Cult film stars usually manage to maintain a small following throughout their somewhat laughable careers, but self-proclaimed B-movie star Bruce Campbell has not only sustained a respectable resume, but has steadily become the most famous Joe Schmo in Hollywood today. Thanks mostly to his infamous role as Ash in the “Evil Dead Series,” Bruce is a household name, but try and mention the film and he’ll turn sour (Bruce signs his autographs “Bruce ‘Don’t Call Me Ash’ Campbell”). Born in Royal Oak, Michigan at the same hospital as film pal Sam Raimi, Bruce remembers a “normal” lifestyle of watching “Lost in Space” on TV, digging tunnels in his backyard and running around dressed as Zorro. His interest in acting began early on after watching his dad perform in a local community theater, and he received his first role in a production of the “King and I” at age 14. Bruce’s real filmmaking days began in high school when he met fellow goofball Sam Raimi in drama class and began making super-8 films together.
After briefly attending Western Michigan University as a theater major, Bruce dropped out and decided that gaining experience was more important, working as a PA (production assistant) for a company producing commercials in Detroit. In 1979, Bruce and Sam teamed up with Rob Tapert to raise money for their first serious film, “Within the Woods,” a super-8 horror film that generated $350,000 to help make what would be “Evil Dead,” a bigger budget version of “Woods” that garnered critical praise from horror mastermind Stephen King. After an equally successful sequel/remake to their gore fest “Evil Dead,” Universal Studios offered to bankroll the third part of the popular series, “Army of Darkness.” With his newly gained notoriety, Bruce was offered a starring role on the Fox cowboy series “Brisco County Jr.,” an obvious hit with audiences that was abruptly canceled to much disappointment. Bruce continued to star in low-budget films — mostly sci-fi and horror duds trying to ride the actor’s past success — but he gathered most of his stardom from his guest-starring spots on “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” and the mythological companion shows “Hercules” and “Xena.”
More recently, Bruce has broadened his horizons once again as a frequent special guest at horror and fan conventions, a touring lecturer on Hollywood’s demise and a best-selling author (“If Chins Could Kill”). He has also become the engine behind a number of new films and TV projects that wouldn’t have ever happened without his help, including “Bubba Ho-Tep,” an earnest independent that put Bruce back on the map once again as a fantastic character actor. If you don’t know who Bruce Campbell is yet, you will soon enough. Inappropriately used in the romantic comedy “Serving Sara” in 2002, hopefully Hollywood will soon understand how to take full advantage of Bruce’s talent, before he forgets how to work his magic on screen.
Badass Bracket – Ash Williams
In 2007, we created a Badass Bracket for 32 of the most badass characters from the movies and TV that we could think of. It was pretty hard narrowing it down to that number, and Ash Williams was an easy addition. He ended up in a super-close battle with Doc Holiday but didn’t make past that first matchup.
Here’s the Badass Bracket profile for Ash Williams:
Bruce Campbell, “Evil Dead”
When your first name is Ashley, it takes a lot more than good looks and witty banter to impress the ladies. Fortunately, Ash isn’t short on either one, and while he does start off as a bit of a coward during his three-film tour, a steady lifestyle of blowing up zombies, chopping up dead friends and facing off against an evil version of himself has more or less forced the unlikely hero to grow up real fast. He’s also a master of both the double-barreled shotgun and the arm-mounted chainsaw – a true role model to underachieving geeks the world over.Definitive badass moment: Upon discovering that the Evil Dead has possessed his hand, Ash does what any other right-minded person would do: he chops it off with a chainsaw.
Classic badass line: “Now listen up, you primitive screwheads. See this? This… is my boomstick! The 12-gauge double-barreled Remington. S-Mart’s top of the line. You can find this in the sporting goods department. That’s right, this sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Retails for about $109.95. It’s got a walnut stock, cobalt blue steel, and a hair trigger. That’s right. Shop smart. Shop S-Mart. You got that?”
Seed: #8
Occupation: Sales clerk
Strengths: Wields an arm-mounted chainsaw and a healthy supply of wit and charm
Weaknesses: Cowardly and carefree
Bruce on the Screen
Bruce has appeared in far too many films and shows to name, but his most popular TV appearances include “Lois and Clark,” “Xena,” “Hercules,” “Brisco County Jr.,” “Jack of All Trades” and a short stint on the sitcom “Ellen.” If you have ever seen Bruce on film, it has probably been in one of the following: “Congo,” the “Evil Dead” trilogy, “McHale’s Navy,” “Bubba Ho-Tep,” “Serving Sara,” “Spider-Man” and several cameos throughout the entire Coen Brother’s film collection.
Bruce says
On low-budget films:
“The movies that are the easiest to make are the hardest to watch.”
On acting:
“There is a large element of me in every role I do. Actors who say they can dive inside a character are either schizophrenic or lying.”