PDA

View Full Version : RIP Sam Bottoms


JJFlamingo
12-19-2008, 04:35 AM
From MSN:

'Apocalypse Now' actor Sam Bottoms dies
Dec. 18, 2008, 3:05 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Sam Bottoms, who had small but memorable roles in the 1970s classics "Apocalypse Now" and "The Last Picture Show," has died. He was 53.

Bottoms, one of four actor-brothers, died Tuesday of brain cancer at his home in Los Angeles, wife Laura Bickford said.

In "Apocalypse Now," Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 Vietnam War epic, Bottoms played pro surfer-turned-soldie r Lance B. Johnson, who takes to the waves amid bombs and bullets under the orders of the maniacal, surfing-mad Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore played by Robert Duvall.

"He was a handsome, tall young man and very sweet-natured and seemed to be right for that part," Coppola said Wednesday. "Sam was a good actor. Of course, he comes from a family that had a lot of theatrical activity."

In his 1971 film debut, a 15-year-old Bottoms starred alongside his best-known brother, Timothy, in "The Last Picture Show," playing a mute and mentally handicapped boy forced by friends to lose his virginity to a prostitute.

Sam Bottoms said he was in Texas to visit his brother, who was the film's lead, when director Peter Bogdanovich saw him and cast him in the part.

Brothers Joseph and Ben are also actors.

Sam Bottoms was born in Santa Barbara in 1955, the third of four sons of sculptor James "Bud" Bottoms. He began acting in local theater at age 10.

After his 1970s films, Sam Bottoms went on to appear in the Clint Eastwood westerns "The Outlaw Josey Wales" and "Bronco Billy," and Coppola's 1987 Vietnam film "Gardens of Stone."

He more recently appeared in the films "Seabiscuit" and "Shopgirl."

He is survived by his three brothers, his parents and his wife.


JJ: It isn't often in this world that an actor becomes iconic for just one role in a film, and a supporting one at that, but Lance B. Johnson may be the coolest cat in the history of war movies...

"Hey, you know that last tab of acid I was saving? I dropped it."

RIP :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

Tweek
12-19-2008, 05:22 AM
Aw...

R.I.P.

:(

The Postmaster General
12-19-2008, 05:29 AM
I had wandered into what was at the time the only bar on Siesta Key and moments later found myself discussing the song "Louie Louie" with a mute fisherman from Oklahoma. The conversation went on for hours, though that fisherman left after finishing his drink. As I sat there looking into what would be my last drink for the evening as tourists had made their way into town and begun taking over the chamber of commerce, I heard from behind me that familiar riff leading into Louie Louie. Turning around, I saw the jukebox first and then the man walking away from it making his way to the door. He turned and winked at me, giving me the thumbs up. That man was Sam Bottoms.

RIP

Brando @$$ Fat
12-19-2008, 01:48 PM
He was the only tolerable person on that boat other than Willard. I always thought that was a great and underappreciated performance.

R.I.P.

SAI
12-19-2008, 03:23 PM
I didn't know much of Bottoms' work, but The Last Picture Show s one of my favourite films of all time, and 53 is just too young.

RIP

bigred760
12-19-2008, 06:27 PM
He had a great role in Apocalypse Now.

R.I.P.

NuclearMisfit
12-19-2008, 11:28 PM
"Disneyland, man. Fuck! This is better than Disneyland!"

R.I.P 53 is way too young.

Antonio141
12-20-2008, 01:31 PM
Damn...I thought he was excellent in both THE LAST PICTURE SHOW and APOCALYPSE NOW!

R.I.P. Sammy...

Le_Big_Mac
12-21-2008, 06:16 PM
R.I.P.