***H.I.T.O.G. is a blog series dedicated to memorable actors we love, but don't really know. You've seen their faces many times, but for any given reason, they aren't part of the mainstream conscious. Sure Gibson or Clooney have got the fame, but these guys have the moxie. This is a tribute to those actors and actresses whom inspire your inner "Hey, it's that one guy!"***

Hey there fellow film geeks.  Thanks to school and a new job, I haven’t blogged for a little while.  I should be back pretty regularly now that school is slowing down.

During homework and other bullshit, there has been time to watch a few movies.  It was during one of these excursions that I popped in 80’s cult classic Repo Man. 

I miss movies like this…..low budget, shoe string movies that have just enough magic and absurdity to charm a fleet of movie fans. Emilio Esteves was a boyhood hero of mine thanks to the Young Guns series.  The transition from watching that series to Repo Man was interesting, especially since I was 8 years old.  A movie about punk rock repo men chasing down aliens wasn’t easy to digest at that age, but I didn’t mind ‘cause Billy The Kid was in it. 

Tracey Walter impresses his acidhead character Miller amongst the stellar duo of Esteves and Harry Dean Stanton.  At first, you don’t think much of his nonsensical ramblings.  But as the movie progresses, you realize that Miller’s rants are the philosophical backbone of the film.    

Walter’s resume is filled with odd, eccentric characters which are a type he is best known for.  As a kid I can’t remember how many times I would turn to my friend Rob and say, “Bob….gun.”  I remember that line from Batman like I heard it yesterday.  I also remember his quirky portrayal of Cookie in City Slickers and the ominous scene in The Silence Of The Lambs where he reveals the insect plot point.  Hell, he was EVEN in Erin Brockovich.  (I was drunk during that movie.)      

In front of the lens, Walter has a distinct ability to trap your attention.  Maybe it is his odd look and charisma, but I personally think he knows his nitch and has decided to stick with it.  And more power to him….it’s kept him working since the ’70’s. 

According to imdb.com, Walter started his acting career as an apprentice in summer stock and eventually worked his way up to actor.  He worked in a car parts store in Jersey City, and stumbled upon acting after seeing an off-Broadway show ("Scuba Duba") in 1967.  He has been featured in over 100 films and television shows. 

 I’m ashamed to notice I haven’t paid attention to much of Walter’s television work.  Specifically, he has characters in Monk, Reno 911 and Nash Bridges that all that have a degree of repetition.

I am of the mind that Walter’s should be seen more often on the big screen.  He is quoted as saying, "I do not look for films that have weird characters or offbeat characters. An actor brings to a part that he plays the qualities that they, the actor, have. You can't be something that you don't have within yourself."   I hope to see his weird and offbeat charm in many more roles, and it is that aspect which qualifies him for Hey, It’s That One Guy!


I'm fucking in, you're fucking out - Kenny Powers