Brad Dourif
Brad Dourif is an American actor renowned for his compelling portrayals of emotionally complex and often unstable characters, particularly in the horror and fantasy genres. Born on March 18, 1950, in Huntington, West Virginia, Dourif showed an early interest in acting, influenced by his mother's involvement in community theater. He gained critical acclaim for his role as Billy Bibbit in the 1975 film *One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest*, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, along with a BAFTA and a Golden Globe.
Dourif is also widely recognized for his iconic voice work as Chucky, the possessed doll in the *Child's Play* franchise, a role that has established him as a significant figure in horror cinema. His career spans various genres and includes notable performances in films such as *Dune*, *The Exorcist III*, and *Alien: Resurrection*, as well as the television series *Deadwood*, for which he received an Emmy nomination. In recent years, Dourif has continued to reprise his role as Chucky, showcasing his enduring legacy in the industry. He has two daughters, one of whom, Fiona, is also an actress. Dourif's body of work reflects his versatility and has garnered him a dedicated following among fans of horror and science fiction.
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Subject Terms
Brad Dourif
Actor
- Born: March 18, 1950
- Place of Birth: Huntington, West Virginia
Contribution: Brad Dourif is an accomplished film actor known for his roles as emotionally unstable characters in horror and fantasy films. He is perhaps best known for his award-winning portrayal of mental patient Billy Bibbit in the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and his voice work as the evil doll Chucky in the Child's Play horror series.
Background
Bradford Claude Dourif was born on March 18, 1950, in Huntington, West Virginia, son of Jean and Joan Dourif. His father passed away when Dourif was only three years old. Soon afterward, his mother married golfer Bill Campbell, who helped bring up Dourif and his four siblings.
Dourif entered Aiken Preparatory School, in Aiken, South Carolina, in 1963. Throughout high school, Dourif was interested in art and theater. His mother's acting at a local community theater inspired him to pursue a career as an actor. He followed in his mother's footsteps, moving from his high school theater directly to the local community theater.
After he graduated high school, he attended Marshall University of Huntington, where he performed with the Huntington Community Players. By the time he was nineteen Dourif became dissatisfied with college life and made the decision to leave school. He moved to New York City, where he joined the Circle Repertory Company.
Career
Dourif was first critically recognized for his role in the original performance of the play When You Comin' Back Red Ryder? in 1972. Following this, he made the jump from stage actor to film actor. While it is true that Dourif had a minor, uncredited role in the 1975 film W. W. and the Dixie Dance Kings alongside Burt Reynolds, his breakthrough role was undoubtedly that of Billy Bibbit in the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest takes place in a mental institution, in which a confrontational and adversarial relationship develops between the head nurse and many of the patients. Bibbit is a slender, frail young man with a pronounced stutter, who is often picked on by the head nurse. For this role—his second ever on film—Dourif was nominated for a best supporting actor Academy Award and won a BAFTA for best supporting actor and a Golden Globe for best acting debut.
Through a combination of natural talent and typecasting, Dourif settled into playing unstable, edgy characters. While this was intentional early in his career, toward the later years, it became a matter of taking what parts were consistently offered to him. In 1978's Eyes of Laura Mars, he played the lead role of Tommy Ludlow, a friend of an artist who realizes she can see through the eyes of a serial killer. Dourif appeared as the unhinged preacher Hazel Motes in Wise Blood (1979) and as the anarchic younger brother in the award-winning drama Ragtime (1981). In 1984, he took a role in the critically lamented cult classic Dune as the sadistic, sociopathic genius Piter De Vries.
Dourif took roles in several smaller productions, such as Istanbul (1985), Impure Thoughts (1986), and Medium Rare (1987), before starring in the film Child's Play. In that 1988 horror film, Dourif lends his voice to that of a doll possessed by the spirit of a serial killer. Child's Play and the possessed Chucky doll became horror classics, spawning several sequels and a devoted following for Dourif. His subsequent horror credits included the twisted Gemini Killer in The Exorcist III (1990), the voice of Chucky in Child's Play 2 (1990) and Child's Play 3 (1991), and Dr. Jonathan Gediman in Alien: Resurrection (1997).
In 2002, Dourif broke away from roles in horror films to play the scheming Grima Wormtongue in the fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Following this, he joined the cast of the critically acclaimed Western television series Deadwood (2004–6), an historical drama set in the 1870s. Dourif played good-guy Doc Cochran throughout the show's three seasons and earned a 2004 Emmy nomination for best supporting actor in a drama. He reprised the role in a 2019 television movie. He also played Dr. Chong in the film The Wizard of Gore (2007) and Sheriff Lee Brackett in Rob Zombie's remake, Halloween II (2009).
Dourif then had small roles in the films Chain Letter (2010) and Priest (2011) and starred in the independent film Death and Cremation (2011). During this time, he made guest appearances on several television series, including Once Upon a Time, Fringe, Psych, and Wilfred.
In 2013, Dourif returned to the Chucky franchise for the sixth installment, Curse of Chucky, which was released straight to DVD. He also returned to the stage in 2013 for an Off-Broadway production of Tennessee Williams's The Two-Character Play. Other film roles included the 2013 horror movie Malignant and the 2015 drama Rosemont. In 2017, Dourif once again took on the role of Chucky in Cult of Chucky. He reprised the role in 2021 when the franchise added a television series in which Chucky commanded an army of similar dolls. At that time, Dourif said he was semi-retired but enjoying the challenge of the role, which required him to voice multiple dolls with slightly different voices.
Impact
Dourif's award-winning performance as Billy Bibbitt in the classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest demonstrated his talent as a character actor. Although he is a versatile performer who has played a range of roles, he has most often been cast as characters who are strange, insane, or evil. His roles have given the actor a large following and solidified his reputation as a horror and sci-fi icon.
Personal Life
Dourif is twice divorced and has two daughters, Kristina (sometimes spelled Christina) Dourif Tanoue and Fiona Dourif. Fiona, an actor, has appeared with her father in Curse of Chucky.
Bibliography
Butler, Karen. "34 Years in, Brad Dourif Having Fun, Feeling Challenged as 'Chucky.'" UPI, 4 Oct. 2022, www.upi.com/Entertainment‗News/TV/2022/10/04/chucky-brad-dourif-interview/3091664900952/. Accessed 23 Sept. 2024.
Dourif, Brad. Interview with Yosef Solomon. Zimbio. Livingly Media, 9 Feb. 2010. Web. 1 Aug. 2013.
Koltnow, Barry. "Brad Dourif Will Act in Horror Movies, But Won't Watch One." Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune, 15 Nov. 1990. Web. 1 Aug. 2013.
Leigh, Danny. "Brad Dourif: Best Supporting Creep Who Shines in the Shadows." Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 6 May 2011. Web. 19 July 2013.
O'Neal, Sean. "Curse of Chucky." A.V. Club. Onion, 9 July 2013. Web. 19 July 2013.
Vincentelli, Elisabeth. "'The Two-Character Play' Delivers Divine Crazy from Tennessee." New York Post. NYP Holdings, 24 June 2013. Web. 19 July 2013.
Weinert-Kendt, Rob. "Traveling toward a Dead End, Together: Amanda Plummer and Brad Dourif Onstage." New York Times. New York Times, 18 July 2013. Web. 31 July 2013.