His was my favorite kind of career. A reliable character actor over DECADES of work. Someone like Boothe is the bread and butter of the industry. Without someone like Boothe, the A-Listers cannot shine as bright. Think of the way he looks down at Anthony Hopkins in one of the key scenes in Nixon. Hopkins slumped in a chair. Haig has come with the important message. What must be done. Hopkins, of course, is the focus of the scene. But – as is true across the board, 100% of the time – stars do not act in a vacuum of their own stardom. They rely on people like Boothe to highlight them, to do their part in scenes to make the story happen. In that moment in Nixon, Alexander Haig IS the story. He is the one pushing the story along. It is what is in Boothe’s face in that quiet moment – a kind of mournful upright sense of compassion, even pity, overlaid with the strength to know that this man has GOT to go – that makes that moment happen.
There are many such examples in this man’s lengthy career. In parts large and small.
He WORKED.
To an actor, that’s all that matters. Not fame, not above-the-title credits, not even salary.
It’s the WORK that matters.
Boothe’s passing leaves even more of a hole than an A-Lister’s passing.
I will miss him very much.
Oh no. :(
I’m a little ashamed to admit, he was one of those actors whose name I don’t know – but that I immediately recognize and I’m so happy to see, always. I would hear his voice and come rushing to the tv: “the guy from Deadwood!”
RIP.
// that I immediately recognize and I’m so happy to see, always. //
I love that you say this – this is the mark of a great character actor! The unsung people who show up and make everything better. “That guy.”
I know of so many actors who would LOVE to be known as “Oh! That’s that guy!”
I was just reminded on FB of his absolutely CHILLING performance as Jim Jones on a TV movie in 1980. I didn’t see it at first airing because I was a child – but I eventually did see it. It was decades ago and I still remember how frightening it was. I wonder if it’s rent-able or on Youtube. I will go check.
Success! The whole thing’s on Youtube.
It so saddens me that the Era of Great TV Movies has not really transferred over to VHS, DVD OR streaming. Maybe because of rights issues. But there was so much great stuff put out back then, the 70s and 80s.
anyway, if you feel like being scared out of your mind by a blatant serial-killing psychopath:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l992U04zC4w
I think he first registered for me when he was playing Philip Marlowe on TV. His Marlowe is a bit surly, but I think he kind of fits the Marlowe of the short stories Chandler wrote before the novels. Seems like those episodes are on youtube, so I will have to check them out again.
One of those guys I was always happy to see in the opening credits. You knew that if nothing else, you’d see one good performance.
Matt – yes, always happy to see him. He was always such a great part of any ensemble.
I was so sad to see this, he was absolutely wonderful in Deadwood. I also loved him in True Women, he played the husband of Dana Delany and they had great chemistry. A real loss.
I don’t think I’ve seen True Women. I have a lot of catching up to do. That’s the great thing about character actors – their resumes are usually longer and richer than the Leading Men/Ladies.
Such a loss. Wonderful actor.
Also very, very good in Southern Comfort, a movie every bit as good–and frightening–as Deliverance which for whatever reason doesn’t get as much cred…also one of those rare southern-born actors who managed to convey “southern-ness” without strain. (Or discard it when necessary, which might be even harder).
I love Southern Comfort – we were just talking about it on FB yesterday.
When I hear the name Jim Jones I picture Powers Boothe. Evil incarnate in that role.
When I was a child in western Kentucky the lady who worked for us some moved with her husband and daughter to California. They became involved with the Peoples Temple through the daughter. Fortunately they did not go abroad with the group. When the insanity blew up her husband said “That’s it we are going back to Kentucky.”
Always loved to watch him, even if the indelible performance was that one. I guess I saw him last on Nashville as the patriarch Lamar Wyatt. Not a big fan of Deadwood, but did watch most of it. I tended to think of it as a waste of a wonderful cast. Not the actors’ fault. They interacted and played it out as given.
// When the insanity blew up her husband said “That’s it we are going back to Kentucky.” //
WOW. I just got chills.
I’m so interested in those moments when people in a cult realize: “wait, something is very very wrong here” and have the strength and fortitude to get out.