WASHINGTON — Authorities arrested actor Faizon Love, known for playing Wanda in the 2003 Christmas film “Elf,” and held him in a Tampa, Florida jail after charging him with two counts of contempt of court.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported that officers arrested the 58-year-old California-based comedian late Tuesday night, and he remained in jail as of Thursday.
Court records reveal a legal custody battle dating back to 2019 in the county, including multiple motions for contempt and to suspend Love’s driver’s license, along with notices of delinquency.
According to WTSP in Tampa, a judge had issued an order last month to bring Love into custody and “serve a 90-day sentence” for contempt after the actor failed to appear in court for an April hearing and later failed to surrender himself to jail in May.
On Tuesday, the same day officers arrested him, Love filed a motion for an extension of time.
Love played Wanda, the manager of department store Gimbels in “Elf,” who memorably grows fed up with the antics of Will Ferrell’s Buddy character. The actor and comedian also appeared in 2009’s “Couples Retreat” with Vince Vaughn and Jason Bateman, as well as 2020’s “The War With Grandpa” starring Robert De Niro.
In 2018, a court gave Love a suspended sentence of 180 days and fined him $500 after officers arrested and charged him with assault for an attack on a valet at John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Ohio.
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