Starting in school productions, he progressed to community theater, joining up with the Huntington Community Players, while attending Marshall University of Huntington. At age 19, he quit his hometown college and headed to New York City, where he worked with the Circle Repertory Company. During the early 1970s, Brad appeared in a number of plays, off-Broadway and at Woodstock, New York, including The Ghost Sonata, The Doctor in Spite of Himself and When You Comin' Back, Red Rider?, in which he was spotted by director Milos Forman who cast him in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975).
Although this film is frequently cited as his film debut, in fact, Dourif made his first big-screen appearance with a bit part in W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975). Nevertheless, his portrayal of the vulnerable Billy Bibbit in Forman's film was undoubtedly his big break, earning him a Golden Globe Award for Best Acting Debut, a British Academy Film Award for Best Supporting Actor, and an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Skeptical of his instant stardom, Dourif returned to New York, where he continued in theater and taught acting and directing classes at Columbia University until 1988 when he moved to Hollywood.
Despite his attempts to avoid typecasting, his intensity destined him to play demented, deranged, or disturbed characters, starting in Eyes of Laura Mars (1978), John Huston's Wise Blood (1979), and Milos Forman's Ragtime (1981). Brad then teamed up with director David Lynch for Dune (1984) and Blue Velvet (1986).
His high-strung style also served him well in a number of horror films, notably as the voice of the evil doll Chucky in Child's Play (1988) and its 5 sequels. Brad broke from the horror genre with roles in Fatal Beauty (1987), Mississippi Burning (1988), Hidden Agenda (1990), and London Kills Me (1991).
Recent film work includes the role of Grima Wormtongue in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Since his television debut in the PBS film The Mound Builders (1976), Brad has made sporadic appearances in a number of television series, such as The X-Files (1993), Babylon 5 (1994), Star Trek: Voyager (1995) and Ponderosa (2001) (in the recurring role of Frenchy).
Brad currently co-stars in the HBO hit western/drama Deadwood, and received a Emmy nomination for his portrayal of the tormented alcoholic doctor, Amos "Doc" Cochran.
Brad was born just sixteen days (in the same month of the same year) after late impresario Karen Carpenter, who was very active on 1970s television. While Dourif was starring in such films as *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest*, she was performing with her brother Richard on various TV series: *American Bandstand*, *The Tonight Show*, *Late Night*, *The Late Show*, *The Late Late Show*, and the like.
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He is the voice of Reverend Josiah Reed in the video game Gun.
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Brad is well known as the voice of Chucky the Killer Doll in Childs Play 1,2,3, Bride of Chucky and Seed of Chucky. The killer doll also turned up in an episode of SNL that was hosted by Lucy Lawless.
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Brad has said that his favorite scene from LOTR was with Miranda Otto (Eowyn). Basically, the scene depicts the concept that he can never have what he wants, and, therefore, he can never be fulfilled as a human being. It definitely shows Grima's weakness.
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Brad's stepfather, Bill Campbell, was a champion golf player & served as president of the US Golf Association.
(edit) Brad's grandparents operated a colour factory in West Virginia.
(edit) Brad has four sisters, two older and two younger, and a a younger brother. (edit) Brad has 2 daughters. Christina Dourif: born c. 1976, Fiona Dourif: born c. 1981(both by former wife, Joni Dourif). (edit) Brad is the uncle of Nat Friedman, a programmer who co-founded Ximian. (edit) Brad taught acting and directing classes at Columbia University until 1988. (edit) Brad almost became an artist, but decided to go into acting instead. (edit) Brad is an avid science fiction fan. (edit) Brad reads a great deal of books on science, astronomy and physics. (edit) Brad is an avid video gamer, and has a particular fondness for Sim games. (edit) Brad frequently makes appearances at horror and science fiction conventions. (edit) Brad appeared on the album Eating Jello With a Heated Fork by Deviants ixvi (playing his didgeridu). (edit) Brad appeared on the album The Deathray Tapes by Mick Farren and Jack Lancaster (playing his didgeridoo).
(edit) Brad played the role of Saavedro in the video game Myst III: Exile. (edit) Brad received an Oscar nomination in 1975 for Best Supporting Actor for his role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. (edit) Brad won the 1975 Golden Globe Award for Best Acting Debut for his role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. (edit) Brad made five trips to New Zealand while the Lord of the Rings trilogy was being filmed. He had to shave his eyebrows off each time. (edit) Brad has heard his own movie Dune (1984) described as "science fiction's answer to Heaven's Gate (1980) (which Dourif also starred in)," and he agrees totally with this summation. (edit) Brad was considered for the role of the Riddler in Batman Forever (1995). (edit) Brad appeared in the music video for Toto's "Stranger in Town". (edit) Brad plays the Didgeridoo, an Australian musical instrument. (edit) Brad has been married only once. It was to former manager Joni Dourif. They have two daughters together, but have divorced. (edit) Brad is the father of actress Fiona Dourif. (edit) Brad's part was cut from the theatrical version of Return of the King, but has been included in the extended DVD release. (edit) Brad is approximately 5' 10" - 5' 11" tall. (edit)
(edit) Brad's grandparents operated a colour factory in West Virginia.
(edit) Brad has four sisters, two older and two younger, and a a younger brother. (edit) Brad has 2 daughters. Christina Dourif: born c. 1976, Fiona Dourif: born c. 1981(both by former wife, Joni Dourif). (edit) Brad is the uncle of Nat Friedman, a programmer who co-founded Ximian. (edit) Brad taught acting and directing classes at Columbia University until 1988. (edit) Brad almost became an artist, but decided to go into acting instead. (edit) Brad is an avid science fiction fan. (edit) Brad reads a great deal of books on science, astronomy and physics. (edit) Brad is an avid video gamer, and has a particular fondness for Sim games. (edit) Brad frequently makes appearances at horror and science fiction conventions. (edit) Brad appeared on the album Eating Jello With a Heated Fork by Deviants ixvi (playing his didgeridu). (edit) Brad appeared on the album The Deathray Tapes by Mick Farren and Jack Lancaster (playing his didgeridoo).
(edit) Brad played the role of Saavedro in the video game Myst III: Exile. (edit) Brad received an Oscar nomination in 1975 for Best Supporting Actor for his role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. (edit) Brad won the 1975 Golden Globe Award for Best Acting Debut for his role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. (edit) Brad made five trips to New Zealand while the Lord of the Rings trilogy was being filmed. He had to shave his eyebrows off each time. (edit) Brad has heard his own movie Dune (1984) described as "science fiction's answer to Heaven's Gate (1980) (which Dourif also starred in)," and he agrees totally with this summation. (edit) Brad was considered for the role of the Riddler in Batman Forever (1995). (edit) Brad appeared in the music video for Toto's "Stranger in Town". (edit) Brad plays the Didgeridoo, an Australian musical instrument. (edit) Brad has been married only once. It was to former manager Joni Dourif. They have two daughters together, but have divorced. (edit) Brad is the father of actress Fiona Dourif. (edit) Brad's part was cut from the theatrical version of Return of the King, but has been included in the extended DVD release. (edit) Brad is approximately 5' 10" - 5' 11" tall. (edit)
Brad Dourif: (on horror films) There is nothing wrong with horror films. Their existence has definitely had an impact on me. It is important to have scary demons in our world on film. We have them in the world. That is why we are afraid, it is nice to have a visual and to have a confrontation with it. And fear is something we need to exist.
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Brad Dourif: The great thing about being a villain, particularly in this culture, is that we love our villains, we’re really fascinated by evil. So, I mean, if you find all the evil inside you and you’re willing to express it, you can survive quite well in this business.
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Brad Dourif: (on playing 'bad guys') We’re all villains -- everybody. Every nation walks on the bones of some other nation that got wiped out, and that’s why we’re here. We’re a pretty frightening, terrible beast, really. You spend your life as an actor, you have to use yourself, so I know pretty thoroughly by this time that I’m pretty much of a scoundrel anyway.
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Score: 9.4 Superb 43 votes
Score: 9.4 Superb 43 votes
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