Friday, March 06, 2009

Rip Torn

Cinema Retro discusses the Rip Tor Film Festival coming up.

In later years Torn has become a character actor and TV fixture. But as the piece points out Torn was once a major theater actor.

"A ubiquitous but under-appreciated presence on screen for nearly five decades, Rip Torn is one of American cinema's great talents, an actor whose versatility, command, and sheer magnetism are unsurpassed. Though the last twenty years have found him emphasizing his (considerable) flair for comedy, Torn emerged, via the theater, as a star on par with James Dean and the young Brando. Becoming a stage sensation, he delivered renowned performances in plays such as Tennessee Williams's SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH and James Baldwin's BLUES FOR CHARLIE, and eventually mounted his own ground-breaking and politically provocative productions, including the NYC debut of Michael McClure's THE BEARD and a version of RICHARD III."n

For the complete article go here:
http://www.cinemaretro.com/index.php

4 comments:

pattinase (abbott) said...

He made The Larry Sanders show for me but he was great in every role.

JD Rhoades said...

I just checked out his bio. Fascinating guy. I didn't know he was Sissy Spacek's cousin.

Anonymous said...

I have an indelible image in my mind of Torn and Tuesday Weld playing in a "Naked City" episode where, after they've robbed a Manhattan bank, they are stopped at a traffic light and the guy behind them is honking his horn. Torn sighs and says something like, "I'll be right back," and he goes back and shoots the guy as Weld watches in the rear view mirror. This was outstandingly shocking in those days! I remember everyone at school talking about how cool it was and how very cool Rip Torn was too.
Terry Butler

Todd Mason said...

Ditto to everything. Extra points for helping Spacek begin her career, and for biting Norman Mailer.