Richard Beymer | |
|---|---|
 Beymer in 1961 | |
| Born | George Richard Beymer Jr. (1938-02-20)February 20, 1938 (age 87) Avoca, Iowa, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1949–present |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
George Richard Beymer Jr. (born February 20, 1938)[1] is an American actor, filmmaker and visual artist who played the roles of Tony in the1961 film adaptation ofWest Side Story,Peter van Daan inThe Diary of Anne Frank (1959), andBen Horne on the television seriesTwin Peaks.[2]
Beymer acted on television in Los Angeles for three years in a show calledSandy Dreams,[3] rehearsing after school during the week and recording it on Saturdays. The show ended when he was 13.[4]
Beymer made his feature-film debut inVittorio De Sica'sStazione Termini (1953).[5] He was under contract toDavid O. Selznick for a year.[6] The contract with Selznick lasted for one year. Beymer was in much demand on television:Cavalcade of America (1954) andJohnny Tremain (1957). He guest starred in26 Men,Zane Grey Theatre,Make Room for Daddy,The Gray Ghost,Navy Log,Whirlybirds,Sky King,Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre, andSchlitz Playhouse.[6][4]
George Stevens cast Beymer inThe Diary of Anne Frank (1959), playingPeter Van Daan.
Beymer was put under contract to 20th Century Fox and started to be regarded as an exciting future star.[6] ProducerWilliam Perlberg later said "It's a thing that periodically happens out here. Somebody comes along and talk starts and agents and studios keep talking and talking. Like an avalanche, the talk gathers speed. Ultimately that 'somebody' turns out to be a big name in Hollywood only."[6]
After appearing inPlayhouse 90, he had a supporting role inHigh Time (1960), a comedy withBing Crosby andTuesday Weld at20th Century Fox.Filmink said he was "actually quite funny" in the movie.[2] "I wanted to be a very good actor," said Beymer later. "I wanted to work and let the work stand for something."[6]
In June 1960, Beymer was cast in the lead role of Tony inWest Side Story (1961), a huge hit. His singing was dubbed by Jimmy Bryant. He was nominated for theGolden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor.[7][8]
Beymer later said he "was miserable inWest Side Story. I didn't know enough at the time because I lacked certain knowledge in acting...I came out ridiculous. I didn't stand up for what I should have and I didn't know enough. The blame should be on me."[9]
Beymer was reunited with Weld in the Fox comedyBachelor Flat (1961). At Columbia, he played the son ofRosalind Russell andJack Hawkins inFive Finger Exercise (1962). Beymer later said he was "terrible" in it.[10]
Beymer was given the role ofNick Adams inHemingway's Adventures of a Young Man (1962) for Fox, with an all-star supporting cast. ProducerJerry Wald says he and directorMartin Ritt agreed that Beymer was "the young actor I think stands the best chance of being the nextGary Cooper."[11] During filming, Beymer metSharon Tate, and he encouraged her to get into acting.[12] The film was a big flop and it has been argued it "killed Beymer as a movie star."[2]
Beymer had a significant role in the filmThe Longest Day (1962), which was successful, but he was unhappy with his acting in the film.[5] "They tried to make me the nice kid next door," he said. "That's just not me. They said just play you - but I am not the all-American boy."[9]
Beymer started attending daily classes at theActors Studio. "I just want to learn and be as professional as I can," he said.[13]
Producer Wald and directorFranklin Schaffner cast Beymer inThe Stripper (1963) withJoanne Woodward, which was critically acclaimed but not a big hit. Beymer returned to New York.[10] "I got sick of the whole thing and I left," he said.[9]
In 1964, Beymer became involved inFreedom Summer in Mississippi. "You get tired of being a complainer, passive," he said.[14]
He assistedBarney Frank in rescuingFreedom Democrat forms in a rental truck that had been confiscated from arrested Freedom volunteers in Canton, Mississippi on Freedom Day (July 16, 1964).[15] During this time, he filmed the award-winning documentaryA Regular Bouquet: Mississippi Summer (1964), portraying the efforts of volunteers registering African-Americans to vote.[16][14]
In February 1964, he said all the films he had done exceptThe Longest Day "should have been classroom work and never should have been shown publicly...I'm not a leading man. I'm a character actor. That is, I'm not a stereotyped leading man type. I'm kind of a schlepp at times...I don't care about billing and being a star. Being myself is the first thing."[9]
Beymer guest-starred in episodes ofKraft Suspense Theatre,The Virginian,Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre,Dr. Kildare,The Man from U.N.C.L.E., andDeath Valley Days.[17] He acted inThe Country Girl on stage.[18]
Beymer turned to filmmaking withThe Innerview (1973), which he wrote, produced, directed, and starred.[19]
He starred in, wrote and directed episodes of the television seriesInsight. He lived for two years in a commune and worked in Switzerland.[6]
"I never left the movies," Beymer said. "I just made different kinds of movies."[20]
Beymer returned to Los Angeles in 1982 to restart his career.[6]
He appeared inCross Country (1983). He had roles inPaper Dolls (1984), playing the husband ofMimi Rogers, andGeneration (1985). His television appearances at the time includeMoonlighting,Dallas,The Bronx Zoo andBuck James, and co-starred in the filmSilent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! (1989).
Beymer was widely seen inTwin Peaks (1990–1991) playingBen Horne. He followed it inBlackbelt (1992) andThe Presence (1993).
He made three appearances onStar Trek: Deep Space Nine asLi Nalas in the episodes "The Homecoming", "The Circle", and "The Siege".
Beymer was seen inUnder Investigation (1993),My Girl 2 (1994),State of Emergency (1994),The Disappearance of Kevin Johnson (1996), several episodes ofMurder, She Wrote,A Face to Die For (1996),The Little Death (1996),Foxfire (1996),Elvis Meets Nixon (1997) andHome: the Horror Story. He was in episodes ofFlipper,The X-Files,Vengeance Unlimited,Profiler, andFamily Law.[21]
Beymer reprised his role as Ben Horne in thethird season ofTwin Peaks in 2017.[22]
In 2019, Beymer visited the set ofSteven Spielberg'sremake ofWest Side Story. In December 2021,Rachel Zegler, the film's star, released two photos on her Instagram page: One of Beymer sitting next to Spielberg; another of Beymer hugging Zegler while screenwriterTony Kushner looked on. According to Zegler, Beymer said "Te adoro María" to her "over and over again" as they embraced.[23]
In the early 2000s, Beymer was making documentaries. One titledWhatever Happened to Richard Beymer?, which chronicled his obsession with photography throughout his life, was screened at the 2002 Twin Peaks Festival in Seattle.[24]
He was inSadie's Waltz (2008), then focused on directing documentaries:The Passing of a Saint (2010),It's a Beautiful World (2014),Richard Beymer's Before...the Big Bang (2016),I Had Bad Milk in Dehradun (2017), andBehind the Red Curtain (2017).[25]
The avant-garde filmThe Innerview, which he directed, produced, wrote the screenplay, and edited, won theJosef von Sternberg Award at theMannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival in 1974. His 2010 filmThe Passing of a Saint chronicles the funeral rites ofMaharishi Mahesh Yogi.[26] In April 2014,It's a Beautiful World, his film of a trip to India withDavid Lynch, was released.[27]
In 2007 Beymer completedImpostor: Or Whatever Happened to Richard Beymer?, his first book, a self-published novel and a semi-autobiographical account of a young actor's struggle to find himself.[28]
Beymer's photographs ofTwin Peaks cast and crew were featured in the gallery of behind the scenes photos on the Definitive Gold Box Edition forTwin Peaks, released on October 30, 2007. He is also a painter and sculptor.[26]
An active supporter of theCivil Rights Movement, Beymer participated inFreedom Summer inValley View, Mississippi.[29]
As of 2010, Beymer resided inFairfield, Iowa, where he continued to make films and to write, sculpt, and paint.[26] He practicesTranscendental Meditation, to "cool out".[27]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Fourteen Hours | uncredited | |
| 1953 | Terminal Station | Paul Stevens | |
| 1953 | So Big | Roelf (Age 12–16) | |
| 1957 | Johnny Tremain | Rab Silsbee | |
| 1959 | The Diary of Anne Frank | Peter Van Daan | |
| 1960 | High Time | Bob Bannerman | |
| 1961 | West Side Story | Tony | Nominated —Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated —Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor[8] |
| 1961 | Bachelor Flat | Mike Pulaski | |
| 1962 | Five Finger Exercise | Philip Harrington | |
| 1962 | Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man | Nick Adams | |
| 1962 | The Longest Day | Pvt. Dutch Schultz | |
| 1963 | The Stripper | Kenny Baird | |
| 1964 | A Regular Bouquet: Mississippi Summer | documentary short; director and writer | |
| 1969 | Scream Free! | Dean | |
| 1973 | The Innerview | also director, writer, producer, editor and cinematographer | |
| 1983 | Cross Country | Evan Bley | |
| 1989 | Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! | Dr. Newbury | direct-to-video |
| 1992 | Blackbelt | Eddie Deangelo | |
| 1993 | Under Investigation | Dr. Jerry Parsons | |
| 1994 | My Girl 2 | Peter Webb | |
| 1996 | The Disappearance of Kevin Johnson | Chad Leary | |
| 1996 | Foxfire | Mr. Parks | |
| 1998 | Playing Patti | ||
| 2000 | Home the Horror Story | Bob Parkinson | |
| 2002 | Whatever Happened to Richard Beymer? | documentary; director, editor and cinematographer | |
| 2008 | Sadie's Waltz | Garvus | short film |
| 2010 | The Passing of a Saint | documentary; director, editor and cinematographer | |
| 2014 | It's a Beautiful World | Documentary; director, editor and cinematographer | |
| 2016 | Richard Beymer's Before the Big Bang | documentary; director, editor and cinematographer | |
| 2017 | I Had Bad Milk in Dehradun | documentary short; director, editor and cinematographer | |
| 2017 | Behind the Red Curtain | documentary short; director, editor and cinematographer |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Cavalcade of America | episode: "Gentle Conqueror" | |
| 1956–1957 | Make Room for Daddy | The Boyfriend / Freddie Baxter | 2 episodes |
| 1957 | The Gray Ghost | Luke Burnette | episode: "An Eye for an Eye" |
| 1957 | 26 Men | Tod Devers | episode: "Dead Man in Tucson" |
| 1957 | Zane Grey Theatre | Shep Jolland | episode: "The Bitter Land" |
| 1958 | Navy Log | Ennis Thompson | episode: "The Soapbox Kid" |
| 1958 | Whirlybirds | John Thompson | episode: "The Brothers" |
| 1958 | Sky King | Joe Belden | episode: "Man Hunt" |
| 1958 | Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre | Mark | episode: "On the Brink" |
| 1958, 1968 | Death Valley Days | John Owens / Zeb Fallon | 2 episodes |
| 1959 | Schlitz Playhouse | episode: "On the Brink" | |
| 1959 | Playhouse 90 | LeRoy Cadman | episode: "Dark December" |
| 1965 | Kraft Suspense Theatre | Werner Schiff | episode: "The East Breach" |
| 1965 | The Virginian | Mark Shannon / Frank Colter | 2 episodes |
| 1966 | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | Ralph Belmonte | episode: "Guilty or Not Guilty" |
| 1966 | Dr. Kildare | Reverend Jack Elder | 3 episodes |
| 1967 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | Harry Williams | episode: "The Survival School Affair" |
| 1975, 1980 | Insight | Train Conductor / Josh / God | 3 episodes |
| 1981 | The Girl on the Edge of Town | television film; cinematographer | |
| 1982 | The Juggler of Notre Dame | television film; cinematographer | |
| 1984 | Paper Dolls | David Fenton | 13 episodes |
| 1985 | Generation | Allan Breed | television film |
| 1986 | Moonlighting | Ray Adamson | episode: "All Creatures Great...and Not So Great" |
| 1987, 1991, 1993, 1996 | Murder, She Wrote | Various roles | 6 episodes |
| 1987–1988 | Buck James | Max | 2 episodes |
| 1987 | Dallas | Jeff Larkin | episode: "Bedtime Stories" |
| 1988 | The Bronx Zoo | Mr. Locke | episode: "The Gospel Truth" |
| 1990–1991 | Twin Peaks | Benjamin Horne | 30 episodes |
| 1992 | Danger Island | Ben | television film |
| 1993 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Li Nalas | 3 episodes |
| 1994 | State of Emergency | Dr. Ronald Frames | television film |
| 1996 | A Face to Die For | Dr. Matthew Sheridan | television film |
| 1996 | Flipper | Andrew Cantrell | episode: "Sharks" |
| 1996 | The X-Files | Dr. Jack Franklin | episode: "Sanguinarium" |
| 1997 | Elvis Meets Nixon | Bob Haldeman | television film |
| 1998 | Vengeance Unlimited | Douglas Bradford | episode: "Noir" |
| 1999 | Profiler | Martin Fizer | episode: "Ceremony of Innocence" |
| 2001 | Family Law | Richard Collins | episode: "Against All Odds" |
| 2017 | Twin Peaks | Benjamin Horne | 6 episodes |
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)There is a TM center here in Fairfield, Iowa, so I would come here for two or three weeks and cool out.
