Brad Dourif

Brad Dourif

Dourif in 2002
Born Bradford Claude Dourif
(1950-03-18) March 18, 1950
Huntington, West Virginia, United States
Occupation Actor, voice actor
Years active 1973–present
Spouse(s) Janet Dourif (divorced)
Joni Dourif (divorced)
Children 2, including Fiona

Bradford Claude "Brad" Dourif (/ˈdɔːrf/; born March 18, 1950) is an American stage, film, and voice actor, best known for playing Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (which won him a Golden Globe Award and BAFTA Award, as well as a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor), Chucky in the Chucky franchise, Gríma Wormtongue in The Lord of the Rings, Deputy Clinton Pell in Mississippi Burning, Piter De Vries in Dune and Doc Cochran in Deadwood (for which he earned an Emmy Award nomination).

Dourif has worked with director Werner Herzog on many occasions, appearing in Scream of Stone, The Wild Blue Yonder, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, and My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?. From June to September 2013, he starred in an Off Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' The Two-Character Play, his first stage appearance in 29 years.[1]

Early life

Dourif was born in Huntington, West Virginia, on March 18, 1950, one of six children born to Joan Mavis Felton (née Bradford), an actress, and Jean Henri Dourif, an art collector who owned and operated a dye factory.[2][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 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.[5]

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[5] 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. 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...'".[6] It opened on June 10, 2013 and closed on September 29, 2013.[7] 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.[8]

Film

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 part in the 1975 film W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings, but his bit part was omitted from the final cut of the film.[9] 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.[5]

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."[10] Skeptical of his instant stardom, Dourif returned to New York, where he continued in theater and taught acting and directing classes at Columbia University until 1988, 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), 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, notably as the voice of Chucky in the Chucky 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 the voice of Chucky in the sixth installment of the Child's Play franchise, Curse of Chucky, which was a straight-to-DVD release. His daughter, Fiona Dourif, also starred with him.

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 was initially cast as the Scarecrow in Batman Forever (1995) while Tim Burton was attached to the project. However, Joel Schumacher eventually took over the project and instead cast Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face and Jim Carrey as the Riddler.

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[11] and in 2014 he made a brief cameo in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode "The End of the Beginning."[12]

Music

In 2012, Dourif contributed spoken word vocals to three songs on the album Misery Together by the Norwegian duo Thinguma*jigSaw.[13] 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 been married twice. He has one daughter, Fiona, with his former wife Joni, and adopted Joni's daughter, Kristina Dourif Tanoue.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1975 W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings Unknown Uncredited
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Billy Bibbit BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
1977 Group Portrait with Lady Boris Koltowski
1978 Eyes of Laura Mars Tommy Ludlow
1979 Studs Lonigan Danny O'Neill
Wise Blood Hazel Motes
1980 Heaven's Gate Mr. Eggleston
1981 Ragtime Younger Brother
1984 Dune The Mentat Piter De Vries
1985 Istanbul Martin Klamski
1986 Blue Velvet Raymond
Impure Thoughts Kevin Harrington
1987 Fatal Beauty Leo Nova
1988 Child's Play Chucky (voice)/Charles Lee Ray
Mississippi Burning Deputy Clinton Pell Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
1989 Sonny Boy Weasel
1990 Child's Play 2 Chucky (voice)
Spontaneous Combustion Sam
Horseplayer Bud Cowan
Graveyard Shift Tucker Cleveland
The Exorcist III James Venamun Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
Hidden Agenda Paul Sullivan
Chaindance Johnny Reynolds Nominated—Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Grim Prairie Tales Farley
1991 Murder Blues John Barnes
Child's Play 3 Chucky (voice)
Jungle Fever Leslie
Body Parts Remo Lacey Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actor
Scream of Stone Fingerless
London Kills Me Hemingway
1992 Final Judgement Father Tyrone
Critters 4 Al Bert
1993 Trauma Dr. Lloyd
Amos & Andrew Officer Donnie Donaldson
1994 Color of Night Clark
Death Machine Dante
1995 Murder in the First Byron Stamphill
Phoenix Reiger
1996 Sworn to Justice Teddy
A Step Toward Tomorrow Kirby
1997 Jamaica Beat Tom Peterson
Nightwatch Duty Doctor
Best Men The Vet
Alien: Resurrection Dr. Gediman
1998 Brown's Requiem Edwards
Senseless Dr. Wheedon
Progeny Dr. Bert Clavell
Urban Legend Michael McDonnell Uncredited
Bride of Chucky Chucky (voice)
1999 The Diary of the Hurdy-Gurdy Man Gabriel
Cypress Edge Colin McCammon
Interceptors David M. Webber
Silicon Towers Alton
2000 Shadow Hours Roland Montague
The Prophecy 3: The Ascent Zealot
2001 The Ghost Lt. Garland
Soulkeeper Mr. Pascal
2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Gríma Wormtongue
2003 The Box Stan
Vlad Radescu
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Gríma Wormtongue Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (Extended Edition only)
2004 Seed of Chucky Chucky (voice)
The Devil's Due at Midnight The Dark One
The Hazing Professor Kapps
El Padrino Cyrus
2005 Drop Dead Sexy Herman
The Wild Blue Yonder The Alien
Man of Faith B. B. Gallen
2006 Pulse Thin Bookish Guy
2007 Sinner Caddie
The List Johan Gabini
The Wizard of Gore Dr. Chong
Halloween Sheriff Lee Brackett
2008 Touching Home Clyde Winston
Humboldt County Jack
2009 Born of Earth Mayor
Lock and Roll Forever Zee
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans Ned Schoenholtz
Halloween II Sheriff Lee Brackett
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? Uncle Ted
2010 Chain Letter Mr. Smirker
Junkyard Dog Sheriff Holk
2011 Fading of the Cries Mathias
Priest Salesman
Catch .44 Sheriff Connors
Death and Cremation Stan
2012 Last Kind Words Wylon
Black Box Tom
2013 Santa Monica Stan Short film
Gingerclown Worm Creature (voice)
Blood Shot Bob
Curse of Chucky Chucky (voice)/Charles Lee Ray
Malignant The Man
2014 The Control Group Dr. Broward
2015 Rosemont Abe
2017 Cult of Chucky Chucky (voice) Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1976 The Mound Builders Chad Jasker Television film
1977 The Gardener's Son Robert McEvoy
1978 Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force Sgt. Leonard Matlovich
1980 Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones David Langtree
1982 I, Desire Paul
1986 The Equalizer Fenn Episode: "Out of the Past"
Spenser: For Hire Maxie Lyons Episode: "Rage"
Rage of Angels Seymour Bourne Television film
Vengeance: The Story of Tony Cimo Lamar Sands
1987 Moonlighting Father McDonovan Episode: "All Creatures Great...and Not So Great"
The Hitchhiker Billy Baltimore Jr. Episode: "The Legendary Billy B."
Miami Vice Joey Wyatt Episode: "Theresa"
1989 Murder, She Wrote Dr. Warren Overman Episode: "Fire Burn, Cauldron Bubble"
Desperado: The Outlaw Wars Camillus Fly Television film
Terror on Highway 91 Keith Evans
1993 Wild Palms Chickie Levitt 3 episodes
Tales from the Crypt Virgil Episode: "People Who Live in Brass Hearses"
1994 The X-Files Luther Lee Boggs Episode: "Beyond the Sea"
A Worn Path Hunter Television film
1995 Babylon 5 Charles Dexter/Brother Edward Episode: "Passing Through Gethsemane"
Escape from Terror: The Teresa Stamper Story Sheriff Bill Douglass Television film
Escape to Witch Mountain Luther/Bruno
1996 Star Trek: Voyager Lon Suder 3 episodes
Blackout Thomas Payne Television film
If Looks Could Kill M. Eugene 'Gene' Hanson
1997 Millennium Dennis Hoffman Episode: "Force Majeure"
1999 The Norm Show The Devil Episode: "Norm and Shelley"
The Magnificent Seven Rupert Brauner Episode: "Chinatown"
The Hunger Manno Episode: "Sin Seer"
2001–2002 Ponderosa Maurice Deveraux 8 episodes
2004–2006 Deadwood Dr. Amos 'Doc' Cochran 33 episodes
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
2008 Law & Order Dr. David Lingard Episode: "Called Home"
2010 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Dr. Iggy Drexel Episode: "Torch"
2011 Fringe Moreau Episode: "The Day We Died"
Psych Bernie Bethel Episode: "Shawn, Interrupted"
Miami Magma Jacob Capilla Television film
2012 Wilfred P.T. Episode: "Questions"
Criminal Minds Adam Rain Episode: "The Lesson"
Swamp Volcano Jacob Capilla Television film
2012–2014 Once Upon a Time Zoso 2 episodes
2013 End of the World Dr. Walter Brown Television film
2014 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Thomas Nash Episode: "End of the Beginning"

Video games

Year Title Role
2001 Myst III: Exile Saavedro
2002 Run Like Hell Fred (voice)
2005 GUN Reverend Josiah Reed (voice)
2012 Dishonored Piero Joplin (voice)

References

  1. Dourif (on camera interview), Brad (May 7, 2013). "Video: Press" (Video). Amanda Plummer & Brad Dourif in Tennessee Williams' The Two Character Play. TwoCharacterPlayNYC. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  2. Brad Dourif profile, filmreference.com; accessed February 18, 2015.
  3. "Bradford-Dourif". The New York Times. 1944-06-11. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  4. Baptista, Robert J. (2006-09-22). "Henry Dourif Biography". Colorants Industry History. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  5. 1 2 3 Roberts, Jerry (1990-10-26). "CRAZED - With two Hollywood films opening today and seven more in the can, Brad Dourif may just be Hollywood's busiest actor". Daily Breeze. p. E3.
  6. Dourif (on camera interview), Brad; Two Character Play LLC (7 May 2013). "Amanda Plummer & Brad Dourif in Tennessee Williams' Two Character Play" (Video). Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  7. 'Two Character Play, starring Amanda Plummer and Brad Dourif, will end run in September', Playbill, 28 August 2013, Andrew Gans. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  8. Michael Riedel, Diva Amanda Plummer ‘a nightmare’ backstage. New York Post, September 5, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  9. Taylor, Brett (Summer 2004). "From Cuckoo Patient to Deadwood Doc: An Interview with Brad Dourif". Shock Cinema (25): 32–34, 47.
  10. Canby, Vincent (1981-01-18). "Film View - Speculating on Talent: 12 Actors to Watch in 1981". New York Times. p. D19. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  11. Fitzpatrick, Kevin (2011-04-05). "Fringe's Latest Casting Told You To Take The Wizard's Staff". UGO Networks. Archived from the original on 2011-04-10. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  12. Ocampo, Shane. /episode-16-end-of-the-beginning-guide "Agents of SHIELD Episode 16" Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  13. Profile, desertedvillage.bandcamp.com; accessed February 18, 2015.
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