It's been a year now since the world lost actor, Bo Hopkins. Sadly, he died of a heart attack last May 28, 2022 in Van Nuys, California. Born in Southern Carolina in 1938, Bo began his career by acting in theater and then transitioned to television in the 1960s He garnered guest spots on such classic as The Andy Griffith Show, Bonanza and The Wild Wild West. He made his first feature film when he was 30 years old in the Sam Peckinpah landmark western, The Wild Bunch (1969) thus began an illustrious movie career with roles in over one hundred movies and thousands of TV appearances.
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Bo looking badass in Midnight Express (1978) |
Bo had thousands of roles but Kip's American Graffiti Blog readers will best remember the sandy-haired actor as, Joe "The Pharoah" [purposely misspelt]. His gift for believability is on full display as he subtly inhabits the role of the gang/car club leader in a small town in 1962. He is both intimidating and comical throughout. In one, now legendary, scene, his character attempts to persuade Richard Dreyfuss into vandalizing a local patrol car;
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 first met Bo at the 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). All the nervousness I had about meeting the actor vanished as his friendliness, and good-ol'-boy charm captivated me. I asked him specifically about the early years of his movie career specifically the year 1972 when he worked on both American Graffiti and White Lightning starring Burt Reynolds. In the film Bo played a side-kick to Reynold's macho moonshiner. Speaking in his Southern drawl he recalled, "It was the beginning of Summer and right after I had filmed all my scenes with Richard Dreyfuss in Graffiti I immediately had to fly out to Arkansas and join the production of White Lightening. I had been working at night on Graffiti and had gotten used to that and suddenly I'm working in the bright daylight squinting my eyes and Burt would yell at me [laughs]. It was fun and kind of crazy!"
I also asked Bo whether he knew at the time, Graffiti would become the classic that it is today. [By the way readers, I absolutely hate when interviewers ask that question but I asked it anyway.] He replied in a warm matter-of-fact tone, "Shit, I thought just the opposite. I was just sure Burt's film would be a hit. 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 folks like you are still talking to me about to this day!"
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Bo, Billingsley & Burt in WHITE LIGHTNING (1973)Bo couldn't have been more right about American Graffiti. It became a box office smash, grossing over $115 million worldwide. In 1974 the film won a Golden Globe for Best 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 & Farrah Faucett on the set of CHARLIES ANGELS (1976)
In February 2001 I saw Bo 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 Mat (which you can find on You Tube).
When I reached the front of the line, much to my delight, Bo looked up and recognizing me he momentarily slipped into his Joe The Pharaoh character exclaiming, "Whadaya doin', creep?" I played along and countered with Dreyfuss's response, "Me?" To which he replied, "No, I'm talking to the other fifty creeps here." He then gave me an sly grin. I was star-struck and a little nervous and not sure if I should continue responding with lines from the script, A script that I had memorized since I was 12 years-old, no less. However, I quickly realized why I was there and asked if I could record an interview with him later to post on my website. He agreed.
One of several photos that Bo signed for this writer
I don't remember our entire conversation verbatim that day, eleven years ago, but I took notes obviously. I must not have seemed like a total “creep” because he asked me to "watch his table" while he took a break outside. 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 actor, Bo Hopkins!" When Bo finally returned we chatted some more. We chatted about fishing and some of his favorite authors. He also claimed to be pretty good at painting with watercolors. "Well, my mamma thought my paintings were pretty good," he quipped. It was a wonderful interaction. I still have a 8x10 photo he signed for me. The inscription on the photo reads, simply, "To Mark, Thanks, Bo Hopkins." And now as I wrap this up I have to say, Thank you Bo Hopkins. Thank you for bringing happiness to myself and so many people out there, whether you were on screen or off.
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| A signed pic of Bo as Joe The Pharaoh that hangs on my wall |
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
Bo & American Graffiti co-star/friend, Candy Clark Photo: Stephanie Keenan
~Fini~
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Notes:
- Bo Hopkins of American Graffiti - Interview at 2019 Portland Roadster Show. https://www.youtube.com/c/RidesDoneRight
- BO HOPKINS - UNINHIBITED, COLORFUL & HONEST. Industry Central. BSIMON. https://www.industrycentral.net/features/working_actors/bo_hopkins
- IN-PERSON CONVERSATIONS WITH BO HOPKINS. Mark Groesbeck. Various dates. 2009-2011.
