The Liberal Bastille
by Dwight SchultzI’ve been a professional actor for 40 years and, when asked, an open conservative for at least 43 years. Frequently I’m asked to explain why Hollywood is so liberal, a question which I hate because I’m not really qualified to explain the pack mentality or mental illness. My response is always something like, “Ask Spielberg or Oliver Stone why they love that stinking bastard Castro. They’re the ones who can answer your question.”
The second most frequent query is two pronged and relates to a conservative blacklist in Hollywood and what minority status is like on a day to day basis. This I can comment on. I believe Hollywood is now a liberal Bastille. This was not always so, but it is the reality now. The atmosphere is intimidating and oppressive, but that’s not an official blacklist. It’s more like viral note taken on wet cocktail napkins secretly passed between smug lib execs describing a young actor as a redneck loving Nazi simply because he said he supported President Bush. It’s a social network where you might have no advocates, but then again you might if you just happened to pull in $35 million over the weekend. I don’t want to borrow a phrase from Don Rumsfeld , but I only know what I know. I don’t know what I don’t know and well, you know the rest; so I’ll rely only on my actual experiences during my daily Hollywood business, and encounters of the first kind with two famous and now deceased liberal Hollywood game players, Bruce Paltrow and Paul Newman.
During the last 8 years, I have rarely been to an audition waiting room where I have not been assaulted with anti-Bush, anti-Reagan, anti-Republican outbursts. Speaking up alone, one against five or ten righteous liberals is foolish, I know because I’ve tried it…. There is never a sense of decorum. I have never heard a pro-Bush, Pro-Reagan, Pro-Republican outburst! Even while on the job, during the lead up to the last election, liberal actors would without hesitation blurt out ugly anti-Sarah Palin nonsense just seconds before you have to be very, very funny. Words like “Abu Ghraib” are substituted for scripted text as a sarcastic admonition, to clarify moral superiority and solidarity with others in the room. The lack of respect for differing thought is symptomatic of no thought. This is the atmosphere that every conservative in Hollywood deals with. There is a job every now and then that is an exception to this; a job where this never happens and you lift your arms to God in thanks for that job.
Now let me be specific about events that apply only to me. I don’t mean to imply that similar events haven’t occurred to others, but that these events have shaped my understanding of liberal Hollywood.
In 1980 I had the privilege of working with Charlton Heston at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles in Paul Giovanni’s Sherlock Holmes thriller “The Crucifer of Blood.” One evening, following a rehearsal, Mr. Heston asked me very politely about the election between Carter and Reagan. I was a huge Reagan supporter, as was he, so for about 25 minutes we engaged in a conversation that will stay with me forever. I don’t think Chuck, as he wanted to be called, had any idea of my political persuasion, although it is possible that Paul Giovanni, who I absolutely adored, could have given him a nod that we were of like minds when it came to politics. In any event, I took the memory of that rehearsal conversation, and my joy over the Reagan win with me to The Williamstown Theater Festival in the summer of 1981.
Artistic director Nikos Psacharopoulos and Williamstown represent for me the highlight of my career. In terms of pure personal satisfaction, I had never experienced such mutual confidence from a director nor the kind of freedom he gave me. He showcased my talents and actually allowed me to choose the role I wanted to play in my debut year of 1978. Many doors were opened to me as a result, and one of them would lead to the pure great fortune of landing my role on “The A-Team.”
Blythe Danner was just one of the talented luminaries ensconced at the Festival. This was a fast paced summer theater where, somehow, great productions sprang from the tension of a tight two week schedule, and there was always a wonderful opening night buffet, an actor’s favorite, provided by some of the generous patrons from Williamstown. At an opening night party I was talking quite openly and happily about my conversation with Charlton Heston concerning Reagan’s win, and as I moved to the end of the food line an unfamiliar voice popped up: “Dwight, so you’re a Reagan asshole!” It was Bruce Paltrow, Blythe Danner’s husband. That is how I knew him at the time, and I was stunned by his comment. I cannot even remember my reply. Whatever it was it was bereft of brave retort. I told Nikos’s assistant about Paltrow’s aggressive comment and wondered why there was such hostility. Was the political aspect a cover for nailing a non talent? I was assured “That is Bruce…don’t take it personally…. He was probably joking…testing you.” Paltow never said another substantive thing to me. He never said “good job” or “nice to see you again,” only an occasional very limp “hello.”
In very late 1981 or early 1982, I was called in to read for the part of Fiscus in the upcoming series “St. Elsewhere” produced by Paltrow. I ran into Howie Mandel, with his familiar blown up rubber glove hanging from his belt, and the guy who would eventually land the role. He was standing just outside the waiting room, and as I headed toward that designated area I passed a small narrow side room in which Bruce Paltrow was seated on a desk chair with wheels; he turned to me, rolled a little in my direction and said, “Dwight! What are you doing here?” This is not a question an actor wants to hear before an audition; not from the show’s producer. I told him I was called in to read for Fiscus and his response was soft and monotonic, “…There’s not going to be a Reagan asshole on this show!” He then turned away, and went back to his desk. I was unable to overcome the totality of my crumble, my inability to deal with that kind of personal garroting. Although he had said something similar before, this was not a buffet line, this was a work line. My pathetic audition was a disaster, and I could never have gotten the job after what I gave them.
But let’s be clear! In a very short period of time “The A-Team” came along, same network in fact, and it shot to number one. Of course NBC chortled that “The A-Team” wasn’t quality, and that “St. Elsewhere” was, but that’s show-biz. Lost one! Got one! I only lost a job, not the complete ability to work! Let me add that if I had given a brilliant Fiscus audition, as a better man might have done, I believe it is quite likely that Paltrow would have lost a tough battle with the network. Paltrow’s crass, reptilian nastiness, using that “Reagan” political qualifier, which he clearly remembered and enjoyed using as a weapon, was a dominating marker for me, a preparation for the coming liberal ethos. It was made political by Paltrow, even if it was personal. His choice!
In 1988 I was cast in the role of Robert Oppenheimer to play opposite Paul Newman in “Fat Man and Little Boy” directed by Roland Joffe. Newman had seen my portrayal of Lenny in the Williamstown production of Pinter’s “The Homecoming” and came backstage to give his regards for a job well done and was particularly kind to me. The experience behind the making of the film is a story for another time, but it was a left of center Faustian retake, with a predominately liberal cast. At one moment I could be up against a wall, with one of the only two conservative actors that I now know were on the set, literally surrounded by 10 cast members challenging us to address the fact that Bush was clearly a drug dealer, and at another moment John Cusack would come running up to me, with just a little spittle in the corner of his mouth, speedily reading Noam Chomsky quotes about the Vietnam War. That was the set!
Paul Newman asked me to dinner one evening and we were discussing the film, when suddenly he switched gears and started saying things like “…You guys, all think like this…blah blah blah…what about Gorbachev…blah blah blah.” He knew my political leanings and started to question me about how I could possibly think the way I do and when I told him why I believed Reagan had been a great president, he actually listened. I talked for about five minutes without an interruption from him. When I was through he asked me what I thought of his take of the post-Reagan era. He wanted to know not just what I thought but why! This private, civil discussion between polar opposites without the ugliness was rare in my experience. Paul Newman always behaved with a quiet sense of grace, because I think it was his natural state. We frequently talked politics on the set, both the 1988 and ‘45 variety, and it was never about snarled lips. We could and did find areas of agreement, and then set everything we disagreed about aside. There was a film to be made.
I know that Roland Joffe jumped through hoops to get me cast in his film and he knew my political take was not his. I also know the studio was against my being given the role. I will not say anymore except I was cast, I did it, and it was probably the worst decision I have ever made from a career standpoint, but from a life standpoint, it was invaluable.
So, what about that blacklist? If it exists, in my opinion it’s social, not institutional. But the social aspect of this business is, to a large degree, everything there is. Newman’s grace does not predominate, rather Paltrow’s stomach slithering, in your face expletive defines the daily culture, and it has reached the pustule stage.
I wish I could say that I have always been a courageous fighter, but my attempts to deal with the present Hollywood are similar to the Kubler- Ross five stages of death; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. This has been especially true since the events of 9/11. I have accepted it!
In October of 2001, I appeared in an episode of “The Agency,” a TV series about the CIA. It was my last on camera appearance. A female member of the production crew asked me why I was so quiet, and I told her I was still numb after the 9/11 attack and her reaction was, “I had no real connection with it.” I immediately began ruminating about that. How could you be unconnected with 9/11? Where in God’s name is was I?
The answer soon came to me. Hollywood!
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406 Comments
God Bless you, sir. I had similiar experiences trying to break in as a news reporter/feature writer in the 1980s and I couldn't stomach it. When into the corporate writing world, where the paychecks are better, and found that the liberals there would at least listen to arguments, and even occasionally (gasp!) concede in them.
I am so glad you had the intestinal fortitude, because I have always enjoyed your work—you should get an award for putting up with Cusack.
Why was the film "probably the worst decision I have ever made from a career standpoint" ?
Dwight, another wonderful post. I'd love to know the political leanings of George Peppard. Liberal or conservative?
Dwight – so lovely to see you writing for BH!! I look forward to more. You played one of my favorite characters on ST:TNG.
I have the same question as Kit, why was that movie a bad decision career wise?
Great post. I've often wondered… what if the terrorists had flown their planes into the Staples Center (or where ever they host the Oscars) during the show? Would Hollywood feel connected then?
Thank you. I often wonder how the radical left can overlook Heston's civil right's activism, but only concentrate on his NRA and conservative activism. Oh, and thank you for sharing such personal memories.
Paul Newman always behaved with a quiet sense of grace, because I think it was his natural state. We frequently talked politics on the set, both the 1988 and 45 variety, and it was never about snarled lips. We could and did find areas of agreement, and then set everything we disagreed about aside. There was a film to be made.
Which makes me miss him all the more. In any case, I still hold the hope that Hollywood will be more tolerant of political thought in the future. I know it's wishful thinking, but we're all guilty of that at least once in our lives. By the way, anybody reading this, I used to comment here as Morgan (not morgan), but now comment as MorganLR (I have an IntenseDebate account now). Hope nobody's confused by this.
Very insightful post, Mr. Schultz. I am always encouraged to hear of "one more" conservative in Hollywood driving his stake into the ground and declaring his resistance to the Tinseltown insanity. Best of luck in your continued struggle.
Characterizing liberalism as mental illness mirrors my view. And it's a big tent. The Hollywood libs Mr. Schultz writes about and the Detroit City Council have nothing in common, except that they all vote for the same lunacy and same lunatics. Madness is best defined as the absence of reason. And absence of reason seems to be the primary characteristic of just about all liberal causes. Consider 'Hate Crime Legislation', which deems the killing of someone because of hatred for the victim a worse crime than killing someone for the love of killing.
A liberal friend of mine listens exclusively to NPR. I listen to Limbaugh. My friend thinks Limbaugh is hate speech even though she has never listened to his show. But hate speech isn't Limbaugh. If one wants hate speech, one should tune in Air America.
The best way to deal with the libs is to not give them money. Don't attend their movies and don't patronize their sponsors. They want to treat conservatives like pariahs; well, two can play that game.
A cautionary tale of idiots and absolute power. They are colliding in Hollywood and the product has suffered. It is routinely discounted as purely profit driven, but there may be some ulterior motives that give us endless slasher movies, profanity laced teen sex farces, and the occasional stone-faced iconic star turns meant to glorify spending 15-20 million on one person’s performance. Are they trying to turn us all into 15 yr old postpubescent boys ? Do stars stumble through movies with “something” in their hair to any of our edification ? Has that something soaked into the collective brain of the formerly described “dream machine” ?
You are not missing a thing, except a paycheck. It wouldn’t be any easier to earn that paycheck in a slaughterhouse killing floor for a vegan.
I have relatives in the “business” as they say in Hollywood. They are liberal and pretty much knee jerk. I often wondered about the deranged liberal mindset. Why many of them cannot carry on a linear argument to a conclusion. Why they are delighted to find one exception to every complex argument and feel it automatically negates the entire construct of a conservative ides.
Sadly I came to the conclusion that it is much easier to think in terms of what makes them feel good. Their wholes lives are made up of quickly assuming feelings and action of imaginary characters and they are subsequently less grounded in detailed factual approaches to issues. After all it is much easier to say “I’m for the working man or family” and do nothing then it is to produce any helpful solutions that include pro business incentives that actually benefit the family. Or “I want a great education for all children in America, after all who wouldn’t be for that, than to propose and follow through on any sweeping change in parental responsibility along with say merit pay for teaCHERS AND PRINCIPALS. Lastly they make a lot of money for the childish behavior of make believe. This produces guilt.
Wow. Amazing. So much for having an open mind. Or any mind. Dwight, you deserve a medal for thriving in that environment for so long. And as far as the third-rate Paltrows and the Cusaks, I've always believed that you get what you give.
http://the100mostannoyingthings.blogspot.com/
EXCELLENT point Sheila…!!!
Mr. Schultz,
Thanks for a very enlightening article! Fat Man and Little boy has been one of my favorite movies, and based on your performance, I had thought that you were more along the political leanings of your character, Robert Oppenheimer. What a delightful surprise (to me, at least) that you are a Conservative! And it goes to show what a great actor you are.
Ship in a Bottle and Hollow Pursuits where two of my favorite episodes of ST:TNG.
It's ironic that nationwide, Human Resources Departments make it a point to tell employees that expressions of political views should be kept out of the workplace. Because liberals accused employers of 'stifling' freedom of speech in the workplace, the mention of politics became one of the 'forbidden' topics that would make the office a 'hostile work environment'. Yet politics, especially liberal politics, is actually a prime requirement in order to get a job in Hollywood.
"Madness is best defined as the absence of reason. And absence of reason seems to be the primary characteristic of just about all liberal causes"
Coupled with the absence of a spine, and the absence of testicles…
Excellent post, Dwight…It's funny, I was just thinking a couple hours before I read your post about Mr. Newman and that, even though he was a liberal, he was not obnoxious about it the way so many of today's liberal celebs are. I honestly believe it's because he was part of a generation that knew how to have "gentlemen's disgreements." I was saddened when I heard Mw. Newman had died. I doubt I'll feel the same way when Cusack, Penn and Clooney (a person I absolutely abhor in part because of his comments regarding Mr. Heston) left this Earth. Your comments confirmed something about Newman I always believed: the man had class.
As for Mr. Paltrow, well, St. Elsewhere used to be one of my favorite shows. Used to be.
An interesting tale, Mr Schultz. It has been a puzzle to me to find liberal leaning people so hostile to any point of view but their own and I see that when these people have power their hostilities spill over into that realm also. It would seem to be more professional to compartmentalize political disagreements to the social realm. Good on you for going on and being up front about your politics.
I don't know why but hollywood has always been liberal, even from way back in the early begining. The communist party was just getting started back then but back then it was rejected so the ones who belonged kept pretty hush hush about it. Then gradually it started to become more and more accepted until you have what we have today. A bunch of commie loving airheads who don't even know why they are the way they are.
Liberals live in a state of denial of reality, and any NEW information causes them tremendous cognitive dissonance, hence the near hysterical reactions to simple facts. When my relative goes on a rant, and I calmly provide statistics that prove she is wrong – she immediately ends the conversation and says: "Well we can't solve the world's problems today." It is delusional self-deception.
I've been boycotting EVERYTHING to do with hollywood for a LONG time now. I'm much happier keeping my money in my own pocket.
As a fan of yours from the A-Team era it's always good to hear from people I respected as to their ability and they happen to be people you'd like in normal life. Even as a young teenager I always felt that your acting on the A-team was a lot more in depth than the other rolls and it highlighted your talent. Then later to see you on Star Trek and even my personal favorite show of all time Stargate SG-1 was just icing on the cake.
When Paul Newman passed away one of the many clips that was shown about his life was a debate he had with Charleton Heston in the early 70's. I do not recall the exact subject but it involved a nuclear issue. What was so impressive to me is that both men were well informed on the subject and passionate about their cause, but neither raised their voice nor showed any animosity towards the other. In fact there was never any impression that either man disliked the other – they just disagreed on the subject. It was so refreshing to see – especially given some of the shoutfests that pass for 'debate' these days. I wish there were more examples of the kind that Mr. Newman and Mr. Heston had – and that Mr. Schultz just gave one example of. It appears Mr. Newman conducted himself well in many of these same situations – disagreeing without being disagreeable I believe it's called.
You can't help but feel sorrow AND admiration for any conservative who is or is trying to work in Hollywood today.
If you take the comment about conservatives having no feelings and liberals having no brain, this stereotype has some truth to it. I do think liberals tend to be driven by their feelings and hence, if you disagree, they tend to anger.
Convervatives on balance, tend to actually think about the ramifications of what they say and believe.
Thanks Dwight! I always loved your acting, and now, your writing.
And like the Bastille, Hollywood shall fall.
Yep, liberals just love to shout down the opposition.
Wonderful essay, Dwight. You have always been one of my favorite actors. Now, I think you may become one of my favorite people.
I hope you bring more of your insights to this site.
Thank you, Saul!
Wonderful post.
Wow… 'Mad Dog Murdoch' comes out of the closet (the darkest one in Hollywood) and comes clean on conservatism.
Excellent post; one of the best to appear on this site in recent memory. 'The A-Team' was easily the best 'bad' series ever; silly throughout it was always well-executed by it's talented cast. And it put SF A-Teams in the public lexicon, so when the Current Occupant tries to get rid of SF again (don't laugh- the Clinton admin tried to get rid of both Special Forces AND the USMC) -Mr Schultz is a well-spoken and thoughtful conservative and is a tribute to his craft…
u expect anything different from a grade a jerk like bruce paltrow??
Mr. Schultz—thank you for writing here at "Big Hollywood." Are you a good mimic? You could have an absolute blast with a Bruce Paltrow imitation.
Dwight, you are a fantastic actor, Sir, and a patient man. The vision of John Cusack quoting Chomsky is a truly horrifying one. You can't really say, "Get away from me", to another actor in a situation like that. I mean, it simply isn't done. Which makes it all the more unforgivable on his part.
Mr. Schultz, Thank you for the essay. And thanks also for your recollections of Paul Newman. I have known people who have dealt with him personally on business and charitable items. They always confirmed that he was a polite and gracious man. While I differed with him on almost every political issue, I think it important to praise the good in others when it is due.
Please stay true to yourself and keep fighting the good fight. A prayer for you and your honest brothers and sisters in the entertainment business.
Contrast Paul Newman's behavior toward you to someone today like Ed Harris or John Cusack. There's a deterioration going on in liberal land. Nice piece.
Thank you, Mr. Schultz. I wasn't quite as lucky. I was outed (as a Republican) several years ago, so work in NY has been slim since. But, there is some good news. Keeping in shape by working with a local College Film School, at least 25% of the Student Directors are Admitted Republicans/Conservatives/Libertarians, so they'll either CHANGE THINGS, or they won't work much, either. <G>
You're a good man, Mr. Schultz, and you deserved better.
Great courage. Tremendous courage. Glad that hasn't been drubbed from you by the Ultra-Libs in Tinseltown. I will pay to see anything you are in, just as I have always done with Heston, Norris, Miller, etc. We have to stick together. Fans and actors alike. Let Hollywood drown in their own sea of denial and hatred. Blacklisting will continue. The litmus test exists. But you continue to have your courage and your mind. Good luck to you and thanks for letting us know…
Dwight, thanks for posting. You've written a very interesting and compelling piece. It's fascinating to see what you've gone through (and how you've maintained the positive attidute). I can tell you from experience that the same sort of personal black listing you mention occurs in other fields as well.
"I had no connection with it." That is one telling statement. My family had no connection with Pearl Harbor either, but somehow they still felt a little insulted.
Dwight, good on ya man. The same sort of professional eviceration happens to me too. I think the coffee industry is worse in some cases. Here, as in Hollywood, reside devoted socialists, communists and fascists that control jobs, advancement and the course of the industry. I love to laugh at them when they call me names, something you might not be able to do while auditioning. I take comfort in the thought that this 'in your face" environment will pass for both of our professions simply because the ideology that they cling to is unsustainable and limiting. Having a conservative point of view gives you an advantage over your peers in depth of thought and experiential range. In my world, bouncing through third-world coffee producing countries with people that have simply no clue about personal security makes me the only one carrying a GPS and a Satphone..and a plan. As actors like yourself continue to lose roles to the leftists, the staleness (as if it couldn't get any more stale) of the performances will continue to be rejected by the public. My point is, hang in there, it comes around and carry a Satphone.
I don't live in LA, but I work there. I am a writer. The last time I was in town for a week of meetings there was a Sarah Palin joke in EVERY meeting. It was the absolute assumption that you were liberal and that you hated Sarah Palin.
Every single one.
I know better than to open my mouth. The last time I objected to a political comment was my agent back in in 2005. She never treated me the same after learning I was a conservative and she's not my agent anymore.
I changed majors in college when I realized the kind of $#!+ I'd have to put up with as a filmmaker. Unfortunately, I had to drop out completely when I realized I was going to go broke before getting a degree in anything.
I figure, hell with it — you don't need a degree in English to be a novelist.
I have always been a fan, and now I have even more respect for you. Thanks for sharing, and I hope we get to hear more from you!
Dwight, that was a thoughtful and honest piece of your experiences in Hollywood. It is hard enough to make it in that business without the impossible hurdle of their liberal blacklisting.
My sister has worked for her adult life for the major Hollywood networks. We are close, but when the conversation turns to anything involving Hollywood/pop culture/politics, she adopts an air as you described of Bruce Paltrow, complete with a condescending tone towards me, her brother. She is fully indoctrinated in the party line, as are all of her friends I have met from her work.
She is not my employer, but I have come to learn how strong these beliefs are in the culture of her business. She wont be changing anytime soon.
I only write this because I think I get just a whiff of what you have dealt with for your professional life.
Nice essay, Dwight. I think had you not had that unfortunate interaction with Paltrow for the St Elsewhere part, you would have breezed by as I think you are one of the few actors I've seen that can have such a wide variety of parts – from Oppenheimer to the A-Team – and be convincing – BTW I have Fat Man and Little Boy in my DvD collection – great movie.
You could write a book 'Working In The Belly Of The Beast" but that would definitely be a career ender – wonder why these people of the hard left are so intolerant of anyone with different beliefs? I thought they were all for "diversity".
You must have a very strong character to be openly conservative in that place – I am reminded of a line in the long ago movie Young Winston, where the Churchill character is asked by a reporter about his relationship with his father, and he replied (paraphrasing somewhat): "I would have liked to have been closer, but solitary trees, if they grow, grow strong".
The Paul Newmans and Charlton Hestons had class – most of the current crop are crass and vulgar.
if i remember correctly, after the bastille was stormed, the only prisoner inside was an old crazy man. which sort of works with your hollywood metaphor.
i had a nice freelance situation with a small production company. i'd get the call everytime my particular little area of expertise came up. went on for years. went to a barbeque at the producers house one weekend. got into a huge argument with his 9/11 truther nephew. my own fault for being drawn in. now i'm sure the producer is embarrassed to have this punk as a relative. but he is a relative. and i'm just a free lancer.
the lesson being "keep your mouth shut."
I think back in the old days, people knew how to talk, not just shout at each other. Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda were polar opposites politically and were the best of friends. John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn got along swimmingly in Rooster Cogburn, despite being on opposite sides politically.
Thanks, Dwight, for this post. You make some excellent posts.
THIS is the reason why conservative filmmakers must form their own industry within the industry. The money IS out there – it's a matter of acquiring the requisite experience on your own dime first. Two years ago I founded Free Expression Films in LA for that purpose. I am spending my life savings to produce a (non-political) documentary and at the same time developing two highly political spec scripts. I have found that there ARE experienced industry professionals who are willing help us – but you have to show your willingness to act on your convictions first. Anyone who may want to participate, please contact me now!
According to the Internet Movie Database's biography of George Peppard – "Was a passionate Democrat, and championed health care reform before his death."
An amazing post indeed. And yes, both my wife and I (former military) as well as our fathers (both retired military) have been huge fans of your work since the A-Team days. I've lived in Southern CA for a short while (1998-2005) and saw exactly what you are talking about first hand. Now, while my profession is not entertainment (Civil Engineer) I do dabble in the Independant Film scene here in West Michigan and can see some of the same sentiments from the up and commers from the film schools. This side of the state, however, tends heavily towards conservatism (we are always at odds with Detrioit) so one can still talk and change minds with these newer film makers. Perhaps it's time for those in Hollywood to find a new home.
Thanks for the post.
Howling Mad Murdoch = the win.
Dwight, it's great to see you on here. As I wrote to another A-Team alum on here…
I grew up watching the A-Team with my Dad, and it's a wonderful memory. Thanks for helping to provide me with so many good times growing up.
-Joe
maybe you just suck at acting.
Are you directing that to Mr. Schultz? Before making a comment like that maybe you should take a minute and familiarize yourself with his work. There are a handful of actors (mostly character types) that always stand out in what they do and it's always a delight when they show up in something I am watching. Mr. Schultz is near the top of that list.
The character that he created on Star Trek: The Next Generation was well written but could have been a one and done. ST:TNG is a future fantasy filled with larger than life, super heroic, archtypes. Dwight Schultz created the most human character to appear on that show and became beloved by fans, saw his character reappear in other episodes and inspired trade and fan fiction to be written. From my humble point of view, he brings that same inspired quality to everything I have seen him in.
No. He doesn't suck at acting.
Mr. Schultz, I was working on "The Agency" in October of 2001. Don't remember you specifically (there were a lot of guest stars) and I know it wasn't me you had this interaction with. Instead of ruminating, perhaps you should have queried a few more crew members. We were all deeply shocked and affected by 9/11, and felt more than a little surreal to be working on a show about the CIA. When we shot in a neighborhood shortly afterward we joined in the candlelight vigil that was held at sunset. (and like many businesses we sported a huge American flag on the front of the stage in Culver City). Our military advisor, who taught the actors how to hold guns and got extras to march in a reasonably acceptable manner, kept us calm by explaining things to us, which kept us from wetting our pants on a daily basis. His knowledge and strength was much appreciated.
The foundation for the relationship between Hollywood and liberalism is the love of money, power and themselves. It's that simple.
They're fascists, Mr. Schultz.
There's no better way to put it.
Thanks for speaking out.
Our country is coming under a pall of darkness, spread by these warped, twisted little cult people for whom every day is a new opportunity to hate, and traffic in lies.
One has only to peruse DailyKos or the Huffington Post for proof.
The liberal today is a manifestation of the 60’s. We are all part of, or the offspring of one side or the other. Manners and decorum are a fatality of that turbulent time, and it rears it’s ugly head constantly. Carter and W.F. Buckley cured me off my liberalism, and Reagan confirmed my new reality. I, hope Obama has the same effect in America today. The way to help Hollywood is to quit buying tickets, money has a way of focusing the mind, even a liberal.
I thought your Little Man/Fat Boy work was outstanding, why did you not?? Both you and Newman were playing real life people of different views then yourselves, and you both did creatively well. I am a VN 5th SFGA vet, and always thought your "mad murdock" was a tip o'the hat to the real vets who "played to the gallery" then, playing nuts as a kind of inside joke on the "pop culture" prejudice. I wonder how many creative people today "play to the gallery" of Hollywood group think prejudice when they know it is wrong.
Mr. Schultz, thank you for this article. I've always been impressed by your versatility as an actor, and I'm thrilled to discover that you're as much a conservative as you are a gentleman. God bless you, and please keep writing.
That was a great read. Too bad talent is stifled by the liberals. Yet these nasty people wonder why people will not pay to see their movies or watch their shows? Paltrow and his ilk are disgusting, dead or alive.
Kudos to you, Mr. Schultz. Bravery takes many forms, and I get the feeling you wished you could have been more outspoken. However, sometimes in life we have to work in places and with people who are hostile. I think you were brave just to show up everyday. I'm not sure I could. As far as Bruce Paltrow goes, wow, I have read before he was a nasty man, so I see that must not have just been gossip. We can all console ourselves with the fact that the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Lovely Gwennie is just as nasty.
Clooney is even more the prejudiced clown when you look at the role he played in "The Peacemaker", brilliantly , almost classically, speaking for the special ops point of view for ops done under the Clinton lib demos what he condemns with total blind deliberate ignorance of the facts when done by Bush. He then goes to Obbi with the Darfur case, ignoring the total contradiction with his own actions during the Bush times. And worse, has no idea of the contradiction; what a witless boob!
maybe it's your coldhearted self that doesnt get it?
I do have to say that some of the best actors are not the stars..the best are the character actors you see for 40 years. There are exceptions, but just a few.
I agree. Dwight said The Agency was his last on camera appearance. Thesbionic is implying he hasn't acted since 2001. Although Dwight didn't say what he's been up to since 2001, I'm sure he's been acting in theater since he has a strong background in that.
Great post Dwight!
It's amazing that the people who preach tolerance are the most intolerant. Like William F Buckley said "Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended that there are other views."
It just goes to show you that if it weren't for double standards Liberals wouldn't have any standards at all.
I know this is absolutely a terrible thing, but as I read this excellent article, I couldn't help but think that Bruce Paltrow must have died terribly (throat cancer) and I actually thought to myself "what goes around comes a round" in regards to that jerk. Like you said Dwight, I am not particularly proud of that sentiment, but it does show how completely despicable some of those people are that my mind could even go there.
I've been saying something like this for years.
Democrats are hyperemotional and hate-based with reactive, immature personalities.
It boils down to:
Conservatives are from Vulcan,
Liberals are from the psych ward.
Jack Elam FTW
Rock on Murdock! You really are the man!
Thanks Dwight. Another reason why this site is important. Finally, we get a chance to see your side of the story. I knew that the systemic hatred of anything conservative existed in Hollywood, and yet, when you share your personal angst about trying to work in it, that is a different story. Honesty is at a premium. If one "stayed in the closet," joined in on the vitriol and group agenda fray and masked real feelings, casting in roles is so much easier. But try to espouse your thoughts and some asshat will squash you like a bug. Maybe writing on this site will elucidate some of these hedgehogs, into being more objective? When your read it – it does look petty. An aside, I met Paul Newman many times during the McGovern campaign Even though you knew his leanings, he was the very essence of a gentleman. He is missed.
Yeah, but Ron Silver died of esophageal cancer and by every account he was a wonderful man, even from those who disagreed with his politics. Sometimes sickness is just sickness, and doesn't carry any karmic meaning.
May I just say, at the risk of outing myself as a fanboy – oh, to heck with it – that the character you created as Lt. Reginald 'Reg' Barclay III on Star Trek TNG and Voyager was absolutely, positively brilliant! I was so stoked when Reg reappeared on Voyager. You made me laugh myself silly in that role many times.
Oh, true, cute, funny story: Back when the A-Team was on TV, I made an appointment at a hair stylist – yes, I know, I know, but I was a rock guitarist at the time – and since my real name is George Pepper – you can see where this is going – the girl who took the appointment said, "From the A-Team?!" I got that a lot back then.
Sorry Dwight—-I didn't know Bruce Paltrow was deceased when I suggested that you mimic his voice (although I bet you can still hear it quite clearly in your head). I wish the movers and shakers in the "entertainment" industry would realize that politics has nothing to do with entertainment.
Bruce Paltrow. Gwynneth Paltrow. Like father, like daughter. The "apple" doesn't fall far from the tree. Wonder if that's how she came up with the name, after all?!
Paul Newman was one of the very few liberals I ever respected (even when I WAS a liberal). He put his money where his mouth was, and used the profits from his food business solely for charity. As for you, Dwight–you are a fabulous actor. I absolutely hated you as Oppenheimer because you did the part so well. Frankly, after that performance, I had always assumed you were a lefty since nobody could possibly do the wooly-headed, indecisive, blind-as-a-bat fellow traveller that Oppenheimer actually was unless he truly believed it. He genuinely never understood why he was declared a security risk. You fooled me. Newman didn't surprise me as General Groves. A great actor who could play against type.
Hollywood is not alone in replacing genuine political thought with buzzwords meant to produce an immediate liberal stroke. Hollywood is just capable of doing more damage with its massive propaganda than most businesses. You mentioned Abu Ghraib (one of those buzzwords). One of my associates was going on and on about it, as if western civilization were going to hell because of it. I figured that I would talk facts with her. I said "so you're saying that getting these guys naked and putting women's panties on their heads is comparable to the physical torture, maiming and beheading that the enemy has done?" Without batting an eyelash, she firmly answered "yes." Oh, well, end of argument. But at least we were split about 50/50. I deeply admire your ability to take a stand when the odds are more like 95/5. For those of us not on the firing line, keep up the good work.
youtube has a lot of "HM Murdock" videos, here's one of my favorites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFCIa1MFOEE
thanks for writing, mr schultz, I've been a fan for quite awhile
Great post, Mr. Schultz. It's nice that you could honor two talented actors with opposing viewpoints such as Heston and Newman.
It's a shame Mr. Paltrow couldn't be as professional.
geesh, i love jack elam! and jake, kudos to you, you don't need any degrees to write!
Mr. Schultz,
Thinking about this, just an idea, top of my head…as more folks "come crashing out" and state they want their rights back; do you think it might be possible for you guys to get together with others of your "persuasion", and start making products that we as consumers would enjoy?
I think some decent "center right" productions without all the deconstruction, character angst and emo, gratuitous messing around; (please, don't mistake my meaning, sir, I enjoy it tremendously, being married for 27 years), prattling liberal morality, etc., would do wonders in decreasing the lib volume. Love it or hate it on its own merits, "Last Temptation" (ducking moderation there) did very well in theaters. I really think some conservative, libertarian, or even impartially fair characterizations would do so well that the other part that likes left turns in Hollywood might actually start behaving a bit more civil.
As an aside, should you and Face ever find yourselves in NM, drop me a line, and I'll book us some range time. You guys really need to learn how to shoot.
Just kidding. We'll work on your shooting getting better.
Thanks, and keep it up, guy!
“In October of 2001, I appeared in an episode of “The Agency,” a TV series about the CIA. It was my last on camera appearance. A female member of the production crew asked me why I was so quiet, and I told her I was still numb after the 9/11 attack and her reaction was, “I had no real connection with it.”
When I think of writing a story about the 60’s (because it really hasn’t been done yet), this is one of the central questions. How was it that we had no real connection to the results of our liberal beliefs about sex, drugs, race and Viet Nam – the four revolutions that defined those years?
I’ve come up with a lot of answers and all of them are pieces of that polemic, but I am still never fully convinced that they all add up. Take just Viet Nam. When we left the commies slaughtered 2.5 to 3 million of our allies in Viet Nam and Cambodia.
This contrast always jumps out at me. Every night in Manhattan from 1984 to 1990 the Nazi Jewish holocaust was on TV on one station or another. When is the last time you heard of the Southeast Asian holocaust?
Does Barbara Streisand care about it? Spielberg? How about Stone, the badass war director? And how in their own minds do they evade the fact that they helped Pol Pot and Ho Chi Minh kill half as many Hitler did of their tribe?
This is possibly the most important story of the 60s. The writer and director who can conjure on the screen the essential insights about our lack of character 40 years ago will have produced the best film of the decade, possibly the century.
maatkare – can you blame him for closing up after that encounter? Id shut my mouth too and just view everyone with a jaded eye if I knew that there was a 1 in 50 chance of coming across someone who might think the way I do. How many people do you want to get going on a rant and have their wrath rain down upon you before you find that one jewel? Considering how even within hours of the attack there were ignoramuses and dunces and fools ruminating themselves that everyone thought the way they did when they verbalized sympathy for the terrorists. Did conservatives scream at them and threaten their careers?
Since 9-11 I have seen/heard more horror come out of the mouth of the Left than I did from the Islamofascists themselves. I EXPECT to hear that awfulness from them…but from Americans who hate their own country?
I was (am) a big fan of, and watched the A-Team on its first-runs and then in reruns, but I've never watched St. Elsewhere. Matter of fact, I used to wear the Chuck Talyors, fatigues and leather flight jacket. I still have all three. Murdoch was my favorite character and you were my favorite actor on that show. You were brilliant in both the A-Team and Star Trek. But now that you've openly written about your political leanings, I wonder if that dumbass, Alec Baldwin, will try to get your shows banned from Hulu.com.
Why can't Hollywood Conservatives get together and form their own entertainment business? For the most part, I've stopped going to the movies because of the crap Hollywood puts out. And I've stopped reading Spider-Man ever since they paired him with Obama in the comic book. It's truly disgusting the way the entertainment industry is trying to indoctrinate young minds to their way of thinking. And if they can't do it by indoctrinating, they do it by intimidation. It's just so wrong.
Winston Churchill once said, "If you're not a Liberal when you're young, you have no heart. If you're not a Conservative when you're old, you have no brain." I can wholeheartedly agree to that. I've been on both sides and I became a Conservative by choice through education and knowledge. I was a Liberal (once) through ignorance. Seriously, I was liberal only because I hung around people who were telling me stuff and believing their words. I never did any of my own research until I moved out of NYC and 9-11 happened. I educated myself and in turn, I try to educate those who are one-the-fence. I try not to engage uber-Liberals because they won't listen to reason, logic and facts no matter what – even if you have the documentation and proof to back up your argument.
Mr. Schultz, you were an inspiration to me then, and you are an inspiration to me now. Keep up the good fight! I'm right there beside you.
I had personal dealings with some of the better of the old timers and this experience has caused me to have absolutely no respect of interest in the modern tinseltown egomaniacs
I was truly compatible with Duke and indifferent to Bacall, Jimmie was great and Hank interesting.
But by and large, all were tolerant and a pleasure to be around and converse with, even in debate
I truly miss the Real Hollywood and pity my kids, grandkids and all those that did not get to experience the true class of yesterdays hollywood.
America is definitely worse off for the passing of these folks
thanks for that post, dwight! my heart went out to you when you described that paltrow-incident audition. it's hard enough to keep your artist self up and at 'em, and then to contend with the political intimidation, well, i just empathize.
i remember feeling so downhearted watching the scene with mr heston in a michael moore movie where moore tricked heston into an interview in his private residence. it was a turning point for me.
Hollywood seems to be following the same business model as newspapers, i.e. piss off 50% of your potential market. I'm sure they will eventually suffer the same fate.
Don't forget the other definition: "Repeating the same thing over and over [throwing billions at a problem] and expecting a different result."
Paltrow has nothing to offer. Proof: Gwyneth.
And I wonder how he got along with Face on the A-Team set. Another surprise conservative who shows up on this site occasionally.
Slightly off-topic, in case there are other rabid Sherlock Holmes fans here. Charles Pogue (screenwriter, "Dragonheart") has talked about seeing Jeremy Brett playing Dr. Watson to Heston's Sherlock Holmes onstage. He said that Brett was brilliant, the best Watson he'd ever seen.
Of course, Mr. Brett was also the greatest Sherlock there will ever be. His porformances as The Great Detective are absolutely unsurpassable. If you doubt this, then you either aren't a literary fan of Holmes, or you've never seen Mr. Brett in action. In either case, you've got a big, big treat ahead of you!
Glad to see you here on Big Hollywood. I spent a little over a decade in the production and engineering side of public broadcasting and the anti-Bush/anti-conservative/anti-whatever finally burned me out. I don't miss those people.
Or M Emmet Walsh….
What a great, great piece and thank you so much for taking the time to write it! Those of us who toil in anonymity in this town need to read such stories often. It really makes us feel less alone. From those who know my political leanings, I alway hear: you're the only Republican/Conservative I know. I answer that I'm sorry their world is so narrow. I have plenty of liberal/dem friends. We just don't talk politics. There are those, who over the years haven't been able to deal with that, and so have fallen by the wayside (friendship-wise). It's sad, but has anyone ever heard of or experienced a conservative dropping a friend solely due to political differences? I never have. It's always the libs.
John Cusack is no Paul Newman.
It is too easy being a liberal.
Dwight!! So glad to see you here and writing! I miss your internet radio show, I'm glad to see you haven't given up on online political discourse.
I'm sorry hollyweird has to be filled with such weenies. I see talent such as what you possess and wonder what we're missing out on because of the intolerance of the left.
God bless you!
Watching the reruns of A Team on Spike TV, during a two parter, Murdoch was wearing a t-shirt that said something like "God, guts and guns made America great – let's keep all three" It was VERY prominent. I was dying to find out who picked that shirt, then I realized Dwight probably chose it himself.
I still want that shirt.
Exactly. Narcissism is the core of both Hollywood and liberalism.
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