Brad Dourif
Dourif in 2002
Born
Bradford Claude Dourif

(1950-03-18) March 18, 1950
OccupationActor
Years active1973–present
Spouses
Janet Stephanie
(m. 1974; div. 1980)
    Jonina Dourif
    (m. 1981; div. 1986)
    Children2, including Fiona Dourif
    AwardsSee awards

    Bradford Claude Dourif[1] (/ˈdɔːrɪf/; born March 18, 1950)[2] is an American actor. He is best known for voicing Chucky in the Child's Play franchise (1988–present), portraying Gríma Wormtongue in The Lord of the Rings film series and his Oscar nominated role as Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975).

    Brad Dourif's other film roles include Wise Blood (1979), Ragtime (1981), Dune (1984), Blue Velvet (1986), Mississippi Burning (1988), The Exorcist III (1990), Alien Resurrection (1997), and the 2007 remake of Halloween and its sequel. He also appeared in many television series, notably Deadwood (2004–2006, 2019), for which he received Primetime Emmy and Satellite Award nominations for his portrayal of Amos "Doc" Cochran.

    Early life

    Bradford Claude Dourif was born in Huntington, West Virginia, on March 18, 1950, to Joan Mavis Felton (née Bradford), an actress, and Jean Henri Dourif, an art collector who owned and operated a dye factory.[1][2][3]

    His paternal grandparents emigrated from France, and his paternal grandfather co-founded the Standard Ultramarine and Color Company in Huntington.[4] After Dourif's father died in 1953, his mother remarried champion golfer William C. Campbell, who helped raise Dourif and his five siblings (four sisters and one brother).[5] From 1963 to 1965, Dourif attended the private Aiken Preparatory School in Aiken, South Carolina. There, he pursued his interests in art and acting. Although he briefly considered becoming a flower arranger, he was eventually inspired to become an actor by his mother's participation as an actress in a community theater called Give Me Shelter.

    After Aiken, he attended Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, graduating in 1968. Dourif appeared as an amateur at the Fountain Valley Film Festival in 1969, taking second place in the 8 mm film category with his 10-minute entry "Blind Date."[6] Dourif attended Marshall University for a time, before quitting college and moving to New York City to study acting on the advice of actress Conchata Ferrell.[7]

    Career

    Stage

    Starting in school productions, Dourif progressed to community theater, joining up with the Huntington Community Players while attending Marshall University. In New York City, he studied with Sanford Meisner, and worked with Marshall Mason and Lanford Wilson at the Circle Repertory Company. During the early 1970s, Dourif 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 Ryder?, in which he was spotted by director Miloš Forman[7] who cast him in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975).

    In 2013, after a three-decade absence from the stage, Dourif chose to star alongside Amanda Plummer in the Off-Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' The Two-Character Play that played to critical acclaim at the New World Stages.[8] He explained, in a filmed interview released by the producers, why he broke his 29-year hiatus from acting in live theater: "I hated the stage, did not want to do it. And then somebody said, 'Will you do a play? It's with Amanda Plummer', and I said, 'Oh shit! No. Oh God, I'm gonna have to do this...'".[9] It opened on June 10, 2013, and closed on September 29, 2013.[10] The play was subject to a number of performance cancellations, one relating to Dourif's absence due to a death in the family. Plummer refused to perform without Dourif, notwithstanding the presence of an understudy.[11]

    Film

    Dourif in 1991

    Dourif had a small role in the film W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975), but was omitted from the final cut of the film.[12] His portrayal of the vulnerable Billy Bibbit in Cuckoo's Nest ended up being his big break, earning him a Golden Globe Award (Best Actor Debut) and a British Academy Award (Supporting Actor) as well as a nomination for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.[7]

    In 1981, Vincent Canby listed Dourif as one of twelve actors to watch, calling Dourif "one of the most intense, most interesting young film actors of his generation."[13] Dourif returned to New York, where he continued in theater and taught acting and directing classes at Columbia University until 1988 (Don Mancini[14] was among his students).

    He continued with Eyes of Laura Mars (1978), John Huston's Wise Blood (1979),[15] Forman's Ragtime (1981), Marc Didden's Istanbul (1985) and David Lynch's Dune (1984) and Blue Velvet (1986).

    Dourif has appeared in a number of horror films, most notably as the voice of Chucky in the Child's Play franchise. He portrayed the Gemini Killer in The Exorcist III (1990) and appeared in Death Machine (1994), Sworn to Justice with Cynthia Rothrock and Alien Resurrection (1997). He later appeared as Sheriff Lee Brackett in Rob Zombie's Halloween (2007) and Halloween II (2009). In 2013, Dourif reprised his role as Chucky in the sixth installment of the Child's Play franchise, Curse of Chucky, and then again in the 2017 sequel, Cult of Chucky. His daughter, Fiona Dourif, also starred with him in both films.

    Other notable film roles include Gríma Wormtongue in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and supporting roles in Fatal Beauty (1987), Mississippi Burning (1988), Hidden Agenda (1990), London Kills Me (1991) and Sinner (2007).

    Dourif has worked with director Werner Herzog on many occasions, appearing in Scream of Stone (1991), The Wild Blue Yonder (2005), Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009), and My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? (2009).

    Television

    In 1984, Dourif played a suspected serial killer in the episode "Number Eight" of Tales of the Unexpected. In 1994, he appeared in The X-Files episode "Beyond the Sea" as the psychic serial killer Luther Lee Boggs. He also portrayed Lon Suder in a three episode story arc on Star Trek: Voyager and guest starred as a troubled monk haunted by visions in Babylon 5. Dourif later gained acclaim as Doc Cochran in Deadwood, receiving a 2004 Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

    In 2011, he guest-starred in the third-season finale of Fringe[16] and, in 2014, appeared in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode "End of the Beginning".

    In 2021, Dourif reprised his role as Chucky in the television series adaption of the Child's Play franchise titled Chucky.[17]

    Music

    In 2012, Dourif contributed spoken word vocals to three songs on the album Misery Together by the Norwegian duo Thinguma*jigSaw.[18] Dourif also appears in the music videos for "Stranger in Town" (1984) by Toto and "Drinking from the Bottle" (2012) by Calvin Harris.

    Personal life

    Dourif has been married twice;[19] first to Janet Stephanie, with whom he had daughter Kristina/Christina Dourif (born c. 1976),[2][1] and then to the late[20] Jonina Dourif,[1][21] with whom he had another daughter, actress Fiona Dourif (born 1981).[22][20]

    Filmography

    Film

    Year Title Role Notes
    1975One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestBilly Bibbit
    1977Group Portrait with a LadyBoris Koltowski
    1978Eyes of Laura MarsTommy Ludlow
    1979Wise BloodHazel Motes
    1980Heaven's GateMr. Eggleston
    1981RagtimeYounger Brother
    1984DunePiter De Vries
    1985IstanbulMartin Klamski
    1986Blue VelvetRaymond
    Impure ThoughtsKevin Harrington
    1987Fatal BeautyLeo Nova
    1988Child's PlayCharles Lee Ray / Chucky
    Mississippi BurningDeputy Clinton Pell
    1989Sonny BoyWeasel
    Grim Prairie TalesFarley
    1990Child's Play 2Chucky (voice)
    Spontaneous CombustionSam
    HorseplayerBud Cowan
    Graveyard ShiftTucker Cleveland
    The Exorcist IIIJames "Gemini" Venamun
    Hidden AgendaPaul Sullivan
    ChaindanceJohnny Reynolds
    1991Murder BluesJohn Barnes
    Child's Play 3Chucky (voice)
    Jungle FeverLeslie
    Body PartsRemo Lacey
    Scream of StoneFingerless
    London Kills MeHemingway
    1992Final JudgementFather Tyrone
    Critters 4Al Bert
    1993TraumaDr. Lloyd
    Amos & AndrewOfficer Donnie Donaldson
    1994Color of NightClark
    Death MachineDante
    1995Murder in the FirstByron Stamphill
    PhoenixReiger
    1996Sworn to JusticeTeddy
    A Step Toward TomorrowKirby
    1997Jamaica BeatTom Peterson
    NightwatchDuty Doctor
    Best MenJohn "Gonzo" Coleman
    Alien ResurrectionDr. Jonathan Gediman
    1998Brown's RequiemEdwards
    SenselessDr. Wheedon
    ProgenyDr. Bert Clavell
    Urban LegendMichael McDonnellUncredited
    Bride of ChuckyChucky (voice)
    1999The Diary of the Hurdy-Gurdy ManGabriel
    Cypress EdgeColin McCammon
    InterceptorsDavid M. Webber
    Silicon TowersAlton
    2000Shadow HoursRoland Montague
    The Prophecy 3: The AscentZealot
    2001The GhostLt. Garland
    SoulkeeperMr. Pascal
    2002The Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersGríma Wormtongue
    2003The BoxStan
    VladRadescu
    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingGríma WormtongueExtended cut only
    2004Seed of ChuckyChucky (voice)
    The Devil's Due at MidnightThe Dark One
    The HazingProfessor Kapps
    El PadrinoCyrus
    2005Drop Dead SexyHerman
    The Wild Blue YonderThe Alien
    Man of FaithB. B. Gallen
    2006PulseThin Bookish Guy
    2007SinnerCaddie
    The ListJohan Gabini
    The Wizard of GoreDr. Chong
    HalloweenSheriff Leigh Brackett
    2008Touching HomeClyde Winston
    Humboldt CountyJack
    2009Born of EarthMayor
    Lock and Roll ForeverZee
    Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New OrleansNed Schoenholtz
    Halloween IISheriff Leigh Brackett
    My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?Uncle Ted
    2010Chain LetterMr. Smirker
    Junkyard DogSheriff Holk
    2011Fading of the CriesMathias
    PriestSalesman
    Catch .44Sheriff Connors
    Death and CremationStan
    2012Last Kind WordsWylon
    Black BoxTom
    2013Santa MonicaStanShort film
    GingerclownWorm Creature (voice)
    Blood ShotBob
    Curse of ChuckyCharles Lee Ray / Chucky
    MalignantThe Man
    2014The Control GroupDr. Broward
    2015RosemontAbe
    2017Cult of ChuckyChucky (voice)
    Out to LunchManShort film
    Cut OffDiggs
    2018WildlingDaddy/Gabriel Hanson
    American DreamGeorge
    Ready Player One Chucky (voice) Archival audio[23]
    2019ObsessionGeorge
    2021The Shuroo ProcessDr. Feinstein
    2022 The Living Vlad Short film

    Television

    Year Title Role Notes
    1976The Mound BuildersChad JaskerTelevision film
    1977The Gardener's SonRobert McEvoy
    1978Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air ForceSgt. Leonard Matlovich
    1979Studs LoniganDanny O'Neill3 episodes
    1980Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim JonesDavid LangtreeTelevision film
    1982I, DesirePaul
    1984Tales of the UnexpectedHitchhikerEpisode: "Number Eight"
    1986The EqualizerFennEpisode: "Out of the Past"
    Spenser: For HireMaxie LyonsEpisode: "Rage"
    Rage of AngelsSeymour BourneTelevision film
    Vengeance: The Story of Tony CimoLamar Sands
    1987MoonlightingFather McDonovanEpisode: "All Creatures Great...and Not So Great"
    The HitchhikerBilly Baltimore Jr.Episode: "The Legendary Billy B."
    Miami ViceJoey WyattEpisode: "Theresa"
    1989Murder, She WroteDr. Warren OvermanEpisode: "Fire Burn, Cauldron Bubble"
    Desperado: The Outlaw WarsCamillus FlyTelevision film
    Terror on Highway 91Keith Evans
    1993Wild PalmsChickie Levitt3 episodes
    Tales from the CryptVirgilEpisode: "People Who Live in Brass Hearses"
    1994The X-FilesLuther Lee BoggsEpisode: "Beyond the Sea"
    A Worn PathHunterTelevision film
    1995Babylon 5Charles Dexter/Brother EdwardEpisode: "Passing Through Gethsemane"
    Escape from Terror: The Teresa Stamper StorySheriff Bill DouglassTelevision film
    Escape to Witch MountainLuther/Bruno
    1996Star Trek: VoyagerLon Suder3 episodes
    BlackoutThomas PayneTelevision film
    If Looks Could KillM. Eugene "Gene" Hanson
    1997MillenniumDennis HoffmanEpisode: "Force Majeure"
    1999The Norm ShowThe DevilEpisode: "Norm and Shelley"
    The Magnificent SevenRupert BraunerEpisode: "Chinatown"
    The HungerMannoEpisode: "Sin Seer"
    2001–02PonderosaMaurice Deveraux8 episodes
    2004–06DeadwoodDr. Amos "Doc" CochranMain cast
    2008Law & OrderDr. David LingardEpisode: "Called Home"
    2010Law & Order: Special Victims UnitDr. Iggy DrexelEpisode: "Torch"
    2011FringeMoreauEpisode: "The Day We Died"
    PsychBernie BethelEpisode: "Shawn, Interrupted"
    Miami MagmaJacob CapillaTelevision film
    2012WilfredP.T.Episode: "Questions"
    Criminal MindsAdam RainEpisode: "The Lesson"
    Swamp VolcanoJacob CapillaTelevision film
    2012–14Once Upon a TimeZoso2 episodes
    2013End of the WorldDr. Walter BrownTelevision film
    2014Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Thomas NashEpisode: "End of the Beginning"
    2016The WildingDavid StearnsTelevision film
    2019Deadwood: The MovieDr. Amos "Doc" Cochran
    2021–presentChuckyChucky (voice)Main cast

    Video games

    Year Title Role Note
    2001Myst III: ExileSaavedro
    2002Run Like HellFredVoice
    2005GunReverend Josiah Reed
    2012DishonoredPiero Joplin
    2023Dead by DaylightThe Good Guy (Chucky / Charles Lee Ray)DLC, Voice

    Awards and honors

    Institution Year Category Nominated work Result
    Academy Awards1976 Best Supporting ActorOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Nominated
    BAFTA Awards1977 Best Actor in a Supporting Role Won
    Beverly Hills Film Festival 2013 Best Actor Santa Monica Won
    Chicago Film Critics Association 1989 Best Supporting Actor Mississippi Burning Nominated
    Fangoria Chainsaw Awards 1991 Best Supporting Actor Body Parts Won
    1999 Hall of Fame Won
    Genie Awards 1991 Best Supporting Actor Chaindance Nominated
    Golden Globe Awards 1976 New Star of the Year – Actor One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Won
    Primetime Emmy Awards 2004 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Deadwood Nominated
    San Sebastián International Film Festival 1979 Best Actor Wise Blood Nominated
    Satellite Awards 2005 Best Supporting Actor – Television Series Deadwood Nominated
    Saturn Awards 1991 Best Supporting Actor The Exorcist III Nominated
    Screen Actors Guild Awards 2003 Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Nominated
    2007 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Deadwood Nominated

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 "Brad Dourif". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
    2. 1 2 3 "Brad Dourif Biography (1950-)". Film Reference. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
    3. "Bradford-Dourif". The New York Times. June 11, 1944. Archived from the original on July 22, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
    4. Baptista, Robert J. (September 22, 2006). "Henry Dourif Biography". Colorants Industry History. Archived from the original on September 26, 2010. Retrieved October 10, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
    5. Yardley, William (September 8, 2013). "William C. Campbell, a Leader in Golf, Dies at 90". The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
    6. "Fountain Valley Names Film Festival Winners". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. April 14, 1968. p. 31. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2018 via Newspapers.com.
    7. 1 2 3 Roberts, Jerry (October 26, 1990). "CRAZED – With two Hollywood films opening today and seven more in the can, Brad Dourif may just be Hollywood's busiest actor". Daily Breeze. Torrance, California. p. E3.
    8. Dourif (on camera interview), Brad (May 7, 2013). "Video: Press" (Video). Amanda Plummer & Brad Dourif in Tennessee Williams' The Two Character Play. TwoCharacterPlayNYC. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
    9. Dourif (on camera interview), Brad; Two Character Play LLC (May 7, 2013). "Amanda Plummer & Brad Dourif in Tennessee Williams' Two Character Play" (Video). YouTube. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
    10. 'Two Character Play, starring Amanda Plummer and Brad Dourif, will end run in September', Playbill, August 28, 2013, Andrew Gans. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
    11. Michael Riedel, Diva Amanda Plummer ‘a nightmare’ backstage Archived September 14, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. New York Post, September 5, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
    12. Taylor, Brett (Summer 2004). "From Cuckoo Patient to Deadwood Doc: An Interview with Brad Dourif". Shock Cinema (25): 32–34, 47.
    13. Canby, Vincent (January 18, 1981). "Film View – Speculating on Talent: 12 Actors to Watch in 1981". The New York Times. p. D19. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
    14. "Brad Dourif | Bloody Good Horror - Horror movie reviews, podcast, news, and more!".
    15. "Wise Blood: Screening and Discussion with Michael Fitzgerald". Crossroads Cultural Center. November 11, 2017. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018.
    16. Fitzpatrick, Kevin (April 5, 2011). "Fringe's Latest Casting Told You To Take The Wizard's Staff". UGO Networks. Archived from the original on April 10, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
    17. Reimann, Tom (July 17, 2020). "'Chucky' Series Teaser Offers a First Look at SYFY's New Take on the Franchise". Collider. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
    18. Profile Archived November 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, desertedvillage.bandcamp.com. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
    19. "California has failed the homeless and the mentally ill. It's time for change". Orange County Register. June 4, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022. his second wife — my mother, Joni
    20. 1 2 Crow, David (August 2, 2018). "The Purge TV Series: Fiona Dourif Finds Compassion in Suicide Cult". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2018. "Also my mother was a psychic when she was alive...
    21. "Remote Viewing Memories". Doc NYC. November 11, 2017. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2020. ...Jonina Dourif (wife of actor Brad Dourif)...
    22. "Brad Dourif". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
    23. Woburn, Daniel (March 15, 2020). "Chucky Is Ready Player One's Best Cameo". ScreenRant. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
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