Bruce Dern
(1936 - )We don’t often think of Bruce Dern as a character actor probably because in his prime he played lead roles more often. In fact, he is the epitome of a character actor and has played some despicably evil villains and oddballs as well as some complex characters in other categories. He is a tall, lean man with a gangly physique, classically handsome face with a mop of sandy hair, a toothy grin and piercing blue eyes, with a bent of mischief in his demeanor. His twangy, nasal voice is another asset he uses to great effect. He is an extremely talented actor and raises the level of entertainment in every film, TV series or play he is involved in. He was born Bruce MacLeish Dern on June 4, 1936 in Winnetka, Illinois, near Chicago, to a politically industrious family. His grandfather was a Governor of the state of Utah and the Secretary of War in FDR’s cabinet. Another uncle was playwright Archibald MacLeish. He attended New Trier Township high school in Winnetka and graduated from there. He attended Choate prep school and later the University of Pennsylvania. He dropped out of college to pursue an acting career. He headed for New York and a stint at the Actors Studio which led to many opportunities, albeit small parts, on Broadway and TV. He worked often in television series and later scored a bit part in Elia Kazan’s film “Wild River.” An early appearance on “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” as a psychotic led to some typecasting early on in his career, but his versatility soon shone through and he was on his way. His films included: “Wild River” (1960) uncredited, as Jack Roper, his film debut; “The Crimebusters” (1961) as Joe Krajac; Hitchcock’s “Marnie” (1964) with Tippi Hedren and Sean Connery, as Sailor; “Hush… Hush Sweet Charlotte” (1964) with Bette Davis, as John Mayhew; “The Wild Angels” (1966) as Loser/Joey Kerns; “The War Wagon” (1967) as Hammond; “The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” (1967) as Johnny May; “The Trip” (1967) as John; “Waterhole #3” (1967) as Deputy Samuel P. Tippen; “Will Penny” (1968) as Rafe Quint; “Psych-Out” (1968) as Steve Davis; “Hang ‘em High” (1968) with Clint Eastwood, as Miller; “Support Your Local Sheriff!” (1969) as Joe Danby; “Castle Keep” (1969) as Lt. Billy Byron Bix; “Number One” (1969) as Richie Fowler; “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” (1969) as James, a film role that really boosted his career; “Bloody Mama” (1970) as Kevin Dirkman; “Rebel Rousers” (1970) as J.J. Weston; “Drive, He Said” (1971) as Coach Bullion, for which he won a National Society Of Film Critics Award; a most unusual film “The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant” (1971) as Dr. Roger Girard; the film classic “The Cowboys” (1972) with John Wayne, as Asa Watts, one of his greatest portrayals as a despicable villain; “Silent Running” (1972) as Freeman Lowell, another terrific role; “The King of Marvin Gardens” (1972) as Jason Staebler; “Thumb Tripping” (1972) as Smitty; “The Laughing Policeman” (1973) as Insp. Leo Larsen, SFPD; “The Great Gatsby” (1974) with Robert Redford, as Tom Buchanan, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination as Best Supporting Actor; “Posse” (1975) as Jack Strawhorn; “Smile” (1975) as Big Bob Freelander; “The Twist” (1975) as William Brandels; Hitchcock’s last film “Family Plot” (1976) as George Lumley; “Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood” (1976) as Grayson Potchuck; “Black Sunday” (1977) as Capt. Michael J. Lander, another very good role; “Coming Home” (1978) as Capt. Bob Hyde, a role for which he earned an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination as Best Supporting Actor; “The Driver” (1978) as The Detective; “Middle Age Crazy” (1980) as Bobby Lee; “Tattoo” (1981) as Karl Kinsky; “Harry Tracy, Desperado” (1982) as Harry Tracy; “That Championship Season” (1982) as George Sitkowski; “On the Edge” (1985) as Wes Holman; “The Big Town” (1987) as Mr. Edwards; “1969” (1989) as Cliff; “The ‘burbs’” (1989) as Mark Rumsfield; “After Dark, My Sweet” (1990) as Uncle Bud; “Diggstown” (1992) as John Gillon; “Mrs. Munck” (1995) as Patrick Leary; “Wild Bill” (1995) as Will Plummer; “Down Periscope” (1996) as Rear Adm. Yancy Graham; “Mulholland Falls” (1996) uncredited, as The Chief; “Last Man Standing” (1996) as Sheriff Ed Galt; “Small Soldiers” (1998) as Voice of Link Static; “The Haunting” (1999) as Mr. Dudley; “If… Dog… Rabbit..” (1999) as McGurdy; “All the Pretty Horses” (2000) with Matt Damon, as Judge; Madison” (2001) as Harry Volpi; “”The Glass House” (2001) as Begleiter; “Milwaukee, Minnesota” (2002) as Sean McNally and “Masked & Anonymous” (2003). He appeared in TV movies including: “Toughlove” (1985); “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (1987); “Into the Badlands” (1991) and “Comfort, Texas” (1997). He was a regular on the TV series: “Stoney Burke” (1962-63 as E.J. Stocker; “Space” (1985) a mini-series, as Stanley Mott and “Lost Drive-In” (1996) as Host. He guest starred on many TV series including: “Naked City”; “Sea Hunt”; “Ben Casey”; “Thriller”; “The Fugitive”; “Wagon Train”; “The Outer Limits”; “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”; “The Virginian”; “Rawhide”; “Gunsmoke”; “The F.B.I.”; “The Big Valley”; “Run for Your Life” and “Bonanza.” He was married three time. His first wife was Mary Dean who he wed in the 1950s and later divorced. He married actress Diane Ladd in 1960 and they had 2 daughters the eldest of which died accidentally at 18 months and actress Laura Dern who was born in 1967. He divorced Diane Ladd in 1969 and married Andrea Beckett in 1969 through the present. We do not see this great actor often enough most likely due to Hollywood’s age discrimination tendencies.
From Great Character Actors, Page 9.
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