20 questions for Bruce Campbell

Star of B-movie horror flicks is doing exactly what he wants to do

PopMatters.com

You've seen him before … everywhere. Armed with an over-the-top, campy acting style and the most identifiable chin in ­Hollywood, Bruce Campbell has, since the early 1980s, cemented his B-movie stardom.

With director Sam Raimi, he originated the role of Ash in the Evil Dead trilogy of horror-slapstick films that are cult classics. He has starred in films and TV series including The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. and the current USA Network series Burn Notice, but the horror genre has remained his calling card. Campbell will star in the 2008 film My Name Is Bruce, which he directed and co-produced.

1. The latest book or movie that made you cry?

My favorite movie is The Sound of Music. I've even seen it in a thousand-seat theater and it was amazing. It always gets people all choked up.

2. The fictional character most like you?

There is no link of a fictional character to any human and the question alone suggests a disturbing disconnect to reality. But if I had to answer, I'd say Sad Sack … he's a character from a comic book.

3. The greatest album, ever?

I'm not an album guy … I'm a crooner guy. I would have to say Vic Damone is in my opinion, one of the top five singers ever.

4. Star Trek or Star Wars?

Star Trek. The original … with William Shatner. Everything else blows.

5. Your ideal brain food?

It's a plant that grows from the ground. I refuse to identify it.

6. You're proud of this accomplishment, but why?

For my profession I'm doing exactly what I want to do. … I feel not enough people do exactly what they want to do because they get hung up on the money thing.

7. You want to be remembered for … ?

Never going away … like a bad rash that just keeps coming back.

8. Of those who've come before, the most inspirational are?

Cary Grant is the No. 1 movie star, ever. Nobody, I mean, nobody can hold a candle to him. He's the gold standard of motion-picture acting.

9. The creative masterpiece you wish bore your signature?

I'm not an envious man and I think that's a petty little game to play. I feel today the world doesn't have enough original thinkers and that this question is born of our current mentality, which is: when in doubt, cut and paste.

10. Your hidden talents?

Land management, or what I like to call land stewardship. I own property in Oregon, and the forest is always a big issue. … I ­consider myself a practical, ”light touch“ land steward, not an environmentalist.

11. The best piece of advice you followed?

To never follow advice, because each individual is a completely unique specimen, and no one knows what's happening in our lives.

12. The best thing you ever bought, stole or borrowed?

The best things I've bought recently are bicycles for the set of Burn Notice. I wanted it to be like the old days where you rode bicycles around studio sets.

13. You feel best in Armani or Levis or …?

Montgomery Ward work pants. I wore those for years and years. They're almost like wearing canvas. They're ugly as hell but they protect me from everything.

14. Your dinner guest at the Ritz would be?

First of all, I would eat at the Ritz only if someone else is paying. … I'd eat with Dick Cheney cuz he has some 'splainin' to do — and he's gonna pay because he can afford it. I would take Bush too, because they both have a lot of 'splainin' to do.

15. Time travel: where, when and why?

I'd go back to my old neighborhood and start it where my house was when I grew up. My machine would have a button so that I could click, click, click — like a mouse. Every time I clicked, it would go back 10 years so I can see how the area developed … all the way back to the Indians.

16. Stress management: hit man, spa ­vacation or Prozac?

I'm not a pharmaceutical guy. I don't solve stress through violence.

17. Essential to life: coffee, vodka, ­cigarettes, chocolate or ...?

Truth is essential to life. If you don't have truth, everything's fake.

18. Environ of choice: city or country, and where on the map? Where I live now in southern Oregon is my choice.

19. What do you want to say to the leader of your country?

Come to dinner, take the truth serum.

20. Last but certainly not least, what are you working on, now?

I'm currently working on Burn Notice for USA. I love it because it's not a cop show, it's not a doctor show, it's not a lawyer show, yet it has classical elements.