Charles Grodin bowed out of the spotlight in 1993 only to show up in small parts for films here and there.
Will the opportunity to be in MIDNIGHT RUN 2 lure him back? It’s a big maybe. Originally there were no plans for bringing Grodin back. Now he’s saying this, “I’ve been led to believe by someone I won’t name that they will ask me and I will consider it.”
Robert De Niro will return so far only as a producer. Timothy Dowling (ROLE MODELS) is signed on to write the screenplay. They are also looking to bring Marty Brest and original writer George Gallo on as well. The first idea for the MIDNIGHT RUN Sequel was for De Niro to come back as bounty hunter, Jack Walsh to chase down Jonathan Mardukas’ son. There have been no further detail on plot since.
Grodin decided to leave the movie business in order to be with his family. The actor didn’t want to be an absentee Father because of his career. Grodin seems ready to work again as long as it keeps his close to his Connecticut home. He’ll go out of town if it’s within reason, “I just turned down the new Muppet movie. I was in THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER and I think they are bringing back those of us still alive for a reprise. Jim Henson was dear to me but I’m not flying 6000 miles to Los Angeles to work one day.”
Most of Grodin’s time has been spent helping others. After his split from acting, he got more into the news side of television and radio. He’s also helping poor, first-time offenders with severe prison sentences. This started by helping a Mother with four kids who got arrested for a first offense of dealing coke. He’s taken several cases and doesn’t deal with, “cases that are highly debatable, because there are too many that aren’t”
Grodin wasn’t too upset when they didn’t initially think to include him, “I always assumed they’d go with a young actor. What I remember is there were 18 locations, including New Zealand, and for me, it isn’t so much the acting as it is the travel and the waiting. I started in movies in 1963 and the first big one was Rosemary’s Baby in 1967. While you don’t notice it right away, it finally dawns on you that 80% of the time, you’re doing nothing. Where I am right now, trying to get people out of prison and get laws changed, it is a funny twist that Bob De Niro’s once again trying to put an innocent man in prison, while I am trying to get them out.”
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed