”
Jones credited the artists who designed his costumes, hair and makeup for helping him breathe life into the character.
“From the hat pushed way down on my head to the dreadlocks to the layered necklaces and the nails, the teeth, the red eyes, it allows me to really sink into him,” Jones said.
“I was so in love with it that I would stay in the whole get-up all day.”