That Guy Actor of the Week: Austin Pendleton
Remember that bumbling lawyer from the movie My Cousin Vinny who could barely utter a word to the jury? That’s Austin Pendleton. Pendleton is the perfect actor if you need some guy that has this weird, goofy undertone to him. He always plays these characters that both creep you out and make you laugh at the same time.
I’m not sure how else to explain it. Austin had a pretty good movie run from the late 80s up through the year 2000. Now he does mostly small spots on television and the occasional voice over or two.
But most of us all know him from My Cousin Vinny. Anyway, I just wanted Austin to know that we dig his work. And with over 120 credits to his name, others obviously appreciate him as well.
A clip of Austin after the jump
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q7mjoxHzm4
No more questions!
I actually work with Mr. Pendleton at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago (www.steppenwolf.org).
Mr. Pendleton is also an amazing stage actor and has performed in many of our plays. Right now he is currently directing a play that will be onstage Jan 19th 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1Q3_nfGpKM
Glad you appreciate his work!
Oddly enough I met Austin Pendleton when I was on a family vacation to St. Thomas when I was a sophomore in high school. I remembered him from the HBO series Oz, and of course i had to notify everyone at the table. After my dad caught his attention, he was kind enough to come over and say hello. The whole experience was pretty cool and made for an unusual and pleasant memory.
Original actor of Mottel in “Fiddler on the Roof” on Broadway. Nerdy roles include Max in The Muppet Movie and Gurgle in Finding Nemo.
As redliner observes, there’s a lot more going on for Austin Pendleton. Since 2000 he has had featured roles in (among others) ‘A Beautiful Mind,’ ‘Christmas with the Kranks,’ ‘The Notorious Bettie Page,’ ‘Lovely by Surprise,’ and ‘Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.’
Last year he also had a musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s ‘Candida,’ which he wrote, produced at Lincoln Center.
Pendleton is always filming, teaching, and writing simultaneously.
He’s a national treasure of theater arts.