Biography
Bruce Campbell lectures on his life as a B Movie actor.
Bruce Campbell (born June 22, 1958, Royal Oak, Michigan) is an American actor of Scottish descent. Campbell is very well-known for his starring role as Ash in the Evil Dead trilogy of horror/slapstick movies.
Campbell began acting as a teenager and soon began making small Super 8 movies with friends. After meeting Sam Raimi in high school the two became good friends and started making movies together. Campbell would go on to attend Western Michigan University while he continued to work on his acting career. A few years and at least fifty movies later, they got together with other family and friends and began work on The Evil Dead. Campbell starred and worked behind the camera, receiving a "co-executive producer" credit; Raimi directed. Four years later the movie became a cult hit in England, leading to American success and two sequels: Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness.
Campbell has appeared in many of Raimi's films outside of the Evil Dead series, usually in small roles. He was supposed to star in Darkman but the studio reportedly insisted on Liam Neeson. Campbell stayed on behind the scenes, credited as "additional voice recording," and appears as the true face of Darkman in the film's final shot. He has also had several small parts in the movies of Joel and Ethan Coen (Joel was an editor on The Evil Dead). Many people consider him to be the greatest "B-movie" star of all time. He often appears in films that go straight to video or cable TV. Over the years Bruce has developed a huge fanbase and he is a favorite at film conventions. Campbell has a reputation as being one of the nicest people in the business, and offers advice about getting into the film industry on his website.
Outside of film, Campbell has appeared in a number of television series. While he starred in The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. and Jack of All Trades, he is better known for his supporting role as the recurring character Autolycus ("the King of Thieves") on the fantasy series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess. He also directed a number of episodes of Hercules and Xena.
Campbell's autobiography, If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor traces his career as an actor in low-budget movies and television. The book adds a chapter about the reaction of fans at book signings. Campbell has also written a book entitled Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way, comedic novel featuring himself as the main character, struggling to make it into the world of A-list movies, and the ensuing chaos that results.
Campbell wrote an ongoing column for X-Ray in Cincinnati, Ohio called "Off the Chin."
Campbell currently lives in Oregon with his wife, Ida Gearon.
Selected filmography
2006
They Call Me Bruce
Filming
2006
The Woods
Joe Fasulo
2005
Sky High
Coach Boomer
2005
Man with the Screaming Brain
William Cole
Also Directed and Co-wrote
2002
Serving Sara
Gordon Moore
2002
Bubba Ho-tep
Elvis Presley/Sebastian Haff
2002
Timequest
William Roberts
2001
The Majestic
Roland the Intrepid Exporer
1999
Icebreaker
Carl Greig
1998
The Ice Rink
Actor
1997
McHale's Navy
Virgil
1997
Running Time
Carl
1996
Menno's Mind
Mick Dourif, Rebel Leader
1995
Congo
Charles Travis
1994
The Hudsucker Proxy
Smitty, Argus Reporter
1993
Army of Darkness
Ash
1992
Waxwork II:Lost in Time
John Loftmore
1987
Evil Dead II
Ashley 'Ash' J. Williams
1981
The Evil Dead
Ashley 'Ash' J. Williams
