Harry Dean Stanton is one of those guys that you see in tons of movies, but never really gets the fame he deserves because he's almost always an ancillary character. To me, at least, Harry Dean Stanton's most famous role was undeniably in Pretty In Pink as the father of Molly Ringwald's character. After watching this movie a bundle of times, Stanton was pretty typecast in my mind as an ineffective alcoholic who lays in bed all day and makes excuses for himself while his daughter makes terrible fashion decisions and rallying against haughty James Spaders and over affectionate Jon Cryers. That's why I was pretty shocked to see him in Alien as a reckless space shipper who, as I recall, also displays a predilection for alcoholism. After Alien, I made sure to keep my eye out for Stanton and perhaps actively seek some more films where his has a minor, but crucial role. Turns out there are a lot.
He's in Inland Empire, which I knew, but I did not know that this role was probably based on his performance in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. I like to imagine Stanton and David Lynch drinking coffee in a meditation center somewhere in the world and discussing movies.
Other notable Stanton roles: Cool Hand Luke, Godfather: Part II, Escape From New York, Repo Man, and Red Dawn. I'd by lying if I said I've seen all of these movies, much less every movie Stanton has performed in. However, he never fails to bring a smile to my face every time he randomly pops up in one of the innumerable films he's in. Cheers, Harry Dean Stanton.
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