She learned to snake-dance afterwards.[13][77] Brian Turk's role as Gabriel was originally intended to be a mute character described as "a mildly retarded strongman with the face of an angel", but the writers later gave Turk a speaking part to not have another mute character like Management and Apollonia.[5][78] One of the only actors who never had any real competition was Michael J. Anderson as Samson, whom Daniel Knauf had wanted as early as the initial casting meeting;[11] Samson, Knauf's favorite character, was inspired by Knauf's father.[3][9]