Veteran character actor Brad Dourif, 75, discusses his decision to retire from acting due to a lack of excitement for roles and the mental toll of playing dark characters. Known for his breakthrough role as Billy Bibbit in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest' and his signature voice work as Chucky, Dourif shares anecdotes from his prolific career, including working with Miloš Forman and David Lynch, and the financial pressures that often dictated his choices. He now enjoys retirement in upstate New York, building a 'kitty city' for his cats.
‘I can’t believe people like my work!’ Brad Dourif on the road from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest to Chucky
CultureLife and styleOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestHorror filmsActing
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Veteran character actor Brad Dourif, 75, discusses his decision to retire from acting due to a lack of excitement for roles and the mental toll of playing dark characters. Known for his breakthrough role as Billy Bibbit in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest' and his signature voice work as Chucky, Dourif shares anecdotes from his prolific career, including working with Miloš Forman and David Lynch, and the financial pressures that often dictated his choices. He now enjoys retirement in upstate New York, building a 'kitty city' for his cats.
- 1 Born 1950
- 2 Moved to NYC early 1970s
- 3 Starred in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' 1975
- 4 Starred in 'Wise Blood' 1979
- 5 Starred in 'Ragtime' 1981
- 6 Taught at Columbia University for 5 years
- 7 Appeared in 'Dune' 1984
- 8 Appeared in 'Blue Velvet' 1986
- 9 Became voice of Chucky in 'Child's Play' 1988
- 10 Struggled with depression after 'Mississippi Burning' (1988 film)
- 11 Daughter Fiona Dourif joined Chucky franchise 2013
- 12 Mark Hamill voiced Chucky reboot 2019
- Dourif's retirement from most acting roles
- His focus on personal life and hobbies (e.g., building 'kitty city')
- His continued voice work for the Chucky franchise
- A lasting legacy as a prolific character actor
What: Brad Dourif's reflections on his acting career, retirement, and the challenges of playing dark roles.
When: Born in 1950; started feeling empty about roles in 2013 (after 'The Two-Character Play'); early 1970s (moved to NYC); 1975 ('One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest'); 1979 ('Wise Blood'); 1981 ('Ragtime'); taught at Columbia for five years; 1984 ('Dune'); 1986 ('Blue Velvet'); 1988 ('Child’s Play'); struggled after 'Mississippi Burning' (1988 film); Fiona Dourif joined Chucky franchise in 2013; Mark Hamill voiced Chucky reboot in 2019.
Where: Upstate New York (Dourif's home); Huntington, West Virginia (birthplace); New York City (early career); Columbia University (teaching); New Zealand (Lord of the Rings filming).
Why: Dourif retired because acting no longer excited him, the emotional toll of playing dark characters lingered, and he needed to support his family financially.
How: Dourif prepared for roles (e.g., stutter exercises for Billy Bibbit), took on diverse roles (from vulnerable to villainous), taught acting, and voiced Chucky for over 30 years. He now focuses on personal projects like building a 'kitty city'.