I just finished watching an episode of LIFE and toward the end of it, something happened which got me very excited. No it wasn't the cute blond trapping Damien Lewis in the elevator and kissing him. Although I have to admit that I'd be tempted to do the same if I were in an elevator with Damien Lewis. It was the introduction of a new character and it would appear that the actor playing this new character will be none other than Titus Welliver - which for me means the appearance of another DEADWOOD alum.
One of the main characters on LIFE is played by Robin Weigert (Calamity Jane) and a recent episode featured Garrett Dillahunt (Jack McCall/Francis Wolcott). And it isn't only TV. A group of friends who discuss DEADWOOD at length - among other TV shows - took to spotting actors from DEADWOOD in other shows and movies shortly after the end of the series - premature as it was. And these actors turn up all the time. Some, like Dillahunt and Dayton Callie (Charlie Utter) and our dear friend Jim Beaver (Whitney Ellsworth) work all the time. But even the central actors Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, John Hawkes appear to be working steadily in an industry known for hot today and not tomorrow.
So what does this constant appearance of DEADWOOD alum say to me? Two things. One - The work done on DEADWOOD was of a consistent high quality and highly respected in the industry itself. People who know want to work with these people. Two - these are are WORKING actors. They show up and they do their work. It shows in everything they do. Go find their work before DEADWOOD and you'll see consistent good work. And they have NOT become prima donnas since their success on DEADWOOD. They show up. And they do the work.
In a world where people don't always show up and especially where they don't always do their work, it's good to know that good, hard work still gets rewarded. So show up. And be prepared to work for a LIFE.
One of the main characters on LIFE is played by Robin Weigert (Calamity Jane) and a recent episode featured Garrett Dillahunt (Jack McCall/Francis Wolcott). And it isn't only TV. A group of friends who discuss DEADWOOD at length - among other TV shows - took to spotting actors from DEADWOOD in other shows and movies shortly after the end of the series - premature as it was. And these actors turn up all the time. Some, like Dillahunt and Dayton Callie (Charlie Utter) and our dear friend Jim Beaver (Whitney Ellsworth) work all the time. But even the central actors Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, John Hawkes appear to be working steadily in an industry known for hot today and not tomorrow.
So what does this constant appearance of DEADWOOD alum say to me? Two things. One - The work done on DEADWOOD was of a consistent high quality and highly respected in the industry itself. People who know want to work with these people. Two - these are are WORKING actors. They show up and they do their work. It shows in everything they do. Go find their work before DEADWOOD and you'll see consistent good work. And they have NOT become prima donnas since their success on DEADWOOD. They show up. And they do the work.
In a world where people don't always show up and especially where they don't always do their work, it's good to know that good, hard work still gets rewarded. So show up. And be prepared to work for a LIFE.
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