Alec Baldwin Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters | GQ

Alec Baldwin breaks down his most iconic characters, including his roles in '30 Rock,' 'Beetlejuice,' 'The Royal Tenenbaums,' 'Glengarry Glen Ross,' 'The Hunt for Red October,' 'Blue Jasmine' and 'Mission: Impossible.'
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Alec Baldwin Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters | GQ

[@drewhayes7687]

I want a 3 hour video called "Alec Baldwin Tells Sean Connery Stories | GQ"

[@MikeBarbre]

OMFG, dude, that's brilliant. I commented the same. To hear him talk about so reverently about Connery was special.

[@jackanaples]

Spot on. GQ, make this happen!

[@dominickcritelli5631]

No no no... no tu watch Connery story

[@jackanaples]

Dominick Critelli So you won’t watch it. Nobody will force you to.

[@TheToonMonkey]

@@jackanaples when you don't get the joke.....

[@zawarudoz]

Notice how this video is about his iconic characters but he spends the vast majority of the time talking about how great other people are. That's a class act.

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

He explains in the first 30 seconds of the video, he doesn't remember anything about his movies.

[@N_Loco_Parenthesis]

Right on. What a gent.

[@gfilip1]

Agreed!!

[@jcstuart6978]

he's been at it a while ;)

[@susans654]

Alec understands and respects it's a team effort -- the writing, directing, acting, effects, etc. make it all successful. Alec always gives it his all. Enjoyed him on Seinfeld's Comics in Cars Getting Coffee very much.

[@mr.barnes9342]

I have a feeling he talked about Beetlejuice for about 40 min and they edited down to 4.

[@sweetogo]

Love to see Michael Keaton break down his Most Iconic Characters!

[@keelahrose]

Seconded!

[@dylansewell237]

YES

[@JustNess78]

Me too!

[@HotStrange]

Haven’t they done one with him? If not then yes we need that!

[@jonathanmartin726]

Multiplicity. Multiplicity. Multiplicity. Multiplicity.

His impressions of Sean Connery and Woody Allen are great!

[@SaintMartins]

00:37 Beetlejuice (1988) 04:28 The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) 07:46 30 Rock (TV series 2006-2013) 12:00 Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) 15:57 The Hunt For Red October (1990) 19:42 Blue Jasmine (2013) 22:19 Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015) Mission impossible: Fallout (2018)

[@DarthSmittious14]

Saint Martins you a hero

[@brendanmclellan3659]

🙏

[@kebabremover6024]

No departed?

[@TaraColquitt]

Malice?!?😐 He was brilliant‼️

[@JED-bs8yw]

Tara Colquitt I am God!

[@cooleffectsfilms]

Man, he low-key gives a lot of insight into how other actors and directors were, it feels so honest and real.

[@Tony525_]

😄😄😄

[@FabulousResults]

that aside about how all the firefighters he used to hang out with ended up dying that year in 9/11 is pretty haunting, jesus christ

[@markgalassini8742]

FabulousResults that hit me too! Just like that , there all gone.

[@tyrant-den884]

I love that Alec and Tina were both intimidated by each other starting out.

[@omarcorrea]

Geez I freaking love these episodes. I'd watch an hour long version of this. Alec is such a good story teller.

[@colbs237]

He really is :)

[@red2lucas]

Charisma +3000. He talked up everyone he worked with, talked himself down. That's how you do it folks.

[@Tony525_]

Just don't give him a gun....folks

[@RockyHemingway]

He really needed more screen time in The Departed. He was hilarious.

[@justinsullivan5839]

Rocky Hemingway so true.

[@filmologia4192]

Agreed!

[@BigBossMan257]

Him and Wahlberg playing off each other was gold

[@andrewpark2361]

Yeah it's weird hearing him talk about how he felt so out of place trying to fit in with the comedy of 30 Rock and getting used to comedy bits. Then you see him on SNL or in The Departed and you;d bet all your money that Alec Baldwin was always a funny dude.

[@maxducoudray]

Andrew Park Watch his two appearances on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. He’s completely hilarious in unscripted conversation.

[@joshuakranz9276]

I love watching these actor breakdowns, keep them coming GQ! They have been great lately. This is another good one by the hilarious Alec Baldwin.

[@kevinw712]

I feel like there's a sort of irony though that they've already reached a similar problem that Inside The Actors Studio got into its later seasons, that there's not really that many actors who are deserving or worthy of the level of introspection, there's a number I've just seen the thumbnail for and my immediate reaction is "that actor MAYBE has at best 2-3 roles that closely enough fit the definition of 'iconic'", but Alec Baldwin is a quality inclusion here. In fact as soon as they jumped to Tenenbaums, I forgot they don't always go chronologically and I immediately got worried they weren't going to cover Red October lol

[@mariov1743]

"Hilarious" unless he has a weapon in his hands.

[@Juz_P]

Baldwin's story telling aesthetic really breaks out here, along with his actor-y mimic skills and an honest awe of some of the great actors and people he has worked with. His Sean Connery recollections are absolutely priceless. One of the most enjoyable of these Break Downs I've watched in a while.

[@Tony525_]

And he's a murderer...so

[@Mephisteduardo]

I love the reverence he has for Sean Connery, it's the only appropriate response.

[@Sean.Vosler]

i wanna see one of these with Sean Connery!

[@BigBossMan257]

I’d watch a 30 minute video of him just talking about his Bond years

[@MikeBarbre]

@@BigBossMan257 TRUTH.

[@izregistered]

@@Sean.Vosler Better hurry and do it, Connery is extremely old.

[@judowrestlerka]

He calls Connery an "English" actor. Anyone know the issue there?

[@johnnash297]

I could listen to him talk story all day. Read his book it's just like this.

[@doublefeature]

lol literally said this out loud about half way through. thanks for the rec. i have to say the added impressions are a gift tho.

[@theredheadsaidNYC]

have you guys seen him on Comedians in Cars Getting coffee? More Alec comedy gold.

[@Tony525_]

😄😄😄

[@jasonswanson5770]

Alec Baldwin Impersonating Sean Connery impersonating a Russian turns out is the same as impersonating Sean Connery 18:11

[@warreng675]

Lol

[@KatieKamala]

He's a lot more humble than I imagined him to be. Proves you can't always believe in the media persona.

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

He's an actor. He called his own daughter a pig. The videos of him threatening to punch people in the face, yelling out racist and homophobic slurs, shooting and killing people, is the real Alec.

[@KatieKamala]

Good point! He fooled me for minute. I think a lot of actors have fractured personalities that’s what makes them good at their job, they can be a lot of different people in any moment.

[@jackanaples]

@@I_WANT_MY_SLAW You are, of course, perfect. Everyone has done things they're ashamed of and regret, and wish nobody knew about. Including you, and your parents, and your friends. The difference is that for the famous some of the things they regret become public knowledge.

[@rubenvillan7984]

My dad had a friend who worked at the St. Regis hotel in Bal Harbor, Florida where Alec Baldwin was a guest. My dad's friend said he was very rude to the staff. So that was when I realized that Baldwin was a huge jerk in real life.

[@slakyresisty]

@@jackanaples yes just a lifetime of mistakes betraying a pattern, whatever you say buddy

[@lucvaillancourt8580]

Was the mic boom having a smoke break around the block?

[@janetovens756]

Have to agree, had the volume on laptop up to 100% and still not loud. But a great segment. Think he gets bad press and not always justified.

[@HotStrange]

janet ovens m

[@neekfenwick]

He just seems to want to speak every word softly and gently which is his style, which is great, except I have to keep adjusting the volume of my computer repeatedly such that I gave up on this video half way through. A shame, but practicality wins when you're not that engaged, which I guess I am. Not. Engaged. So there's that :)

[@JTBivens]

He is like that in almost every interview he does now. He did Hiking with Kevin and you can hardly hear a word he says.

[@marcykeeley7709]

@@janetovens756 I think he says words in anger that he doesn't mean at all. Lots of us do that. If there was someone recording the kind of words any of us say in anger without meaning them we'd get bad press too.

[@thecrackaddict4640]

Thank you, great episode. The voice mix is not good.

[@shinobi-no-bueno]

No it's just you two

[@keelahrose]

Agreed with both. Bad sound. Probably because they're in this weird orange theater instead of the usual soundstage.

[@SteveAustin5x5]

Sound not good I agree please fix sound. Thanks.

[@kevinw712]

It could've been better, but in all fairness when he's not acting, Baldwin is typically fairly soft spoken. Especially in this "special" sort of environment that's significantly different than even a late night TV appearance during a press tour.

[@mjrausch]

Not to mention the music interstitials come in at a volume that could castrate a horse...

[@englishmaninaustriaa]

Alec Baldwin is so humble and speaks so proudly of other actors. He's awesome.

[@mariov1743]

Gee this didn't age well.

[@HC-cb4yp]

"Humble."

[@ytuser_3122]

The dude has a temper that’s shorter than Wolverine and I’ve lost respect for him after that Rust fiasco

[@toddsmitts]

I came here for "Red October" and it was even better than I hoped.

[@livingshadows6731]

I'm shocked "The Edge" or "The Cooler" wasn't on here, I thought he acted marvelous in those films also! love Alec Baldwin

[@kellyharper8072]

Living Shadows he was robbed in The Cooler!

[@Davidsworldtravels]

I used to love watching the edge!

[@dtimm612]

The Sean Connery story was hilarious, I love his impressions of people

[@mezznj]

Alec's impersonation of Connery's wife - is hilarious

[@davemelges4659]

You know, the guy can be a prick, but he's a genius performer, and maybe the second-best actor-storyteller ever (behind only Peter O'Toole) And the way he remembers everyone that contributed and puts credit where it's due and manages to be humble....which I think more people assume he's not...I could watch this five times. And his IMPRESSIONS!

[@rabbieburns2501]

.. and Richard Harris ;0)

[@truckerdad2396]

We can all be a prick when we’ve had a few too many.

[@jimjam51075]

A genius performer. Not so genius when it comes to spending .5 seconds to check the chamber of a gun himself.

[@Occupant]

How is The Shadow not in this?!?!

[@chakrazoo]

yes!

[@AdCosmo]

Many years ago, Howard Stern said "You know what movie of yours I love? The Shadow." And Alec quickly dismissed him, "Oh I hate that movie." It was sort of a throwaway line and maybe not totally serious, but I still remember it.

[@hildamendoza5680]

EXACTLY

[@clauditorium]

Because it's terrible?

[@TitoTimTravels]

Not one of his hits, but I love that movie. There is something about it. I have the DVD and watch like once a year. Matter of fact... it is about that time again.

[@victorkong82]

When he makes that face talking about Lemmon, I like to think he's talking about Liz Lemon C:

[@ericsun4663]

those shoes are definitely bi-curious

[@ddash96]

please get Benicio del Toro to do a breakdown pleaaaase!

[@mojorizen7]

I always preferred his Jack Ryan over Harrison Ford's Jack Ryan. Ford is great but he's Ford playing Ford as Ryan. Baldwin had a far more nuanced take on the character IMO.

[@Chefsandrajm]

So agree

[@morten1]

I like both

[@dishadhar7992]

Love you Jack Donaghy ❤️

[@batman2021]

sound levels are atrocious in this - but Baldwin's assessment of Hackman's latter-years is on-point!

[@caybin]

I thought it was just me or maybe my headphones. I have my volume maxed just to be able to hear Alec speak, then they play the music between cuts and it near deafens me. Horrible mixing job, GQ.

[@lawrencematthews4205]

Yo where is my man in The Cat in the Hat

[@fairytailgirl123]

Shhhh we don't say that name out loud

[@mateolitc8898]

We rather not.

[@paulstagram4205]

and whatabout Thomas and the Magic Railroad

[@mateolitc8898]

@@paulstagram4205 *STOP* ☠️

[@ericsun4663]

GQ didn't ask him about it because they feared he would walk out of the room.

[@ifeelverygood]

His impressions are incredible. I've never seen somebody do Woody so accurately before

[@-4subscriberswithahammerad521]

That voice is so manly my beard grew a beard

[@shinobi-no-bueno]

Too bad he's actually a crybully beta male

[@Clay3613]

@@shinobi-no-bueno He can get more puss than you ever will.

[@WutangBizkit]

-4 Subscribers with a hammer addiction so basically ur beard grew more?

[@TintedVisionMovies]

this is what a real moustache looks like

[@oddish2253]

Fun fact that's not his real accent. He's British.

[@SniperKing996]

9/10 on the impressions

[@OptimusGPrime]

9/11 on that one story.

[@stueygriffith4671]

5:35 'the flat narration thing' is one of the best things in TRT!!!! that's the same thing Harrison Ford did in BLADE RUNNER, thinking they'd drop it. Again, it MAKES the movie!

[@tinaschlobohm9386]

You know a guy is intensely talented when he keeps your attention just explaining his characters. BRILLIANT!

[@Photosounder]

Interviewer: So Alec, what happened on the set of Rust? Alec: 0:59

[@ludovicoc7046]

Would have liked to have heard him on "Miami Blues."

[@DaveTheTurd]

There has got to be more of this... I imagine Baldwin talked for hours... Part 2 please!!!!

[@flab3rgasted]

I am glad that Alec recognizes that 30 Rock season 5 is the weakest.

[@jodybriggs1075]

Ha, when he was telling an anecdote about Glengarry and he said, "Lemmon had a good idea" I laughed out loud. I had an image of him coming on set for the first time seeing Jack Lemmon and just saying; "Hello Lemmon".

[@apseudonym]

good god lemmon

[@c.b.5535]

I feel like we're missing a lot of movies missing. We need a part 2

[@eduardochicas8010]

Beetlejuice 2 is on the works and all the original cast are back too.

[@ianbauer4703]

So many great Alec Baldwin movies not covered: Miami Blues, Married to the Mob, Working Girl, The Getaway, State and Main, The Departed, among many others. Great actor!!!

[@justinhearst]

He didn't have much of a role in the departed, I'd give that to either Matt Damon, Leo Dicaprio or even Jack Nicholson.

[@ianbauer4703]

@@justinhearst He didn't have a big role in Glengarry Glen ross but he was cool in that one too. Just a great film actor.

[@TitoTimTravels]

He gets mentioned in Glengary so much you would think he was the only actor there. Very talked about role.

[@KareemHarper]

The Shadow is underrated. Also Keaton is legend.

[@GavinJ37]

The shadow was a poor film. Im not even a hater. I just wished that it was better than it turned out

[@0hMyGandhi]

Nothing about "The Edge"? I would like to have heard him talk about his experience working with Anthony Hopkins.

[@RollingOrmond]

Read his book Nevertheless. Goes on and on about how great working with Hopkins was.

[@0hMyGandhi]

@@RollingOrmond Will do! thanks for the recommendation! I've long considered Hopkins to be one of my absolutely favorite actors, and the two of them worked so well together in that movie, which is one of my favorite movies as well.

[@captbruce]

Someone please make an audiobook or podcast of Alec Baldwin telling his Hollywood stories. We need this NOW! Phenomenal entry, GQ.

[@MyVoiceDoesWork]

30 Rock is my all time favorite show! It’s really nice hearing him speak so highly of it

[@piscesbobbie]

Thank you GC! great episode. I LOVE the movie HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER. Alec Baldwin, Sean Connery, Scott Glenn, James Earl Jones and Sam Neill.

[@OneBigPear]

piscesbobbie Just a stellar cast, top to bottom.

[@KT926]

My favourite films of his are "Malice", "Beetlejuice" and "The juror"

[@pho3nix-]

Very bad audio mixing in this, why is his voice so low volume?

[@JGrove303]

Power quiet talking.Or the bass of his voice was making the mics clip.

[@OneBigPear]

And rewatching Hunt for Red October now. I had forgot how much I loved this movie!

[@chrizchanang]

I have everything at full volume and it still feels like I'm listening to an ASMR interview

[@9sunskungfu]

Awesome..but i would"ve also liked "The Shadow" added to this. I loved that movie.

[@vikdaddy]

Would have loved to hear about his experiences working with Scorcese, particularly on The Departed

[@dougputhoff]

What, no "Boss Baby?"

[@ShirleyTSaint]

LOL!

[@marleneg7794]

Cheers!

[@ririschannelx]

*oscar nominated boss baby to you

[@cgonzalez7081]

I'm sad they didnt tall about Madagascar 2

[@lacouerfairy]

Jack Donaghy was definitely his best character.

[@FilmHerald]

Burst out laughing at the hiiiiYAAAHHHH

[@firetome9173]

Get caught with 30 rocks, the cop looks like Alec baldwin

[@shanef839]

Didn't even say anything about Thomas the Tank Engine and the Magic Railroad

[@macacofrito]

Nothing about The Shadow? i´m the only one that liked that movie?

[@chrism82793]

No good sir I love that movie so much my first and favorite superhero movie

[@hollyshouse928]

That was a fantastic movie, only Alec could make me take that costume seriously

[@warreng675]

No me too i liked, i think Alec was great in The Shadow

[@specspiderken1462]

My favorite of his

[@folarinosibodu]

16:34 That Sean Connery story and impression was so fire.

[@ityler95]

Huge Alec fan, but I also love the fact he’s always willing to praise his fellow actors and Crew. Total class act.

[@hypnocilicdreams]

Love Alec in The Getaway

[@TheJoStephan]

Alec Baldwin is truly one of the funniest guys but underrated as a straight-up comedian, just when he talks, impersonates people, and just how he tells stories. Very funny insert! Great trip through memory lane!

[@russjohnson1715]

I'm loving this AMSR version of GQ's Iconic Series.

[@IDiggPattyMayonnaise]

The way he talks you can tell he really respects the craft of film making and acting. Its just as much as Ethan Hawke. He remembers the small details.

[@jonesey251]

young alec baldwin looks sorta like chris evans

[@fuiers]

That story about the party with Sean and his wife. Im crackin up in here.

[@zlamelie]

I've already rewatched the Sean Connery part 3 times ❤️

[@openingband]

Such a good Sean Connery impression

[@ramblerandy2397]

I've always had a liking for Alec Baldwin. There's a comedic twinkle in his eye. He's a great actor, a fantastic mimic [his Al Pacino impression is better than Al Pacino's Al Pacino], and on his podcast show "Here's the Thing" he shows that he's a great listener and interviewer.

[@spacekitt.n]

i wish alec baldwin would stop doing everything and just narrrate audiobooks for the rest of his life

[@tomjones2348]

I wanted to hear his reflections on Glengarry. He said some things here that I've not heard before....that Lemmon wanted to retain that space of tension on the set. Alec knew he had to hit it out of the park. And, yes, the DP on this film was first class. As was the lighting director.

[@basehead617]

Amazing insight into Blue Jasmine and Cate's part - everything else you read is that Woody doesn't give direction much at all, it's amazing to hear he was ripping into her take after take - i assumed everything was 1 or 2 takes!

[@magnolianame8818]

This was great but I wanted to hear about The Cooler, The Departed, The Edge.

[@elmocotton3078]

Lets all watch Alec Blame the gun

[@Rebecca-asdf]

it's nice that baldwin wanted to do 3-4 more years of 30 rock. i also wish there was more but its nice that he was empathetic towards tina being a mother. the ending felt rushed but at least we had 7 good seasons

[@LokiDWolf]

There should've been more! LOL This is what was intoxicating. Hearing him be a great story teller of the industry and selflessly talking of other's greatness. Great actor and looking forward to seeing more of Alec.

[@KaitainCPS]

I enjoy most of these videos, but this was a cut above. I love stories that give insights into the machinery of the industry. You can tell Baldwin is a smart, reflective guy.

[@rigsby1454]

Great to hear Baldwin talk about Beetlejuice.

[@surferdjnj]

I wanted to see Miami Blues, great indi he did SO long ago!

[@lisasheffield9706]

Your a awesome actor! Glengary Glenross is one of my favorites. Especially the scene where your character rips the salesmen appart. Jack Lemon RIP

[@essa6315]

Alec Baldwin is the definition of a raconteur. Listening to him talk about the people he's worked with is poetic and riveting. This should be 1000 hours long.

[@Mr_M_]

I can't believe they skipped "Thomas and the Magic Railroad"

[@TonyVega123]

My favorite one is The Edge. Wish he had mentioned it.

[@MikeBarbre]

Surprisingly (or not surprisingly), this is an AMAZING vid. Baldwin's nearly, if not already, a Hollywood icon himself but to hear him just wax on about being around Connery on the set of Red October is something I won't forget for a long, long time. That just tells you how insanely iconic the great Sean Connery has been for so long. And hearing Alec's take on his experience in Glengarry Glen Ross is magical. You want to talk about icons... It's those tiny pieces of information you absolutely have to know, and these GQ interviews and interviews like these provide. SO. MUCH. FUN.

[@jamaicafox]

This was so enjoyable to watch. I love listening to people just sit down and talk. It's cool to hear about people's insecurities, especially when you typically see them in a role that projects confidence. Thanks Alec.

[@sarahc7617]

Please do Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp!!!

[@theredheadsaidNYC]

I would like to see the unedited version please. I want MOAR

[@susankeller4170]

Wow! That went by far too quickly! I really do like Alec Baldwin, and I have always loved his acting/roles. I haven’t always liked his public persona...But watching this I feel like this is the real Alec...humble, insightful and humorous. I’m really glad I watched this😊

[@tiffsaver]

It was interesting watching Alec Baldwin evolve as an actor. I used to view him as a "pretty boy," a lightweight. But I changed my entire mind about him after seeing him do a single scene in Mamet's "Glen Garry, Glen Ross," as the ball busting sales manager. It was one of the most powerful, memorable speeches in screen history, in my opinion. It literally stopped the entire show for me. It was unforgettable. Then he hit the Big League with "Hunt for Red October." But what REALLY surprised me about Baldwin was his transformation into a comedic actor, his deadpan role in "30 Rock" really rocking my world. He was totally hilarious.

[@luluk2112]

this is so enjoyable. I love actors explaining their roles..

[@TStamp-lw4ku]

2:45 😂

[@Feroal2]

I can’t imagine what it’s like to be in his position. It must scar you forever with that guilt. I think he made 30 rock what it is. You have to give it to him in that roll. He truly kills.

[@Polterguy]

Too bad he didn’t mention my two Favorites, Malice and The Shadow.

[@Emmareads15]

Season 5 30 Rock was still amazing, I don't care what Alec says!

[@kevinw712]

keep in mind, he didn't say it was objectively bad. Just in the context of a great overall show like 30 Rock, there's multiple seasons by simply by definition, one's going to be "best" and one's going to be "worst". Their worst was still 90% better than the rest of television comedy.

[@Charmaine6645]

The fact that he thinks he's not funny is hilarious. I love when he's on SNL, the "Schweddy Balls" sketch is on of my favorites.

[@Nittygrittyguy]

The Hunt for Red October is one of my favorite movies . I am still looking for it on DVD ! How can you not like it ? I loved it . You basically had legends in it ! Most onsomble cast just a wild ride !