Harry Dean Stanton: Hollywood's Zen Rebel

by Joseph B Atkins

Harry Dean Stanton (1926–2017) got his start in Hollywood in TV productions such as Zane Grey Theater and Gunsmoke . After a series of minor parts in forgettable westerns, he gradually began to get film roles that showcased his laid-back acting style, appearing in Cool Hand Luke (1967), Kelly's Heroes (1970), The Part II (1974), and Alien (1979). He became a headliner in the eighties―starring in Wim Wenders's moving Paris, Texas (1984) and Alex Cox's Repo Man (1984)―but it was his extraordinary skill as a character actor that established him as a revered cult figure and kept him in demand throughout his career.

Joseph B. Atkins unwinds Stanton's enigmatic persona in the first biography of the man Vanity Fair memorialized as "the philosopher poet of character acting." He sheds light on Stanton's early life in West Irvine, Kentucky, exploring his difficult relationship with his Baptist parents, his service in the Navy, and the events that inspired him to drop out of college and pursue acting. Atkins also chronicles Stanton's early years in California, describing how he honed his craft at the renowned Pasadena Playhouse before breaking into television and movies.

In addition to examining the actor's acclaimed body of work, Atkins also explores Harry Dean Stanton as a Hollywood legend, following his years rooming with Jack Nicholson, partying with David Crosby and Mama Cass, jogging with Bob Dylan, and playing poker with John Huston. "HD Stanton" was scratched onto the wall of a jail cell in Easy Rider (1969) and painted on an exterior concrete wall in Drive, He Said (1971). Critic Roger Ebert so admired the actor that he suggested the "Stanton-Walsh Rule," which states that "no movie featuring either Harry Dean Stanton or M. Emmet Walsh in a supporting role can be altogether bad."

Harry Dean Stanton is often remembered for his crowd-pleasing roles in movies like Pretty in Pink (1986) or Escape from New York (1981), but this impassioned biography illuminates the entirety of his incredible sixty-year career. Drawing on interviews with the actor's friends, family, and colleagues, this much-needed book offers an unprecedented look at a beloved figure.

Genres: Film

256 pages, Hardcover

Published November 12, 2020

Reviews

[Chris S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good overview, albeit a bit clunky and repetitious in places.

[Mykki Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have long been a great fan of Harry Dean Stanton and an admire of this great talent. However, I knew very little about the real man. So little has been written about the deepness of his thoughts, passions, and spirit. Author Joseph B. Atkins has reached those depths with this book and has artfully written so well about it all. I am grateful for this rare insight into one of America's great actors. I knew several of my friends would love this read as well, so I purchased extra copies as gift.

Mykki Newton
Film Historian and Writer
mykkinewtonclassiccinema.com

[Ville Verkkapuro]

I have a very close relationship with the late Harry Dean Stanton. He speaks to me in various ways: his loneliness, his nihilist zen buddhism, his musicianship and his face, that seems to understand in a non-judging way. He had the same face as Kaija, the bag lady who was watching over me as a kid. Always smelling of cigarettes and sweat, with her black greasy hair and raisin wine bubbling in the corner. I loved her so much and I love him so much, they are and were the definition of the Everyman and at the same time the enlightened ones, the beat-up and the persistent, tought, almost stringy.
This was not a very good biography, but not very bad either. It was focused on films, telling some anecdotes about Stanton, going through his history. At times trying to blow life with scenes that seemed alive, but showing it's method. I especially enjoyed the chapter about my favourite film Paris, Texas. I loved the depictions of Harry at his humble home on Mulholland Drive, between mansions, feeding coyotes and hosting parties. He was nothing and everything.

[Ryan Hannay · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was clear early on that this author never met Harry Dean Stanton and most of the book is pulled from articles, websites, and interviews with people close to him. It also became clear early on that no one was really that close to him. So there are huge gaps and mysteries throughout, and though HDS lived over 90 years the author has trouble even filling 200 pages.

All that being said, I still enjoyed every Harry Dean story and quote in this book and it reminded me why I always related to characters he played. As a fellow eternal godless loner I can relate to a lot of his thoughts and musings on life, love, philosophy, etc. And his life touched so many other famous people's that he's almost a constant character in Hollywood's history. Unless we find some secret journals of his, this may be the best biography we'll get of Harry Dean Stanton. I'm pretty sure he'd want it that way.

[James Scheid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry Dean Stanton was a "character actor" though I fear he will haunt me from the grave for using this term for he hated it. His career lasted from the 1950's to 2017 when his last film was released after his death. I primarily know him from his work playing the leader of a polygamist compound in the series BIG LOVE, but he also played and FBI agent in THE GODFATHER PART II and the dad in PRETTY IN PINK among many other roles. This short biography is fascinating for it is also, in part, about the history of Hollywood and about the creative process that goes into making a movie and creating a character. You also get a little dose of Mr. Stanton's philosophy of life and learn about his Kentucky roots. It is a homage, through telling Harry Dean's story, to actors who are the backbone of Hollywood. You may not always know their names, but you know their faces and remember their remarkable performances. He was the lead in 3 smaller films, PARIS TEXAS, REPO MAN and his last movie LUCKY. Harry Dean Stanton, in what I saw him in, never seemed to be acting. I believed he was his character. My partner brought this book home from the library for me.
What a find!

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intimate portrait of the OG himself!
A very fun read for the most part with lots of fascinating info on Harry’s upbringing, acting career, and personal beliefs. I especially appreciated the focus that was put on his philosophical influences.
It only suffers from some slow bits here and there and a few tangents that ran too long for my taste (I just wanted to read about Harry and nothing else!). But when it comes to biographies that’s somewhat expected. If you’re interested in HDS whatsoever I would encourage you to read it.

Recommended companion viewing:
-Harry Dean Stanton Partly Fiction (2012)
-Paris, Texas (1984)
-Lucky (2017)
-Char-ac-ter (2009)

[Wednesday · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish this book had been written by someone who was close to Harry Dean. It is obvious the author didn't know him.

The book reads more like a synopsis for all the films that Harry Dean had acted in and about other people in the films.

There is little written about Harry Dean in this book. It is disappointing.

[Robnrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

There will never be another like him. All hail Harry Dean Stanton. In a world full of sheep, I wish there were more striving to be goats.