Sadly, Bo Hopkins who played, JOE THE PHARAOH in American Graffiti (1973) died of a heart attack last May 28, 2022 in Van Nuys, California. I haven't yet had the chance to comment on this so I'll go ahead now and express a few memories about him here.
The sandy-haired American actor with a "good old boy" persona and Southern drawl, was born William Mauldin Hopkins in February 2, 1938 in Greenville, South Carolina. After a stint in the service he began acting in theater and soon earned guest spots on popular 1960's TV shows such as The Andy Griffith Show, Bonanza and The Wild Wild West. His first feature film was in the Sam Peckinpah landmark western, The Wild Bunch (1969) which began his illustrious movie career with roles in over one hundred movies and thousands of TV appearances.
Bo in the Revisionist Western film, "The Wild Bunch" directed by Sam Peckinpah
Of course, American Graffiti fans will always remember him best as the Mercury coupe driving, gang/car club leader, Joe The Pharoah. His gift for acting is on full display in the film particularly in the scene where his character tries to recruit Curt Henderson (played by Richard Dreyfuss) into his gang. The initiation rites include vandalizing a patrol car driven by the local small town police officer, Holstein. Hopkins delivers his lines as only he can as he tells Curt, that despite scratching his friend's car earlier he likes him and he's going to give Curt a chance to realize his secret dream of becoming a member of the gang. Of course, Curt, whose planning to leave for college in the morning has absolutely no intention of damaging the cop car OR joining the Pharaohs. Realizing his reluctance, Hopkin's urges him saying,
Look at it this way: Now you got three choices. One, you chicken out. In that case, I let Ants tie you to the car and drag you around a little bit. And you don't want that, right? Two, you foul up and Holstein hears you and well, ah... you don't want that, right? Three, you are successful and you join the Pharoahs with a carcoat, and the blood initiation and all that, huh?
Bo (as Joe, the leader of The Pharaohs,) with Beau Gentry & Richard Dreyfuss
I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with the actor at several events including autograph signings, classic car shows and appearances at American Graffiti celebrations. He was always relaxed and friendly and willing to engage me in conversation about his role as "Joe" in American Graffiti no matter how often I and others asked the questions.
I first met Bo at the first annual, Petaluma Celebrates American Graffiti event in California along with some other actors in the film, Candy Clark (who played Debbie,) Manuel Padilla, Jr (Carlos) and Paul Le Mat (John Milner). During our conversation Hopkins told me that in 1972 he was acting in two films simultaneously, Graffiti and a film starring Burt Reynolds, "White Lightening." In 1973 Reynolds was a huge star and Hopkin's played the character's sidekick in much of the film. Bo mentioned there were a lot of breaks during the production of Graffiti. "It was the beginning of Summer and since I wasn't in every scene I was able to leave the location for several days at a time. So, I would fly out to Arkansas, film a few scenes and then fly back to the Bay Area in the evening and continue acting in Graffiti, It was kind of crazy. By I didn't mind. I was happy to be working," I also asked him the age-old question about whether when first auditioning for the role he knew the film would become the classic that it is today. He replied, "Shit, I thought just the opposite. I was just sure Burt's film would be a hit but it turns out nobody remembers it. "But," he added, "That little ol' low-budget film, directed by some guy named, Lucas turned out to be a winner and people are still asking about to this day!"
More American Graffiti (1979) promotional pic sent out to newspapers
Bo couldn't have been more right. Graffiti was a winner. In 1974 it won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture for a Comedy or Musical. It was nominated for several Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Candy Clark) and Best Film Editing. It also won several several Best Picture awards at well established events including New York Film Critics Circle Awards and the Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards. Of course, that's to say nothing of the accolades the film continues to receive from film fans and classic cars enthusiasts to this day. But I digress...
Bo and co-star, Candy Cark in Marietta, Georgia at one of many "Graffiti" re-screenings
I saw Bo again at a classic car show on the Cal Expo state fairgrounds in Sacramento, California. The yellow,1932 Ford coupe featured in Graffiti was on display. Hopkins was sitting at a collapsible table alongside actors, Candy Clark and Paul Le Mat. They were surrounded with fans who waited in line to have them sign photos and various Graffiti memorabilia. I too waited in line, this time to have him sign a picture of Wolfman Jack and himself at the premiere of Graffiti. I was also going to video tape an interview with him and later that day I did but unfortunately, it was erased when I accidentally taped over it to interview his Graffiti co-stars, Candy Clark and Paul Le Matt (which you can find on You Tube),
When I reached the front of the line, much to my delight, Bo looked up recognized me (yes I said, he recognized me) and he spontaneously began reenacting the famous scene in Graffiti when his character first encounters Curt (Dreyfus) sitting on the hood of a parked car and menacingly asks, "Whadaya doin', creep?" I, of course reacted by doing what any film nerd and Bo Hopkins fan would do, I countered with Curt's response, "Me?" To which he replied, "No, I'm talking to the other fifty creeps here." This really was a secret dream come true. Here I was running lines from my favorite movie since childhood with the actual actor from the film. The real deal. I waited for him to finish the next line from the script, "You know Gil Gonzales?" but he didn't continue. That was fine with me. I was star-struck and a little nervous anyway and would not have been able to continue responding with lines from the script that I had memorized since I was 12 years-old.
One of several photos that Bo signed for this writer
I don't remember our entire conversation that day, eleven years ago, but I must not have seemed like a total “creep” because he asked me to watch his stuff at his autograph table for awhile as he explored the event and viewed the cars on display. I obliged. I remember how important I felt as I sat there in Bo's chair thinking, "Hey everybody look at me, I'm friends with film star, Bo Hopkins!" He was gone for an hour or so. People would stop and ask, "Where's Bo?" and I would tell them with great authority, "He's out getting lunch but he'll be back soon." When Bo finally returned we chatted a bit longer. In his down to earth demeanor he told me about his hobbies; fishing, reading and (I think,) painting. Then he thanked me by giving me a warm handshake and signing a color 8x10 screenshot of himself from American Graffiti. As I write this, the photo rests on my bedroom wall along with my college diplomas and dozens of other autographed movie photos. The inscription on the photo reads, simply, "To Mark, Thanks, Bo Hopkins." Thank you Bo Hopkins. Thank you for bringing happiness to myself and so many people out there, whether you were on screen or off.
Bored as Hell and Nothing to Rebel Against!
(Above) Ben Mankiewicz with Bo, Candy Clark & Paul Le Mat discussing "American Graffiti" at a 2014, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel poolside screening
