Every now and then I have to “give props” to Daniel Roebuck, the noted character actor who has graciously agreed to write the foreword to the book version of “Scared Silly.” This year marks the 25th anniversary of the release of his first Hollywood film, “Cave Girl.”
Right from the start Roebuck showed a flair for comedy as the science geek student on a class field trip discovering some mysterious crystals that send him back to prehistoric times… and into the waiting arms of the gorgeous title character!
There’s more than a hint of Lou Costello in the trailer as Roebuck essays the same kind of naïve but girl-crazy character Costello perfected in such fantasy-themed films as “Abbott & Costello Go to Mars” and “The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock.”
The Scariest role Daniel ever played was ... JAY LENO in the HBO TV movie "The Late Shift"! :)
He really did a good job as Jay - even having to wear a fake chin, (and nose?) and he got the voice right. (Unlike others who parody jay and make him sound all Whiney!)
Wouldn't it be cool if they ever get around to do a tv movie about the whole Jay and Conann O'Brian thing - they could get Eric Stoltz to play Conan :)
This blog is a companion piece to Paul Castiglia's forthcoming book of the same name, all about horror-comedy films like the classic features "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein," the Bowery Boys’ “Master Minds” and Bob Hope's "The Ghost Breakers;" plus short subject spook-spoofs by comedy legends including Laurel & Hardy, the Little Rascals and the 3 Stooges; and such low-budget gems as "Zombies on Broadway" and "Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla."
Paul Castiglia is a veteran comic book creator, having written and edited several comic books as well as compiling trade paperback collections. He has also written pop culture articles and essays for magazine and book publications, and done research for special projects related to vintage entertainment.
His past forays into horror-comedy include providing a chapter to the book MIDNIGHT MARQUEE ACTOR SERIES: VINCENT PRICE about the comedic horror films that Mr. Price co-starred in with Peter Lorre, and writing the comic book series ARCHIE'S WEIRD MYSTERIES for several years (based on the animated cartoon show of the same name and recently collected in paperback form).
Oh yeah, Paul's dad is the godfather of The Misfits' Jerry Only, further cementing his "horror business" credentials. :)
The Scariest role Daniel ever played was ... JAY LENO in the HBO TV movie "The Late Shift"! :)
ReplyDeleteHe really did a good job as Jay - even having to wear a fake chin, (and nose?) and he got the voice right. (Unlike others who parody jay and make him sound all Whiney!)
Wouldn't it be cool if they ever get around to do a tv movie about the whole Jay and Conann O'Brian thing - they could get Eric Stoltz to play Conan :)