Sam Shepard DUI Arrest

NORMAL, ILL. — Police in Illinois say actor and playwright Sam Shepard has been arrested on preliminary charges of speeding and drunken driving.

Police Lt. Mark Kotte says officers stopped Shepard early Saturday in the central Illinois town of Normal.

Kotte says the 65-year-old Shepard was driving 16 mph over the 30 mph speed limit.

Kotte says a breath test indicated Shepard's blood-alcohol level was double the legal limit.

Shepard told police he had been at a tavern in nearby Bloomington and was heading to a hotel. He said he was on his way to his home in Kentucky from Minnesota.

Shepard won the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for drama for his play "Buried Child."

He posted bail in Bloomington. A man who answered the jail phone said he did not know the amount of bail. Attempts to locate an attorney for Shepard were unsuccessful.

Comments

[Wiserone]

04:46 PM on 01/05/2009

If there ever is going to be a movie produced about the life of Charleston Heston, Sheppard could fill the bill.

[WickedAmers]

12:13 PM on 01/05/2009

A tortured writer in the mold of Hemmingway­.....roman­tic but overdone. Time to find a new role to play Sam. You'll be even sexier once you sober up and fly right.

[OldSkooler]

10:58 AM on 01/05/2009

In my opinion, he's been allegedly driving drunk since I lived in Charlottes­ville nearly 20 years ago. Watching Sam get allegedly wasted at C&O was top sport back in the day.

What took them so long?

That said, I hope he gets help for his alleged problem because he's too good a writer to lose to the drink.

In my opinion.

[haveyougonemad]

10:34 AM on 01/05/2009

According to 60 Minutes story just last night: In America over 13,000 people are killed annually from drunk driving accidents. That's one every 39 seconds. STILL, after years of ad campaign's to inform people not to drive drunk. Well, I for one applaud the NY state Prosecutor who is now taking a hardball stance and asking for life sentences to those convicted of taking another's life while driving drunk. Sorry, I was drunk, I didn't mean to should not be a defense any longer. That has worked for decades and now it's time to get tough. Go get 'em Prosecutor­s! Enough is enough.

[TurgidCaterwauling]

11:34 PM on 01/04/2009

More from "The Celebrity To Do List."

[Mort]

10:34 PM on 01/04/2009

He's not the Dalai Lama! The decision to drive drunk means you're willing to put lives in danger. He shouldn't be excused simply because he's good at something!

[anonimost]

06:20 PM on 01/04/2009

he made a bad mistake. let's be grateful no one was hurt.

[strangerinthenight]

10:19 PM on 01/04/2009

I read the piece. Wow, he won the Pulitzer for his playright. Impressive­. I understand your point of view. We should be glad no one was hurt, and it could have been the other way around very easily. True there were no physical damage, but that should not be an excuse nor, should he be given a pass.

BTW, being bad is now being use to pander a movie. It's sick, but I hope this is not the case.

[PatA]

04:19 PM on 01/04/2009

Driving and drinking and using ain't working for people. When will it become apparent to more than the victims that it is deadly?

[joeblow69]

03:44 PM on 01/04/2009

his wife can always blame Bush!!!

[BenderBot]

02:00 PM on 01/04/2009

Those of you who are quick to contemn this type of behavior should stop and think. Rich people can no longer afford a cab or chauffeur given the state of the economy. Who knows he might have lost his fortune with Madoff'.

[Bitsko]

01:26 PM on 01/04/2009

Good ol' Sam is a playwright and actor. Ergo, drinker. Two word cure: designated driver.

[andvoodoo2]

02:36 PM on 01/04/2009

I'm a playwright but not an actor. I guess that's why I was able to quit drinking (because I was definitely an alcoholic!­).

I love Shephard. I think he's a great director, playwright and actor. Hopefully, this DUI was a one-time thing.

[YeahDonkey]

01:03 PM on 01/04/2009

was he on a horse?

[violimo]

12:34 PM on 01/04/2009

Shocked, but not shocked. i admire Sam immensely, he's always been a hard living guy. He's been quiet for a long time with that good gal of his Jessica. you only have to read his plays, his dui is Normal for his type of characters­. Note to self. Stay way from Normal. Cheap shot to come on this thread and diss him. He'll pay his penance and get on with his brilliant life. Wait till he gets home and Jessica gives him a piece of her mind.

[wadenelson1]

11:07 AM on 01/04/2009

Hopefully this is a wake-up call to a great actor.

[nwfurn]

11:00 AM on 01/04/2009

I am always amazed at the acceptance of drinking, in this and other western cultures. Anything to do with how we got an alcoholic as president? Alcoholism is destructiv­e in so many ways. Drinking and driving is not acceptable even from a clever playwright­/actor. I hope he gets a HUGE fine and some time in jail. Maybe what he needs to hit bottom, finally.

[TheImpaler]

01:07 PM on 01/04/2009

You show staggering amount of ignorance. There is big difference in substance/ alcohol abuse and alcoholism­. All alcoholics are abusers, ant all abusers are alcoholics­.

[politicalpiggy]

01:46 PM on 01/04/2009

That makes absolutely no sense... did you mean to write this?