Lawyer files lawsuit over "The Wolf of Wall Street"

A lawyer who says he was defamed by his portrayal in "The Wolf of Wall Street" is asking for $25 million in damages and the film removed from theaters.

"The Wolf of Wall Street" screenwriter on portrayal of Jordan Belfort, Oscar nomination

Andrew Greene says in a complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York against the filmmakers and Paramount Pictures that the toupee-wearing character Nicky "Rugrat" Koskoff played by actor P.J. Byrne in the film was modeled after Greene.

The hedonistic film, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is based on the 2007 memoir by notorious Stratton Oakmont brokerage firm founder Jordan Belfort. Greene served as the firm's head of corporate finance in the 1990s. It received five Oscar nominations, including ones for best picture, best actor DiCaprio, supporting actor Jonah Hill and directing for Scorsese.

The lawsuit says the filmmakers made Greene look like a depraved criminal and drug user.

Paramount had no comment on the lawsuit.

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