June 27, 2013
In Austin to accept a Texas Film Hall of Fame Award from the Austin Film Society, San Antonio born actor, Bruce McGill (B.F.A. Drama '73) spent Thursday's lunch hour sharing experiences and wisdom with students, faculty and staff from the Department of Theatre and Dance.
Held in the Winship Atrium, the presentation turned open discussion with Mr. McGill was an opportunity for students to speak one-on-one with the actor and learn about the challenges and realities faced by even the most experienced and well-known Hollywood professionals. His honesty, humility and comedic ability informed and entertained as McGill told stories of his career from childhood performances to recent auditions.
Following a debut performance in 1978's comedy classic, Animal House, McGill has built a decades-long career of critically lauded roles in such cinematic productions as Mike Nichols' Silkwood, Jonathan Lynn's My Cousin Vinny, Clint Eastwood's A Perfect World, and Michael Mann's Ali. After McGill created a series of gritty characters on television shows like MacGyver, the CSI series, Wolf Lake, and The Cleveland Show, he found some of the finest work of his career playing nonfiction characters in HBO films – diplomat "George Ball" in Path to War; journalist "Peter Arnett" in Live from Baghdad, and "Mac Stipanovich" in Recount. McGill's reputation for playing tough also led to a role as CIA director "George Tenet" in Oliver Stone's W. McGill currently stars in the television series Rizzoli and onscreen in Fair Game, about the uncovering of agent Valerie Plame.
Related Links:
The Austin Chronicle “Lone Stars in Good Company: Texas Film Hall of Fame 2010”
http://www.austinfilm.org/Page.aspx?pid=281
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569226/