Bill Duke Reveals The Biggest Regret Of His Early Career

[@filmcourage]

Is there any mistake you made early in your career that you said 'never again?'

[@ThisIsInfamousJBlack]

I discovered this channel on a whim back in March of this year. Your videos are honest and paint a honest perspective on the artist, their talents, and their dreams. Bill Duke has always been someone I have respected; Deep Cover, A Rage in Harlem come to mind. I have said on other videos how much his knowledge matters and this time is not different. I applaud this channel and the countless times you have made an impression on myself and many others.

[@stonevillage2835]

Great content for sure!👌

[@princessbleu1090]

Deep cover is one of my favorite movies ! What scene was he in ?

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

Great video... AND I think it's important to point out, that practically speaking, EVERYONE has done something we're not all together so proud of. It's another of those life-lesson sorts of things... You just can't "judge" anyone, or critique them too harshly. "Don't speak ill of a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes..." ;o)

[@josephcusumano2885]

100%

[@branon6565]

He went from that small, albeit regretful to him, role, to co-starring with Arnold in Commando and Predator, AND directing the TV show Dallas when it was the #1 drama on television...and had zero black actors (aside from a few hot black women who got bit parts) on that show at the time....dude is a legit legend...

[@KOLDBLU3ST33L]

Bill's the man. Sadly, old now, but...still a awesome person.

[@MrSosa35]

Nothing sad about growing old we all do eventually better than dying young having never truly experienced life!

[@NoMasterz518]

@@MrSosa35 🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯

[@dramahawkpromotions9621]

Umm Whats Sad about the Legend being Older Now??

[@pablop7428]

We all get old if you are lucky

[@MISTO-kh8xi]

LEGEND OF A MAN-ALWAYS ❤

[@Chanticlair47]

He played a character named Seth Foster in the movie Dallas: The Early Years with Dale Midkiff as a young Jock Ewing. I really enjoyed the integrity that Bill Duke gave Seth Foster, a family man who was brave enough to take a risk and change the course of his family’s history. His tv son became a lawyer in the early 1950”s whom Jock Davis respected and cared about. I never forgot that role. Bill you did a fine job in that movie. You should be proud.❤

[@dayontwari7982]

This is fascinating to me. I know exactly the role he's referring to. One of my Top 5 favourite TV shows, and my regret as a Bill Duke fan was that the character didn't receive enough screen time and wasn't fleshed out enough. But I loved the character for what it brought to the journey of the story. And I admit, a huge part of why I loved the character is that there were hardly any other black characters in that show. Just two others, if I remember correctly. It's kind of like when I see an African character or even an African actor, and almost every time I automatically celebrate, and love their role. However, now that I've learned Mr. Duke was very unhappy about the role, it's forcing me to reevaluate my experience of this character. I will reexamine this character during my annual rewatch of the show. I do tend to pick up on the problem he has with that character, when it comes to other black actors I have no particular affinity for. So clearly, my own bias for an actor seems to prevent me from noticing when things get problematic. That's unfortunate.

[@filmcourage]

Love the comment, thank you for sharing.

[@PhylonJ]

When I saw Duane - Abdullah from Car Wash expressing how he felt, even though I was just a child. I had not experienced what Duane - Abdullah was experiencing, but I knew this performance was real. I knew nothing about acting, but I knew he nailed it. I just saw the show he is talking about, and it totally makes sense. @daytontwari7982, I guarantee you if you watch it from the perspective of a man looking to pay his bills, yes, it was a top-rated television show, but his character was clearly someone written by someone who did not really know and understand the character, so they wrote him as not an intelligent person. Because of their lack of understanding of the character, it looks stupid. I mean, the last scene when he is captured and the guy is explaining to the main guy, and he just stands there? This episode aired in January 1976. I do not want to speak for Mr. Duke, but I think that even though he participated in this debacle, in my eyes, he redeemed himself a little over 9 months later when Car Wash came out. If it were up to me, this popular TV show season 3, episode 19, should be an example and reminder that we must get more of the unrepresented African Americans in the writers' rooms. Otherwise, atrocities like this will continue to misrepresent some while others profit, are on to the next project, and are unaware of the damage they are causing with their slanted writing.

[@rvsam4u]

Bill, if the show was Beretta, I saw that episode and I have to truthfully say you were head and shoulders above anyone else in talent and believability and even though I had never seen your work before, you were a total standout and I became a huge fan for life. Thank you for choosing acting and directing as a career. You have always been great!

[@thomasbrogan9102]

Kojak pimp ?

[@HoyaSaxaSD]

Norm MacDonald led me to Kojak and KZbin’s algorithm led me to the pimp scene and the comments led me here. That scene was cringe. But there were a ton of roles like that back in the 60s-70s. Check out the Dirty Harry scene with the robbers in the cafe where the waitress puts a ton of sugar in his coffee to tip him off. That was super cringe.

[@jameshoran8]

How about Albert Popwell's pimp character in Dirty Harry "Magnum Force?"

[@wendyrobson9683]

I feel that choices even ones that make you uncomfortable give you insight into who you really are deep down. It may not be the perfect opportunity but in ways unknown it does get what is needed to survive and move on knowing that these choices are for your souls' growth.We all need the up's and the down's to even our lives out.! In many ways the uncomfortable choices end up teaching you more about yourself then all the wonderful choices will ever do!

[@randyholy-day1307]

Native people get this stuff all the time. People expect to see us in feathers and moccasins. A shock to them that we can speak fluent English. I think Hollywood has not moved on from those stereotypes of the John Wayne era. Good Native actors but no job opportunities.

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

Somewhere there was a fundamental disconnect from the reality that Time marches on... for everyone. Hollyweird has consistently gotten more WRONG than they've ever managed to portray even remotely correctly... so that hasn't helped matters much, to be sure. AND even when they get a few points better, it's always in a lesser movie or with lower hype for release than something "critically acclaimed"... blah-blah... SO the general public doesn't get any good stories with reasonable depictions of Natives, much of anywhere. We (audience) are constantly fed the garbage that for the Native Americans (for instance) time stood still, while the white man just took everything away, leaving the Natives in their stone age with their bows and arrows and huts... and that wonky language nobody else speaks. (god people can be dumbied down so easily)... There are (however) a few glimmers of occasional hope, like "Northern Exposure", even as short-lived as it was... and "Lion Heart" was pretty decent... so I wouldn't blanket despair over it just yet... You might even be well advised to search up almost anything with John Greene... including his character-parts in "Murder She Wrote"... He was in several as a native, and respectable... but he was respectable in just about everything he did... including that one about the Spirit Bears in Canada (just can't exactly spit that title out). Maybe there's some room in the medium for a slightly more modern "remix"(?) of the western... a little more intelligently and respectably written work. If you enjoy weird mythically based story, though, you might consider looking up Warlord of Noodles, and the "See No Evil" series she's working on... it's on YT, I believe... AND you can definitely find it on Newgrounds. It's not exactly "true to lore" in the most literal fashion, but it's an interesting cocktail for an internet animation. ;o)

[@asiamatron]

I always find it odd when someone assumes all the people from a particular race, culture etc are the same. That just seems like such strange logic to me.

[@BarbaPamino]

At least native tribal garb is a legitimate part of the culture. Albeit when it done to poke fun at that same culture it's insulting. But to play a pimp as a stereotype is both insulting and an illegitimate part of the culture.

[@randyholy-day1307]

@@BarbaPamino I agree with you.

[@randyholy-day1307]

@Rulya Mórrigan Ard Mhacha I agree with you!

[@MrSosa35]

I wonder how many who have made stereotypical hiphop videos or acted out on reality tv shows will feel the same in years to come!

[@totoroutes5389]

Respect. Gotta pay the rent, put food on the table.

[@rodneyjarrell1247]

Great video and interview, with excellent choice of actor,interesting brother

[@randiboston9858]

He’s so inspiring what an incredible man

[@FosterGrayPhoto]

This story reminds me of the movie "Hollywood Shuffle" with Robert Townsend.

[@Ricobaca]

He was cold blooded in Kojak.

[@joshcarcarson]

That kojak pimp scene was funny as fuck

[@MarjorieLeNoan]

Interesting interview as much as straight up unintentional asmr video.

[@JackStax412]

More bill duke

[@RioBroski]

"Perspective is everything... doesn't matter what color skin that you. You look at yourself in the mirror and identify who you are. Not others."

[@dcdou7967]

A joke or funny story by Bill Duke is high quality, I laughed out loud with the pants story while trying to sleep in the silence :'D

[@davew4930]

The show was Kojak, I remember it as a kid.

[@MadScientist369]

Legend

[@spagniewbrzenski702]

I love this video but it makes me so sad... I'm happy to see a great actor achieve so much success and hope he continues to do so for many years to come. The media is powerful, whatever stereotypes they want to push for whatever reason, that's what they do. Trash sells, and it makes exploitative people a lot of money...

[@Mr.Honest247]

Anytime...

[@ryanm9628]

Lol I just saw the video from 1976. Damn. I would buy back the footage too! haha Got to do what you have to do in order to pay rent.

[@mrchopsticks3]

I was afraid he was going to say "Car Wash", that's what I think of every time I see him.

[@edwinjones1000]

We are punished for not perpetuating the stereotypes.

[@asiamatron]

Ha, ha I had an experience like that when I was a kid. I was talking with someone who acted liked I was supposed to follow their stereotypical idea of what a black person was.

[@edwinjones1000]

@@asiamatron LOL. Yep. It always shocks them. I used to love to see Kareems' interviews after a game because he would sound like a college professor. He would use big words that they clearly couldn't understand. LOL

[@asiamatron]

@@edwinjones1000 Ha, ha yeah I love it when that happens. It honestly baffles me when people think in stereotypes. That seems like really strange logic to me.

[@ClintLoweTube]

Someone has to play the bad guy in the movies.

[@mrss8979]

Respect

[@vansonia]

legend bill, this guy and woody strode worked in showbiz when there were a few people of color.

[@78dachamp]

I like bill in action Jackson....

[@evenworldproductions4913]

Soul his soul, they all did. Never go on ms TV artist

[@split_jcgg9613]

Life Code 45.242 says Sometimes you are going to do something that you want to take back.. get over it and move the F on.

[@ka9202]

I find myself in that Exact. Same. Position. Right. Now. Argghhh

[@hungrymikepencetd5686]

But he acted perfectly well in this role.

[@RAZASHARP]

Yes all of those things don’t fill the hole... but try going without them????? talk about that!!!!!

[@mckernan603]

Bill of course understands the history, but he shouldn’t be so hard on himself. That pimp scene will forever be enjoyed ironically above all.

[@dontchastop]

Kojak?

[@davewolfe7455]

👏🏽

[@dmac5935]

I saw the clip nit that bad but understandable lol

[@Quiet1823]

Gotta be a pimp first letem know💯

[@CajunLady333]

You had to eat. Everyone does something that they might be ashamed of everyday. Do you think men like staring at dials in a factory that produces cancer causing fumes? White and black and Hispanic, etc...

[@spacecatboy2962]

WHO LOVES YA BABY?