Harry Dean Stanton

Harry Dean Stanton is a prolific and legendary actor who has appeared in over 200 films from the 50's to the present day. Born in Kentucky, he served in World War II before appearing in a University of Kentucky production of Pygmalion. After honing his craft at the prestigious Pasadena Playhouse, his first on screen role was in Tomahawk Trail in 1957. Following this, Harry Dean had numerous smaller roles in television and film in the late 50's and early 60's, including Rawhide and Bonanza and films such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 1960 (Dir: Michael Curtiz).

In 1967, Harry Dean was cast in Cool Hand Luke. Some other classic films he appeared in around this time include Kelly's Heroes (Dir: Brian G. Hutton), Dillinger (Dir: John Milius), and The Godfather: Part II (Dir: Francis Ford Coppola). He put in a memorable turn as the doomed Brett in Alien for Ridley Scott in 1979. In another science fiction classic, Escape from New York (1981), Harry Dean played a cunning scientist for John Carpenter. Wim Wenders cast Harry Dean in Paris, Texas in 1984, and Alex Cox used him to great effect opposite Emilio Estevez in the cult film Repo Man in the same year.

In 1986 John Hughes cast Harry Dean against type as a suburban father in Pretty in Pink. David Lynch's Wild at Heart in 1990 gave Harry Dean another memorable role, this time as an ill-fated private investigator. Lynch also cast Harry Dean in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me in 1992 and The Straight Story in 1999. Also capping the 90's were Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) for Terry Gilliam and The Green Mile the following year for Frank Darabont, No rest for the weary in the 21st century. Last decade's memorable Harry Dean Stanton performances have come in standout titles such as The Pledge for Sean Penn in 2001, The Wendell Baker Story directed by Andrew and Luke Wilson and Alpha Dog (2004) for Nick Cassavetes.

He contributed his talents to Anthony & Joe Russo's You Me & Dupree (2005), the voice of Balthazar in the 2011 animated hit Rango, as well as a notable cameo in the 2012 blockbuster The Avengers. For four seasons, he appeared in the hit HBO series, Big Love, as polygamist patriarch, Roman Grant. He was seen in Joss Whedon's The Avengers, Martin McDonagh's Seven Psychopaths, and The Last Stand with Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2014 the indefatigable Stanton will join Daniel Stern and Laurie Metcalf in the HBO series Getting On.

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