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Tim Robbins, at right, in the 1988 film "Bull Durham", with co-star Kevin Costner. Source: https://x.com/nytimes/status/1669380264907112452?lang=ar (May be subject to copyright) |
On the bus one day, Crash was trying to teach “Nuke” how to act in the big leagues
Crash told him to be cocky and confident, play the game with fear and arrogance.
“Right, fear and ignorance,” “Nuke” said.
Crash kind of cringed.
“No, you hayseed,” Crash said. “It’s arrogance not ignorance.”
It is hard to believe Tim Robbins, the man who played the dimwitted Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh in “Bull Durham”, also played the thoughtful, intense Andy Dufresne in “The Shawshank Redemption” a few years later.
When I saw it was his birthday today, it reminded me of the movie that really put him in the public eye, and a springboard to an award-winning career that continues to this day.
In the beginning
Tim Robbins’ first role on television was a three-episode stint on “St. Elsewhere” in 1982. He was also in “At Ease” and the TV movie “Quarterback Princess” with Helen Hunt in 1983; “Legmen”; “Hardcastle and McCormick”; “Santa Barbara”; “The Love Boat”; and “Hill Street Blues” in 1984; “Moonlighting” and the TV movie “Malice in Blunderland” in 1985; and “Amazing Stories” in 1986.
Tim Robbins’ first role on television was a three-episode stint on “St. Elsewhere” in 1982. He was also in “At Ease” and the TV movie “Quarterback Princess” with Helen Hunt in 1983; “Legmen”; “Hardcastle and McCormick”; “Santa Barbara”; “The Love Boat”; and “Hill Street Blues” in 1984; “Moonlighting” and the TV movie “Malice in Blunderland” in 1985; and “Amazing Stories” in 1986.
His first movie was “Toy Soldiers” in 1984. He was also in “No Small Affair” in 1984; “Fraternity Vacation” and “The Sure Thing” in 1985; “Howard the Duck” and “Top Gun” in 1986; and “Five Corners” and “Tapeheads” in 1988.
Summer of ‘88
I returned to Southern Alberta in the Spring of 1988. A lot had developed in my eight-month absence, including a new theatre complex in Lethbridge as part of the new Park Place Mall.
I returned to Southern Alberta in the Spring of 1988. A lot had developed in my eight-month absence, including a new theatre complex in Lethbridge as part of the new Park Place Mall.
“Bull Durham” was one of the first movies I saw there. Kevin Costner plays Crash Davis, a career minor league catcher whose job often is to groom pitchers for the major leagues. Tim Robbins plays Ebby Calvin “Nuke” Laloosh, a major league pitching prospect, who Crash is tasked with mentoring.
It was the first time I ever saw Tim Robbins and, for awhile, whenever I saw him in anything else, could not help but associate him with that dim-witted “Nuke” LaLoosh.
That would change though.
Robbins closed out the ‘80s in “Erik the Viking”; “Miss Firecracker”; and “Twister”, all in 1989.
The years after
Tim Robbins’ career would absolutely take off in the ‘90s, as an actor, director, producer and writer. He was in “Jacob’s Ladder”; “Cadillac Man”; “Jungle Fever”; “I.Q.”; “Pret-a-Porter” or “Ready to Wear”; “The Shawshank Redemption”; “The Hudsucker Proxy”; “Nothing to Lose”; “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”; and “Arlington Road”.
Tim Robbins’ career would absolutely take off in the ‘90s, as an actor, director, producer and writer. He was in “Jacob’s Ladder”; “Cadillac Man”; “Jungle Fever”; “I.Q.”; “Pret-a-Porter” or “Ready to Wear”; “The Shawshank Redemption”; “The Hudsucker Proxy”; “Nothing to Lose”; “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”; and “Arlington Road”.
He was just brilliant in “The Shawshank Redemption” as Andy Dufresne, a prisoner in a prison where he befriends a fellow convict played by Morgan Freeman to form a lifelong friendship.
Robbins where was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical in 1993 for “Bob Roberts”; won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical in 1993 for “The Player”; won a Golden Globe in 1994 for Special Award for Ensemble Cast for “Short Cuts”; and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Director in 1996 and nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay for ”Dead Man Walking”.
Robbins where was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical in 1993 for “Bob Roberts”; won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical in 1993 for “The Player”; won a Golden Globe in 1994 for Special Award for Ensemble Cast for “Short Cuts”; and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Director in 1996 and nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay for ”Dead Man Walking”.
In the 21st Century, he was in “Mission to Mars”; “High Fidelity”; “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”; “War of the Worlds”; “Green Lantern”; and so much more.
He won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2004 and won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor Motion Picture in 2004 for “Mystic River”.
He won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2004 and won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor Motion Picture in 2004 for “Mystic River”.
On television he has been in episodes of “Jack and Bobby”; the television film “Cinema Verite”, where he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor Series, Miniseries or Television Film; “Portlandia”; the miniseries “The Spoils of Babylon”; 10 episodes of “The Brink”; 10 episodes of “Here and Now”; part of the main cast of “Castle Rock”; 10 episodes of “Silo”, and more.
Parting thoughts
I met Tim Robbins when he played “Nuke” LaLoosh in “Bull Durham. He was dense, thick, and not that smart. Every time after that for a long time, when I saw Tim Robbins, I thought of that dim-witted performance as “Nuke” LaLoosh.
I met Tim Robbins when he played “Nuke” LaLoosh in “Bull Durham. He was dense, thick, and not that smart. Every time after that for a long time, when I saw Tim Robbins, I thought of that dim-witted performance as “Nuke” LaLoosh.
His characters in “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Mystic River” are excellent, both clever and intelligent, but nothing like “Nuke” LaLoosh.
Funny thing about first impressions. They can stay with you.
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