Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
#1
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Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. actor Alec Baldwin says he has lost interest in acting and considers his film career a failure.
"I don't have any interest in acting anymore," Baldwin, 51, told "Men's Journal" in an interview for its December issue.
Baldwin, best-known for his Emmy-award winning role in the NBC comedy "30 Rock" and the man chosen to co-host the 2010 Oscar ceremony, added: "Movies are a part of my past. It's been 30 years. I'm not young, but I have time to do something else".
Baldwin began a television acting career in the 1980s and has filmed scores of movies, including the 1988 cult classic "Beetlejuice". He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the 2003 film "The Cooler" and stars in the upcoming movie "It's Complicated" with Meryl Streep and his Oscar co-host Steve Martin.
Men's Journal quoted Baldwin as saying it was "pretty much it for him" after "30 Rock", "in a couple of years or so". He told Playboy Magazine this year he was "done" with his career in 2012 and would retire at "30 Rock"'s wrap party.
"I consider my entire movie career a complete failure," he told Men's Journal. "The goal of movie-making is to star in a film where your performance drives the film, and the film is either a soaring critical or commercial success, and I never had that."
Baldwin said the 1990 action film "The Hunt for Red October", in which he starred and which made more than $200 million worldwide, was successful because it was based on a popular Tom Clancy novel.
"And now, the movies I've been in, I never give them a moment's thought. Every movie I've ever been in, I just avoid," he said.
Baldwin has expressed interest in politics in the past but did not say in the interview what he intended to do should he quit acting.
Baldwin's interview with Men's Journal hits newsstands on Friday.
#2
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
Actors are a strange breed. I bet it takes a lot to put yourself out there and act. I think Alec has been great and has been in some great movies. While not as successful as some of his peers, I'd say he's been a success. But as someone who does creative work for a living, I can see where he wouldn't be satisfied with what he's done. I hope this is all bluster.
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
When I think of Alec Baldwin, the first two things I think of are his performances in Glengarry Glen Ross and Malice.
#5
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Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
I actually commend him that he's so critical of himself but I agree that he's not a complete failure although his career has not been a blockbuster. Of course if it was, he may not have done 30 Rock in the first place. I really thought he was great in Prelude to a Kiss
Now, if we're talking Stephen or Daniel Baldwin . . that's a different story
Now, if we're talking Stephen or Daniel Baldwin . . that's a different story
#7
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#8
Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
Doesn't sound so odd, I threaten to quit my job all the time. If I was financially set I probabley would, but after a year or so would get bored and go back.
I think about radio host Art Bell, who kept quitting the radio the show and then coming back. Even after his final "retirement" he still comes back once in awhile to host the show.
He should just take a rest. If he changes his mind and gets offered something great, if not he can become president of the Film Actor's Guilde or whatever the shit.
I think about radio host Art Bell, who kept quitting the radio the show and then coming back. Even after his final "retirement" he still comes back once in awhile to host the show.
He should just take a rest. If he changes his mind and gets offered something great, if not he can become president of the Film Actor's Guilde or whatever the shit.
#9
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#10
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Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
Baldwin is right up there on my favorite actors list. Even in the shitty movies he's been in, he has shone. But yeah, he's made a fortune and can now do what he wants. Good for him. I know he's very political and has mentioned going into politics, which I would welcome (I'd vote for him). He makes a couple million a year just in voiceover work, so I'm sure he'll be set forever and can pursue other avenues in life. Must be a nice place to be in life.
#11
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Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
Same here. I think the problem is that he's not very memorable as a leading man, but in the right supporting roles he's fucking fantastic (thinking largely of Glengarry Glen Ross, The Cooler, and The Departed here). But, I guess after almost 30 years of acting, during which he was cast as a star for a while, it's a bit of a disappointment to be considered "just" a great supporting man.
#12
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Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
I actually believe that Alec has gotten better with age and was recently thinking that he would sooner or later get an Oscar as a supporting actor.
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Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
I read in interviews where he's said all along he doesn't think too highly of acting. However, he's a great actor IMO and could easily join SNL based on his hosting skills if and when he quits.
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Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
I have always liked Alec Baldwin in pretty much every movie, even the bad ones hes still pretty good.
#17
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Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
Same here. I think the problem is that he's not very memorable as a leading man, but in the right supporting roles he's fucking fantastic (thinking largely of Glengarry Glen Ross, The Cooler, and The Departed here). But, I guess after almost 30 years of acting, during which he was cast as a star for a while, it's a bit of a disappointment to be considered "just" a great supporting man.
I don't really see him quitting, unless he's got something else lined up, like Kal Penn. Didn't Liam Neeson threaten to retire several years ago?
#18
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
There's not a A/B role that I've disliked. His physical presence and manly good looks command my attention. Hope he's just blowing hot air. I think he gets fed up with things and then gets his arm twisted a little harder each time. Hopefully he won't ever lose an arm.
#19
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
Actors threaten to quit all the time and they almost never go through with it. Same will happen with Baldwin. I'm sure he'll take a couple years off, realize how bored he is and jump back into the business.
#20
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
I actually like the guy a lot and think he's a GREAT character actor. He's not a movie star, but Harrison Ford is a movie star and look at his career for the last...well a long time. Not anything as good as Baldwin in The Cooler.
I'm almost positive it was Richard Roeper or someone like that who said Baldwin had found his niche as one of the very best character out there and he stole scenes in even small roles.
He was terrific even in the very mediocre My Sister's Keeper.
I don't mind his politics or believe he's a bad father, but he does seem to have a rather huge ego. He also seems to beat himself up. The Basinger thing really got him bad. And all of his brothers are weird in a similar way. He just needs to find a better therapist.
It's too bad that he judges himself not on his performances, and there have been many, many great ones, but on not being in blockbuster movies or winning academy awards.
I'm almost positive it was Richard Roeper or someone like that who said Baldwin had found his niche as one of the very best character out there and he stole scenes in even small roles.
He was terrific even in the very mediocre My Sister's Keeper.
I don't mind his politics or believe he's a bad father, but he does seem to have a rather huge ego. He also seems to beat himself up. The Basinger thing really got him bad. And all of his brothers are weird in a similar way. He just needs to find a better therapist.
It's too bad that he judges himself not on his performances, and there have been many, many great ones, but on not being in blockbuster movies or winning academy awards.
#22
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Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
When you can be in a movie with Jack Lemon and Al Pacino and Ed Harris and Alan Arkin, and have only one scene in that movie but still be as powerful a presence as those great actors -- you're doing all right. If Baldwin wants to retire, that's his business, and more power to him -- but he's 100% wrong if he thinks his career has been a failure.
#23
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
I'm pissed as Hell that he's going to make threats again and possibly turn his back on his loyal audience.
I've written him a letter to show him how I feel and thought I'd share with you:
Hey Alec I want to tell you something, okay, and I want to leave a message for you right now, because again it’s 11:00 here in Chicago on a Monday.
I am tired of playing this game with you. I’m leaving this message for you to tell you that you have insulted me for the last time. You have insulted me. You don’t have the brains or the decency of a human being! I do not give a damn that you’re in the movies for 30 years and never had a hit and that your career is just a big pain in the ass that doesn’t care about what you do as far as its concerned.
You have humiliated me for the last time with your threats and when I come out there next week... I’m going to fly out there for the day just to straighten you out on this issue. I’m going to let you know just how disappointed in you that I am and how angry I am with you that you’ve done this to me again.
You made me feel like shit and you’ve made me feel like a fool over and over and over again. And this crap you pull on me with this. I am going to get on a plane and I am going to straighten your ass out when I see you.
Do you understand me? I am going to really make sure you get it. That I’m going to get on a plane and I’m gonna turn around and come home. So you better be ready Friday the 4th to meet with me. So I’m going to let you know how I feel, about what a rude little pig you really are. You are a rude thoughtless little pig.
I've written him a letter to show him how I feel and thought I'd share with you:
Hey Alec I want to tell you something, okay, and I want to leave a message for you right now, because again it’s 11:00 here in Chicago on a Monday.
I am tired of playing this game with you. I’m leaving this message for you to tell you that you have insulted me for the last time. You have insulted me. You don’t have the brains or the decency of a human being! I do not give a damn that you’re in the movies for 30 years and never had a hit and that your career is just a big pain in the ass that doesn’t care about what you do as far as its concerned.
You have humiliated me for the last time with your threats and when I come out there next week... I’m going to fly out there for the day just to straighten you out on this issue. I’m going to let you know just how disappointed in you that I am and how angry I am with you that you’ve done this to me again.
You made me feel like shit and you’ve made me feel like a fool over and over and over again. And this crap you pull on me with this. I am going to get on a plane and I am going to straighten your ass out when I see you.
Do you understand me? I am going to really make sure you get it. That I’m going to get on a plane and I’m gonna turn around and come home. So you better be ready Friday the 4th to meet with me. So I’m going to let you know how I feel, about what a rude little pig you really are. You are a rude thoughtless little pig.
#25
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Alec Baldwin will quit acting after 30 Rock ends.
I'm pissed as Hell that he's going to make threats again and possibly turn his back on his loyal audience.
I've written him a letter to show him how I feel and thought I'd share with you:
Hey Alec I want to tell you something, okay, and I want to leave a message for you right now, because again it’s 11:00 here in Chicago on a Monday.
I am tired of playing this game with you. I’m leaving this message for you to tell you that you have insulted me for the last time. You have insulted me. You don’t have the brains or the decency of a human being! I do not give a damn that you’re in the movies for 30 years and never had a hit and that your career is just a big pain in the ass that doesn’t care about what you do as far as its concerned.
You have humiliated me for the last time with your threats and when I come out there next week... I’m going to fly out there for the day just to straighten you out on this issue. I’m going to let you know just how disappointed in you that I am and how angry I am with you that you’ve done this to me again.
You made me feel like shit and you’ve made me feel like a fool over and over and over again. And this crap you pull on me with this. I am going to get on a plane and I am going to straighten your ass out when I see you.
Do you understand me? I am going to really make sure you get it. That I’m going to get on a plane and I’m gonna turn around and come home. So you better be ready Friday the 4th to meet with me. So I’m going to let you know how I feel, about what a rude little pig you really are. You are a rude thoughtless little pig.
I've written him a letter to show him how I feel and thought I'd share with you:
Hey Alec I want to tell you something, okay, and I want to leave a message for you right now, because again it’s 11:00 here in Chicago on a Monday.
I am tired of playing this game with you. I’m leaving this message for you to tell you that you have insulted me for the last time. You have insulted me. You don’t have the brains or the decency of a human being! I do not give a damn that you’re in the movies for 30 years and never had a hit and that your career is just a big pain in the ass that doesn’t care about what you do as far as its concerned.
You have humiliated me for the last time with your threats and when I come out there next week... I’m going to fly out there for the day just to straighten you out on this issue. I’m going to let you know just how disappointed in you that I am and how angry I am with you that you’ve done this to me again.
You made me feel like shit and you’ve made me feel like a fool over and over and over again. And this crap you pull on me with this. I am going to get on a plane and I am going to straighten your ass out when I see you.
Do you understand me? I am going to really make sure you get it. That I’m going to get on a plane and I’m gonna turn around and come home. So you better be ready Friday the 4th to meet with me. So I’m going to let you know how I feel, about what a rude little pig you really are. You are a rude thoughtless little pig.
Just sayin'.