Comments on: Rowdy Roddy Rocks!

By: Medusa

Medusa — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 15:53:31 +0000

Thanks for the comments, Leadbelly and Robert!It sure sounds like anybody who's met Roddy at any event comes away with the impression that he's a warm human being, and that was obviously part of the undeniable appeal that he had, even when he was an outrageous bad guy. He's so charismatic! (Great pic on your blog, Robert, of your meeting him! What a smile he's got! And you've got a great website!)Here's hoping that RP continues his performing career in even bigger and better roles! He's fantastic and deserves everything good!

By: Robert L

Robert L — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:43:47 +0000

I met the amiable Roddy at this past summer's horror expo (sponsored by the fine folks at Rue Morgue magazine), held annually in Toronto. He had quite a line up of waiting fans, considering he was stationed next to the likes of Carrie Fisher and some "Firefly" alumni. I got a chance to meet him only briefly, and mention that my own website/blog "Nadalander" (http://nadalander.blogspot.com/) was named for his "They Live" character (in fact, it's that, plus, it's a pun on "nederlander"). Well, he responded with a resounding "I'm honoured", shook my hand with sincerity, and posed for a photo (after his somewhat dim assistant figured out how to use a digital camera) like it was the first time he'd ever been asked. This guy really knows how to work a room–he should follow Jessy V. into office. Years ago I worked for Canada's Norstar Entertainment as a storyboard artist on some of their DTV features, and they'd hired Roddy for two: "Jungleground" and "No Contest". He was terrific to cast and crew, and onscreen, his charisma was evident that "They Live" was no fluke. Pity he's never had the film career he deserves–that Tarantino phone call is looong overdue… I didn't know about his battle with lymphoma–I'll be sure to drop him a b-day greeting.

By: Leadbelly

Leadbelly — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:15:22 +0000

I have to say that THEY LIVE is my favorite John Carpenter film and it's mostly due to Roddy's performance which is so true to his persona – the blue collar working man hero. The big brawl scene with Keith David is great on so many levels but most importantly as one critic so astutely pointed out, it's a literal representation of how difficult it is sometimes to make someone see YOUR POINT OF VIEW. Keith doesn't connect with Roddy at all until he is FINALLY persuaded to put on the glasses. Carpenter also deserves credit for making an entertaining allegory of a big brother America run by consumer aliens years before it actually happened. Hey folks, it's time to put on the glasses NOW because the aliens HAVE taken over. Roddy, time for a sequel and we're all out of bubblegum! You the man!