Media Path Podcast Advantages of Character Acting & And The Best 70s Hollywood Hangs
We sit down with actor Bruce Davison. With almost 300 IMDB credits, shelves full of awards and a slew of illustrious co-stars and stories about A-listers whom he befriended pre-fame-and-fortune, Bruce is brimming with fantastic tales that feature some of the most influential figures in visual media history. Bruce joins us to talk about his career, from his start in the '60s, all the way to current projects coming soon to a streaming platform near you!
Bruce’s film career took off with a jolt as he found himself starring in the provocatively X-Rated, coming of age saga, Last Summer. Bruce takes us back to the set with Richard Thomas and Barbara Hershey where soundtrack contributor, Robbie Robertson taught him first guitar chords.
We talk about Bruce’s childhood, growing up in a military family in Philadelphia, the practical career advice he received from director Robert Aldrich: Be a character actor! Wisdom he gained from Anthony Quinn and the horror and heartbreak behind his Golden Globe-winning performance in 1989's Longtime Companion, the first theatrical feature to address the AIDS epidemic, which was written by Fritz's step-brother, Craig Lucas!
We dive further into Bruce's remarkable Hollywood history with a round of IMDB Roulette (patent-pending) which takes us into private gambling parties with Dino, Desi, Billy, Lucy and Frank Sinatra! Sunday afternoons with Scorsese and DePalma at Margot Kidder's beach house. And we learn the truth behind why Bruce appears as only an extra in Close Encounters. His pal Stephen Spielberg said, “No one want so see the guy from Willard stepping off a spaceship.”
Just how often does Bruce have to answer a question about Rats? To whom does he give credit for the greatest scenes he’s ever performed…? The writers. David E. Kelley, Taylor Sheridan, Craig Lucas and beyond. Additionally, did you know that Bruce is a talented painter? We sample his works and hear about his inspirations.
We get backstage insights from the set of Ozark and Bruce shares dish on his latest projects, including movies with Beau Bridges and Dee Wallace.
Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley, and The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, both on Netflix. And get ready for a Keri Russell deep dive, beginning with The Diplomat which will pull you happily into all four seasons of Felicity!
Path Points of Interest:
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin - Netflix
Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley on Netflix