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Interview: Bruce Campbell
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By The Senator

Bruce Campbell as Sam Axe in USA's Burn NoticeWidely known for his character, “Ash,” in the occult classic Evil Dead series, Bruce Campbell is currently playing the supporting role of “Sam Axe” in the new hit drama, Burn Notice. Burn Notice, an original series on the USA network, is about a recently disavowed spy (Jeffrey Donovan), who uses his special ops training to help those in need.

As part of the USA network’s release of their summer line up and their Character’s Welcome branding initiative, Geeks of Doom was invited to take part in a round-table interview session with Campbell.

During this candid discussion, Campbell shares about the taxing life of an actor and quashes internet rumors, while discussing his supporting role on Burn Notice and his headline appearance as himself in My Name Is Bruce.

Question: It’s been rumored that you’re going to be playing Brice in the “Vacation.” Is that true?

Bruce Campbell: No!

Q: No?! Okay.

BC: No. That’s an internet rumor.

Q: Internet rumor, ok. So how did you like playing Autolycus from Xena and Hercules?

BC: Um, I liked it a lot. I can’t remember, it was a long time ago.

Q: So what’s next for you?

BC: Burn Notice for USA, that’s why I’m here.

Q: I know. Besides that”¦any films?

BC: Yeah, I just finished directing and writing a film called, My Name is Bruce. It’s about a small town that’s having problems with a monster and some fan thinks that having Bruce Campbell help fight the monster will be a good idea. So it turns out to be a terrible idea because Bruce Campbell is a jerk and an idiot. It’s about how a movie hero has to learn how to be a real hero.

Q: Is that still in production?

BC: No, it’s done. It’s complete. I just completed it. It’ll be out this year”¦to a DVD player near you.

Q: What’s new for your character on Burn Notice?

BC: Burn Notice, I have no idea, I wish I knew. I mean, I’m back, that’s why I’m here; but I don’t know what we’re going to do.

Q: What would you like to do?

BC: More of the same.

Q: Do you enjoy working on the show?

BC: Yeah I do because I’m not the lead. TV’s a grind. It’s a tough gig. I’m happy to let Jeffrey Donovan do all of the work; and, I show up and crack jokes.

Q: How did you get involved with Burn Notice?

BC: Ahh, they just contacted me. It wasn’t a doctor show or a lawyer show or a cop show, so I thought okay.

Q: You haven’t done TV for a while.

BC: I haven’t done TV for about 10 years.

Q: So what attracted you to this show?

BC: It was just different. It was very smart. It wasn’t a derivative show. But it’s got classic aspects. It’s…I like the fact that it’s a big, fancy trained, worldwide spy who’s helping his mother fix her garbage disposal. I like that aspect. It’s taking a hugely inaccessible character that Jeffrey Donovan plays and making him accessible. And, that’s important. You’re lead character has to be accessible. If people don’t give a shit about that lead character, you’re dead”¦Character’s Welcome! What’s up with that?! [laughs].

Q: What do you find most challenging about your role on Burn Notice?

BC: Learning your lines is always a challenge. Every year that goes by it gets harder to do.

Q: Really?

BC: You’d be surprised how many actors show up and don’t know their lines. A lot.

Q: Does that happen with you?

BC: No, I always know my lines. I don’t know much more than that [laughs].

Q: Do you find yourself bringing your past characters into your present character?

BC: Every actor is attracted by certain material. I like stuff that’s a little more smart ass, a little more irreverent and I always will. I like my character to be a little more a jerk, because if you’re a little bit of a jerk and an idiot then you’ve got somewhere to go. You know what I mean?!

Q: Right.

BC: [With] my character Sam Axe, at first you can’t really trust him. You don’t know if he’s going to turn in Michael Westen, you don’t know what he’s going to do. But now by the end of the first season he’s a completely trustworthy character. If you need him, he’s reliable. But he’s an idiot still and drinks too much. But, you know”¦

Q: Who doesn’t?! [laughs]

BC: Whatever! Yeah! [laughs]

Bruce Campbell was a great guy to talk to; he was nice to the Geeks and he didn’t take himself (or us!) too seriously. We suggest you definitely check out Burn Notice. Season 2 premieres on July 10, 2008 on the USA Network.

7 Comments »

  1. He is an old bitter fuck!

    Comment by WIL — May 26, 2008 @ 11:29 pm

  2. I love him! More Bruce!

    Comment by Ashley — May 27, 2008 @ 2:42 pm

  3. Thanks for the interview. Bruce is awesome! Can’t get enough of the Bruce so please do more interviews.

    Comment by sabrina — June 3, 2008 @ 1:32 pm

  4. Bruce Campbell takes the top honors as the best actor Hollywood will NEVER know. I believe he is an equal to any actor-A,B or Sea level. The fact that he never caved into Hollywood stardom, always at a price, when it was at his fingertips shows his commentment to his profession. His integrity is just one of the many hidden qualities that define him as a real person and actor/director. This is my reasoning why he is not a house holed name; also, with his off the cuff wit, the tabloids would eat him alive. He’s too good looking for most regular actor roles-what a shame, wish I had that problem!

    Comment by Mike — October 12, 2009 @ 11:43 pm

  5. I had the misfortune of seeing one of the shittiest movies ever “the screaming brain” or some crap. I went with a Girlfriend and her younger Brother and needless to say it was one of the worst and most pointless experiences of my entire life.

    It was a crowded Michigan indie-film-theater and the people were some of the biggest fuckin’ scumbags I’ve ever had the displeasure of being around. Not even five minutes into just sitting down and a fight almost broke out between myself and some guy who had to goddamn be in his late fifties or early sixties, and this incident was caused on the fact that he was trying to bully a seat out of my Girlfriend’s fourteen year old brother, fucking pathetic.

    Anyways, Bruce Campbell finally shows his face and allowed people to ask questions and generally ran his mouth for about twenty minutes. Prior to this I had been a pretty big fan of everything he did but that ended permanently on hot, stuffy and humid Michigan night.

    The fucking place had no air conditioning and only a couple old rusty ceiling fans, it was disgusting and I felt dirty just being there but hey, this was a once in a lifetime chance to meet Bruce so why not?

    He spend a good fifteen minutes being condescending and smug, in an effort to seem “cool” and and impress everyone, well I wasn’t impressed in the least. He shook some peoples hands but only while pictures were being taken.

    Well, once it was time for the show to begin he walked up the aisle and shook some hands along the way, so embarrassing as I knew it might be, I took a chance and hung myself out towards the aisle yelling his name and waving my arms to get his attention, I reached out to shake his hand and he walked right passed me like I was shit beneath his feet.

    Now maybe he didn’t mean to do it, but I never felt so snubbed in my entire fucking life and I’ll never forget that. So, needless to say I haven’t watched a single film or taken in anything he’s done before or since. I’ve been acknowledged by far greater and more talented people.

    without Sam Raimi bruce is nothing and would be nothing, but the characters he played in the Evil Dead films could have been done by anyone.

    So, before you kiss his ass just remember the whole “I’m a cool ass motherfucker and I act like I’m not so I can seem deep and approachable” fuck all that shit, and fuck him too, end of story.

    Comment by Your Father — February 5, 2011 @ 10:36 am

  6. A TRULY UNDERRATED ACTOR BRUCE CAMPBALL IS THE BEST GROOOOOVY!!!!!!

    Comment by Bryan Partington — July 23, 2012 @ 7:23 pm

  7. agree with every word you said could not have put it better!!!

    Comment by Bryan Partington — July 23, 2012 @ 7:25 pm

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