Brad Dourif

Bradford Claude Dourif[2] (/ˈdɔːrɪf/; born March 18, 1950)[1] is an American actor. He was nominated for an Oscar, and won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award for his film debut role as Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). He is also known for portraying Gríma Wormtongue in The Lord of the Rings series (2002–2003) and voicing Chucky in the Child's Play franchise (1988–present).

Brad Dourif
Dourif in 2002
Born
Bradford Claude Dourif

(1950-03-18) March 18, 1950[1]
Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actor
  • Voice artist
Years active1973–present
SpouseJonina Dourif
Children2; including Fiona
AwardsSee awards

Dourif's other film roles include Wise Blood (1979), Ragtime (1981), Dune (1984), Blue Velvet (1986), Mississippi Burning (1988), The Exorcist III (1990), Alien Resurrection (1997), the 2007 remake of Halloween and its sequel. He also appeared in many television series, notably Deadwood (2004–2006, 2019), for which he received Primetime Emmy and Satellite Award nominations for his portrayal of Amos "Doc" Cochran.

Early life

Dourif was born in Huntington, West Virginia, on March 18, 1950, to Joan Mavis Felton (née Bradford), an actress, and Jean Henri Dourif, an art collector who owned and operated a dye factory.[1][3]

His paternal grandparents emigrated from France, and his paternal grandfather co-founded the Standard Ultramarine and Color Company in Huntington.[4] After Dourif's father died in 1953, his mother remarried champion golfer William C. Campbell, who helped raise Dourif and his five siblings (four sisters and one brother). From 1963 to 1965, Dourif attended the private Aiken Preparatory School in Aiken, South Carolina. There, he pursued his interests in art and acting. Although he briefly considered becoming a flower arranger, he was eventually inspired to become an actor by his mother's participation as an actress in a community theater called Give Me Shelter.

After Aiken, he attended Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, graduating in 1968. Dourif appeared as an amateur at the Fountain Valley Film Festival in 1969, taking second place in the 8 mm film category with his 10-minute entry "Blind Date."[5] Dourif attended Marshall University for a time, before quitting college and moving to New York City to study acting on the advice of actress Conchata Ferrell.[6]

Career

Stage

Starting in school productions, Dourif progressed to community theater, joining up with the Huntington Community Players while attending Marshall University. In New York City, he studied with Sanford Meisner, and worked with Marshall Mason and Lanford Wilson at the Circle Repertory Company. During the early 1970s, Dourif appeared in a number of plays, off-Broadway and at Woodstock, New York, including The Ghost Sonata, The Doctor in Spite of Himself, and When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?, in which he was spotted by director Miloš Forman[6] who cast him in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975).

In 2013, after a three-decade absence from the stage, Dourif chose to star alongside Amanda Plummer in the Off-Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' The Two-Character Play that played to critical acclaim at the New World Stages.[7] He explained, in a filmed interview released by the producers, why he broke his 29-year hiatus from acting in live theater: "I hated the stage, did not want to do it. And then somebody said, 'Will you do a play? It's with Amanda Plummer', and I said, 'Oh shit! No. Oh God, I'm gonna have to do this...'".[8] It opened on June 10, 2013, and closed on September 29, 2013.[9] The play was subject to a number of performance cancellations, one relating to Dourif's absence due to a death in the family. Plummer refused to perform without Dourif, notwithstanding the presence of an understudy.[10]

Film

Dourif in 1991

Although One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is frequently cited as Dourif's film debut, his first acting for screen was in a low-budget film called Split, which was never released. He followed this with a role in the film W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975), but his bit part was omitted from the final cut of the film.[11] His portrayal of the vulnerable Billy Bibbit in Cuckoo's Nest ended up being his big break, earning him a Golden Globe Award (Best Actor Debut) and a British Academy Award (Supporting Actor) as well as a nomination for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.[6]

In 1981, Vincent Canby listed Dourif as one of twelve actors to watch, calling Dourif "one of the most intense, most interesting young film actors of his generation."[12] Dourif returned to New York, where he continued in theater and taught acting and directing classes at Columbia University until 1988 (Don Mancini[13] and Yves Lavandier were among his student), when he moved to Hollywood.

Dourif has often played eccentric or disturbed characters, starting with Cuckoo's Nest and continuing with Eyes of Laura Mars (1978), John Huston's Wise Blood (1979),[14] Forman's Ragtime (1981), Marc Didden's Istanbul (1985) and David Lynch's Dune (1984) and Blue Velvet (1986).

Dourif has appeared in a number of horror films, most notably as the voice of Chucky in the Child's Play franchise. He portrayed the Gemini Killer in The Exorcist III (1990) and appeared in Death Machine (1994) and Alien Resurrection (1997). He later appeared as Sheriff Lee Brackett in Rob Zombie's Halloween (2007) and Halloween II (2009). In 2013, Dourif reprised his role as Chucky in the sixth installment of the Child's Play franchise, Curse of Chucky, and then again in the 2017 sequel, Cult of Chucky. His daughter, Fiona Dourif, also starred with him in both films.

Other notable film roles include Gríma Wormtongue in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and supporting roles in Fatal Beauty (1987), Mississippi Burning (1988), Hidden Agenda (1990), London Kills Me (1991) and Sinner (2007).

Dourif has worked with director Werner Herzog on many occasions, appearing in Scream of Stone (1991), The Wild Blue Yonder (2005), Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009), and My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? (2009).

Television

In 1984, Dourif played a suspected serial killer in the episode "Number Eight" of Tales of the Unexpected. In 1994, he appeared in The X-Files episode "Beyond the Sea" as the psychic serial killer Luther Lee Boggs. He also portrayed Lon Suder in a three episode story arc on Star Trek: Voyager and guest starred as a troubled monk haunted by visions in Babylon 5. Dourif later gained acclaim as Doc Cochran in Deadwood, receiving a 2004 Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

In 2011, he guest-starred in the third-season finale of Fringe[15] and, in 2014, appeared in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode "The End of the Beginning".

In 2021, Dourif reprised his role as Chucky in the television series adaption of the Child's Play franchise titled Chucky.[16]

Music

In 2012, Dourif contributed spoken word vocals to three songs on the album Misery Together by the Norwegian duo Thinguma*jigSaw.[17] Dourif also appears in the music videos for "Stranger in Town" (1984) by Toto and "Drinking from the Bottle" (2012) by Calvin Harris.

Personal life

Dourif has two daughters: Kristina / Christina Dourif, born c. 1976,[1][2] and actress Fiona Dourif, born 1981,[2][18] with his late wife[18] Jonina Dourif,[2][19] whose name sometimes appears in media as Janet.[1]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1975One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestBilly Bibbit
1977Group Portrait with a LadyBoris Koltowski
1978Eyes of Laura MarsTommy Ludlow
1979Wise BloodHazel Motes
1980Heaven's GateMr. Eggleston
1981RagtimeYounger Brother
1984DunePiter De Vries
1985IstanbulMartin Klamski
1986Blue VelvetRaymond
Impure ThoughtsKevin Harrington
1987Fatal BeautyLeo Nova
1988Child's PlayCharles Lee Ray/Chucky
Mississippi BurningDeputy Clinton Pell
1989Sonny BoyWeasel
Grim Prairie TalesFarley
1990Child's Play 2Chucky (voice)
Spontaneous CombustionSam
HorseplayerBud Cowan
Graveyard ShiftTucker Cleveland
The Exorcist IIIJames "Gemini" Venamun
Hidden AgendaPaul Sullivan
ChaindanceJohnny Reynolds
1991Murder BluesJohn Barnes
Child's Play 3Chucky (voice)
Jungle FeverLeslie
Body PartsRemo Lacey
Scream of StoneFingerless
London Kills MeHemingway
1992Final JudgementFather Tyrone
Critters 4Al Bert
1993TraumaDr. Lloyd
Amos & AndrewOfficer Donnie Donaldson
1994Color of NightClark
Death MachineDante
1995Murder in the FirstByron Stamphill
PhoenixReiger
1996Sworn to JusticeTeddy
A Step Toward TomorrowKirby
1997Jamaica BeatTom Peterson
NightwatchDuty Doctor
Best MenJohn "Gonzo" Coleman
Alien ResurrectionDr. Jonathan Gediman
1998Brown's RequiemEdwards
SenselessDr. Wheedon
ProgenyDr. Bert Clavell
Urban LegendMichael McDonnellUncredited
Bride of ChuckyChucky (voice)
1999The Diary of the Hurdy-Gurdy ManGabriel
Cypress EdgeColin McCammon
InterceptorsDavid M. Webber
Silicon TowersAlton
2000Shadow HoursRoland Montague
The Prophecy 3: The AscentZealot
2001The GhostLt. Garland
SoulkeeperMr. Pascal
2002The Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersGríma Wormtongue
2003The BoxStan
VladRadescu
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingGríma WormtongueExtended cut only
2004Seed of ChuckyChucky (voice)
The Devil's Due at MidnightThe Dark One
The HazingProfessor Kapps
El PadrinoCyrus
2005Drop Dead SexyHerman
The Wild Blue YonderThe Alien
Man of FaithB. B. Gallen
2006PulseThin Bookish Guy
2007SinnerCaddie
The ListJohan Gabini
The Wizard of GoreDr. Chong
HalloweenSheriff Leigh Brackett
2008Touching HomeClyde Winston
Humboldt CountyJack
2009Born of EarthMayor
Lock and Roll ForeverZee
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New OrleansNed Schoenholtz
Halloween IISheriff Leigh Brackett
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?Uncle Ted
2010Chain LetterMr. Smirker
Junkyard DogSheriff Holk
2011Fading of the CriesMathias
PriestSalesman
Catch .44Sheriff Connors
Death and CremationStan
2012Last Kind WordsWylon
Black BoxTom
2013Santa MonicaStanShort film
GingerclownWorm Creature (voice)
Blood ShotBob
Curse of ChuckyCharles Lee Ray/Chucky
MalignantThe Man
2014The Control GroupDr. Broward
2015RosemontAbe
2017Cult of ChuckyChucky (voice)
Out to LunchManShort film
Cut OffDiggs
2018WildlingDaddy/Gabriel Hanson
American DreamGeorge
Ready Player One Chucky (voice) Archival audio[20]
2019ObsessionGeorge
2021The Shuroo ProcessDr. Feinstein
2022 The Living Vlad Short film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1976The Mound BuildersChad JaskerTelevision film
1977The Gardener's SonRobert McEvoy
1978Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air ForceSgt. Leonard Matlovich
1979Studs LoniganDanny O'Neill3 episodes
1980Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim JonesDavid LangtreeTelevision film
1982I, DesirePaul
1984Tales of the UnexpectedHitchhikerEpisode: "Number Eight"
1986The EqualizerFennEpisode: "Out of the Past"
Spenser: For HireMaxie LyonsEpisode: "Rage"
Rage of AngelsSeymour BourneTelevision film
Vengeance: The Story of Tony CimoLamar Sands
1987MoonlightingFather McDonovanEpisode: "All Creatures Great...and Not So Great"
The HitchhikerBilly Baltimore Jr.Episode: "The Legendary Billy B."
Miami ViceJoey WyattEpisode: "Theresa"
1989Murder, She WroteDr. Warren OvermanEpisode: "Fire Burn, Cauldron Bubble"
Desperado: The Outlaw WarsCamillus FlyTelevision film
Terror on Highway 91Keith Evans
1993Wild PalmsChickie Levitt3 episodes
Tales from the CryptVirgilEpisode: "People Who Live in Brass Hearses"
1994The X-FilesLuther Lee BoggsEpisode: "Beyond the Sea"
A Worn PathHunterTelevision film
1995Babylon 5Charles Dexter/Brother EdwardEpisode: "Passing Through Gethsemane"
Escape from Terror: The Teresa Stamper StorySheriff Bill DouglassTelevision film
Escape to Witch MountainLuther/Bruno
1996Star Trek: VoyagerLon Suder3 episodes
BlackoutThomas PayneTelevision film
If Looks Could KillM. Eugene "Gene" Hanson
1997MillenniumDennis HoffmanEpisode: "Force Majeure"
1999The Norm ShowThe DevilEpisode: "Norm and Shelley"
The Magnificent SevenRupert BraunerEpisode: "Chinatown"
The HungerMannoEpisode: "Sin Seer"
2001–02PonderosaMaurice Deveraux8 episodes
2004–06DeadwoodDr. Amos "Doc" CochranMain cast
2008Law & OrderDr. David LingardEpisode: "Called Home"
2010Law & Order: Special Victims UnitDr. Iggy DrexelEpisode: "Torch"
2011FringeMoreauEpisode: "The Day We Died"
PsychBernie BethelEpisode: "Shawn, Interrupted"
Miami MagmaJacob CapillaTelevision film
2012WilfredP.T.Episode: "Questions"
Criminal MindsAdam RainEpisode: "The Lesson"
Swamp VolcanoJacob CapillaTelevision film
2012–14Once Upon a TimeZoso2 episodes
2013End of the WorldDr. Walter BrownTelevision film
2014Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Thomas NashEpisode: "End of the Beginning"
2016The WildingDavid StearnsTelevision film
2019Deadwood: The MovieDr. Amos "Doc" Cochran
2021–presentChuckyChucky (voice)Main cast

Video games

Year Title Role
2001Myst III: ExileSaavedro
2002Run Like HellFred (voice)
2005GunReverend Josiah Reed (voice)
2012DishonoredPiero Joplin (voice)

Awards and honours

Institution Year Category Nomianted work Outcome
Academy Awards1976 Best Supporting ActorOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Nominated
BAFTA Awards1977 Best Actor in a Supporting Role Won
Beverly Hills Film Festival 2013 Best Actor Santa Monica Won
Chicago Film Critics Association 1989 Best Supporting Actor Mississippi Burning Nominated
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards 1991 Best Supporting Actor Body Parts Won
1999 Hall of Fame Won
Genie Awards 1991 Best Supporting Actor Chaindance Nominated
Golden Globe Awards 1976 New Star of the Year – Actor One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Won
Primetime Emmy Awards 2004 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Deadwood Nominated
San Sebastián International Film Festival 1979 Best Actor Wise Blood Nominated
Satellite Awards 2005 Best Supporting Actor – Television Series Deadwood Nominated
Saturn Awards 1991 Best Supporting Actor The Exorcist III Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2003 Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Nominated
2007 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Deadwood Nominated

References

  1. "Brad Dourif Biography (1950-)". Film Reference. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  2. "Brad Dourif". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  3. "Bradford-Dourif". The New York Times. June 11, 1944. Archived from the original on July 22, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
  4. Baptista, Robert J. (September 22, 2006). "Henry Dourif Biography". Colorants Industry History. Archived from the original on September 26, 2010. Retrieved October 10, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. "Fountain Valley Names Film Festival Winners". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. April 14, 1968. p. 31. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2018 via Newspapers.com.
  6. Roberts, Jerry (October 26, 1990). "CRAZED – With two Hollywood films opening today and seven more in the can, Brad Dourif may just be Hollywood's busiest actor". Daily Breeze. Torrance, California. p. E3.
  7. Dourif (on camera interview), Brad (May 7, 2013). "Video: Press" (Video). Amanda Plummer & Brad Dourif in Tennessee Williams' The Two Character Play. TwoCharacterPlayNYC. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  8. Dourif (on camera interview), Brad; Two Character Play LLC (May 7, 2013). "Amanda Plummer & Brad Dourif in Tennessee Williams' Two Character Play" (Video). YouTube. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  9. 'Two Character Play, starring Amanda Plummer and Brad Dourif, will end run in September', Playbill, August 28, 2013, Andrew Gans. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  10. Michael Riedel, Diva Amanda Plummer ‘a nightmare’ backstage Archived September 14, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. New York Post, September 5, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  11. Taylor, Brett (Summer 2004). "From Cuckoo Patient to Deadwood Doc: An Interview with Brad Dourif". Shock Cinema (25): 32–34, 47.
  12. Canby, Vincent (January 18, 1981). "Film View – Speculating on Talent: 12 Actors to Watch in 1981". The New York Times. p. D19. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  13. "Brad Dourif | Bloody Good Horror - Horror movie reviews, podcast, news, and more!".
  14. "Wise Blood: Screening and Discussion with Michael Fitzgerald". Crossroads Cultural Center. November 11, 2017. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018.
  15. Fitzpatrick, Kevin (April 5, 2011). "Fringe's Latest Casting Told You To Take The Wizard's Staff". UGO Networks. Archived from the original on April 10, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
  16. Reimann, Tom (July 17, 2020). "'Chucky' Series Teaser Offers a First Look at SYFY's New Take on the Franchise". Collider. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  17. Profile Archived November 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, desertedvillage.bandcamp.com. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  18. Crow, David (August 2, 2018). "The Purge TV Series: Fiona Dourif Finds Compassion in Suicide Cult". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2018. “Also my mother was a psychic when she was alive...
  19. "Remote Viewing Memories". Doc NYC. November 11, 2017. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2020. ...Jonina Dourif (wife of actor Brad Dourif)...
  20. Woburn, Daniel (March 15, 2020). "Chucky Is Ready Player One's Best Cameo". ScreenRant. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.