HOTEL COCAINE: Maurice Compte Reflects on Helping Bring a Fictionalized Version of His Father to Life

LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT — “Blood Out” Episode 24012 — Pictured: Maurice Compte as Capt. Mike Duarte — (Photo by: Scott Gries/NBC)

For years, television viewers have seen Maurice Compte act in a wide array of shows like NARCOS, POWER, THE LAST SHIP, IN THE DARK, LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT, and MAYANS M.C. But his creative impact on the MGM+ series HOTEL COCAINE is a bit different…and a lot more personal.

The new drama (which wraps up its first season on Sunday, August 4) follows Román Compte (Danny Pino), the manager of The Mutiny Hotel. In the series, Román tries to protect his brother, Nestor (Yul Vazquez), who has been smuggling cocaine and his the rest of his family (who the DEA threatened in order to get Román to inform on Nestor).

Though the series is heavily fictionalized, it’s still, at its core, the story of Maurice’s father—whom Maurice has dubbed a “cocaine cowboy.” After working with writer Chris Brancato on NARCOS, Maurice pitched that his father’s story would be one to tell. Brancato suggested he write something up and come back to him. Five years later, Maurice came back to the showrunner with an idea, and the ball started rolling on HOTEL COCAINE. 

Here, Maurice (who serves as a co-executive producer on the MGM+ series) talks with Give Me My Remote about getting the show made. Read more