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10 Questions with Bruce Dern
Bruce Dern--the greatest movie villain ever. |
Bruce Dern might be the coolest actor who ever lived. His performances -- from his first uncredited role in Wild River to his upcoming movie with Matt Damon called All the Pretty Horses -- all have an edgy, dangerous quality that defy the typical film stereotypes of a hero or a villain.
Dern is a true Hollywood maverick. He's worked for legendary studio directors like Hitchcock and Frankenheimer, all the while working in classic counter-culture movies like Psych-Out, Bloody Mama, and The Trip (written by Jack Nicholson). He is also one of the greatest bad guys in film. He menaced Jane Fonda, tattooed Maude Adams, and even shot John Wayne. But his true specialty is taking an ordinary man and slowly, believably sending him over the edge of sanity, in classic films like Coming Home and Silent Running. A "Bruce Dern movie" practically became a film franchise by the 1970's.
Dern was born on June 4, 1936. He grew up in Winnetka Illinois. He has lived in L.A. since 1960. He runs every day -- having never missed a day running in over 13 years (except for 5 days because of a collapsed lung).
He and ex-wife Diane Ladd had one child, actress Laura Dern, who proves that great acting talent can indeed be passed on to your children.
Dern can next be seen in Miramax's All The Pretty Horses (Dec. 25). Next year, he stars in The Glass House and the indie Madison.
TEN QUESTIONS
Silent Running, a SportsHollywood favorite (Dern groupies Jeff and Dave actually each own the SOUNDTRACK). |
SportsHollywood: What is your favorite sports movie that you appeared in? The Court-Marshal of Jackie Robinson? Diggstown? Number One? Black Sunday? That Championship Season?
DERN: On The Edge. (Roger Ebert review: "One of his best performances")
SportsHollywood: Do you play any sports?
DERN: I am a runner.
SportsHollywood: What's the most you've ever won on a sports bet?
DERN: Sports betting is all about money management, so the most money won on one event is not the most important thing.
Bruce Dern striking the usual happy pose. |
SportsHollywood: Do you think there's anybody else out there now who plays villains as well as you have?
DERN: I am sure there are, but this man has a knack for it, doesn't he?
SportsHollywood: Were you close with Hitchcock? He used you in several films and TV shows.
DERN: Mr. Hitchcock was a "one-of-a-kinder."
SportsHollywood: Your daughter Laura, being beautiful and blonde, seems like she would have been the perfect Hitchcock heroine. Will you two ever do a film together?
DERN: I sure hope so. Mr. Hitchcock saw something in her when she was only 8-years old.
Dern playing a good guy in the upcoming film, All the Pretty Horses. |
SportsHollywood: You also have worked a lot with Jack Nicholson. Who is the best actor you ever worked with?
DERN: Almost everyone who allowed me to get inside of them, and vice versa.
SportsHollywood: Who is your favorite athlete?
DERN: John Henry.
SportsHollywood: Did you really get death threats after killing John Wayne in The Cowboys?
DERN: People were angry that I "killed their buddy…" It was a movie folks.
SportsHollywood: What are you the most proud of accomplishing in your life?
DERN: Completing this interview.
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Bruce Dern
Date of Birth: 4 June 1936
Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Schooling: Alumnus of New Trier Township High School East, Winnetka, IL.
Distance Running: Placed in the top 100 in the 800 meters for men 60 to 65
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