Dirk Benedict is a native of Montana. He has had an extensive career as an actor, performing in repertory theaters through out the country, starring on Broadway (“Butterflies Are Free”), Off Broadway (“Hamlet”), and in numerous films and several television series, including “Battlestar Galactica” and “The A Team.” He starred in “Alaska,” with Charlton Heston and most recently in the German film Golden Times written and directed by Peter Thorwarth.
He is the author of Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy (Square One Publishing 2005). This best selling autobiography is the insightful, humorous story of how he cured himself of prostate cancer (and other sins against the Universe) and his long journey from the hayfields of Montana to the hype of Hollywood. His second book, And Then We Went Fishing (Square One Publishing), is the true story of becoming and losing a father and has received rave reviews.
He made his directing debut with his original screenplay “Cahoots” starring Keith Carradine.
Mr. Benedict lives in his native Montana with his two sons, George William and Roland Walker.
Dirk Benedict
And It’s All Mickey Mouse’s Fault
by Dirk BenedictIt has been 29 years since I created the role of Starbuck, 25 since breathing life into dear old Templeton Peck, aka Faceman. During the past decade I have, on occasion, attended conventions where one has the opportunity to meet, in person, those dear people, who watched both characters as they gambled and flirted and huffed and puffed and fought the bad guys and seduced the good girls. This experience has been enlightening. To wit:
At my very first convention, I was coming out of an elevator as a fan was entering. She glanced at me, gasped and said, “My God, what happened to you?” It took me a couple minutes to understand her statement. What she was gasping about and referring to was the all too visual fact that I no longer looked the same. I had changed! AGED! She found this fact surprising. Stunning, perhaps, from the size of her gasp. This gave me pause. (more…)
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
| 
Lt. Starbuck … Lost In Castration.
by Dirk BenedictOnce upon a time, in what used to be a far away land called Hollywood (but is now a state of mind and everywhere), a young actor was handed a script and asked to bring to life a character called Starbuck. I am that actor. The script was called “Battlestar Galactica.”
Fortunately, I was young, my imagination fertile and adrenal glands strong, because bringing Starbuck to life was over the dead imaginations of a lot of Network Executives. Every character trait I struggled to give him was met with vigorous resistance. A charming womanizer? The “Suits” (Network Executives) hated it. A cigar (fumerello) smoker? The Suits hated it. A reluctant hero who found humor in the bleakest of situations? The Suits hated it. All this negative feedback convinced me I was on the right track.
Starbuck was meant to be a lovable rogue. It was best for the show, best for the character and the best that I could do. The Suits didn’t think so. “One more cigar and he’s fired,” they told Glen Larson, the creator of the show. “We want Starbuck to appeal to the female audience for crying out loud.” You see, the Suits knew women were turned off by men who smoked cigars, especially young men. How they “knew” this was never revealed. And they didn’t stop there. “If Dirk doesn’t quit playing every scene with a girl like he wants to get her in bed, he’s fired.” This was, well, it was blatant heterosexuality, treating women like “sex objects.” I thought it was flirting. Never mind, they wouldn’t have it. I wouldn’t have it any other way, or rather Starbuck wouldn’t. So we persevered, Starbuck and I. The show, as the saying goes, went on and the rest is history for, lo and behold, women from all over the world sent me boxes of cigars, phone numbers, dinner requests, and marriage proposals. (more…)
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
|
Follow Us on Twitter
Subscribe via RSS
Tips & Feedback