Cult Actor of the Week: Bruce Campbell

By Nate Storey

There once was a man with a chin, a chin so strong and masculine that it could only find its true calling in film. And not just any films called unto this chin, but the wonderful world of B-Movies, in which he is not just a man, but a god!

This chin belongs to a man named Bruce Campbell, one of the greatest cult actors the world over, a master of the one-liners, reverse acting (filming action scenes in reverse) and head shots.

His start came in The Evil Dead series of films, directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man) in which he must battle evil spirits first in a cabin in the woods while on vacation and then, in the sequel Army of Darkness, in the past. These films, especially Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness, have become cult phenomena and are filled with the best horror, gore, and humor a little bit of money can buy.

Over time, the series has inspired an off-Broadway musical, featuring songs from all three films including such catchy and self-explanatory titles as “All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Candarian Demons,” “Ode to an Accidental Stabbing,” and “Do the Necronomicon.”

Since that auspicious time, Campbell has starred in a number of cult films, often shown on the Sci-Fi channel. The Man with the Screaming Brain and Alien Apocalypse are two more recent such films. These films have endearingly horrible graphics and wonderfully spotty dialogue, adding up to films that are good because they are bad.

Campbell has since appeared often in bit parts in major movies, such as cameos in the Spider-Man series (one in each), due to his long friendship with director Sam Raimi. He also appeared briefly in The Majestic, in which he spoofed his strong adventurer as “Roland the Intrepid Explorer.”

In another stroke of cult genius, Campbell was cast in Bubba Ho-Tep as an elderly Elvis, who instead of dying, grew tired of his fame and switched bodies with an Elvis impersonator, who died in his place. Elvis now lives in a west Texas nursing home which is haunted by a mummy, a Bubba Ho-Tep. Campbell would later record a full length commentary for the movie in character.

Campbell’s work has not been limited to film either. He had a recurring role as the King of Thieves in the Hercules and Xena TV shows in the 90s, and even starred in one of the best short lived TV shows ever: The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., a western sci-fi action comedy show. Brisco, Campbell’s character sought to find his father’s killer, had a horse named Comet, with which he conversed, and dealt with mysterious orbs that could grant supernatural powers.

He can currently be seen on the USA Network in the show Burn Notice, a spy show which combines humor and action.

For more information about Bruce Campbell, check out his two books: “If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor” and ” Make Love! The Bruce Campbell Way.”

Quotes:

There is a large element of me in every role I do. Actors who say they can dive inside a character are either schizophrenic or lying.

From Evil Dead series:

[upon gaining the chain saw in place of his lost right hand]
Ash: Groovy.

Old Woman: I’ll swallow your soul!
Ash: Come get some.

Ash: Lady, I’m afraid I’m gonna have to ask you to leave the store.
Possessed woman: Who the hell are you?
Ash: Name’s Ash.
[cocks rifle]
Ash: Housewares.

From Bubba Ho-Tep:

Elvis: Even a big bitch cockroach like you should know… never, but never, fuck with the King.