Hal Holbrook: Oscar Nominee Back In The Spotlight

USA Today:

If there were ever a time for Hal Holbrook to be whistlin' Dixie, it is now.

The veteran actor, who turns 83 this month, is enjoying his first Oscar nomination. Though he knows "the smart money" may be on his competition, there is a little space to the left of the fireplace mantel in his study where the award would sit just fine.

If another's name is called, there is, however, a backup. Holbrook received a letter from the parents of Christopher McCandless, the real-life young man who was immortalized by Emile Hirsch in Into the Wild. Framed, that letter might fill the void of an Academy Award.

Read the whole story: USA Today

Comments

[adc]

10:11 PM on 02/11/2008

He's back in the spotlight as the spokesman for Depends Undergarments.

Whoops! I crapped my pants!

[3fingerbrown]

12:12 PM on 02/11/2008

As a way of appreciating what a long career this man's had: When I first became aware of him, it was in a photo-spread in Life magazine showing how it took Holbrook hours in the makeup chair for him to look old enough to play Mark Twain. Today, he'd need hours in the makeup chair to look young enough to play Mark Twain.

I know an actor who was in a movie a few years ago with Holbrook playing the bad guy. He told me that between set-ups, the old veteran was discussing craft with some other actors. One serious young artiste asked Holbrook if he approached playing a villain any differently than playing a good guy. Holbrook responded yes: "When I play a good guy I keep my teeth in; when I play a bad guy I take my teeth out."

Hey, James Lipton, how's that for technique?