“Because He’s Jeff Goldblum!”
That statement says so much, and thanks to Author Travis M. Andrews, here’s a book that digs into what makes this Iconic Actor/Musician/TV Host worth discussing!
Remember this?
Yes, Jeff Goldblum was turned into this giant, inflatable character from “Jurassic Park”, and placed in front of London’s Tower Bridge.
Why?
“Because he’s Jeff Goldblum!”
You see, when someone receives a giant, inflatable honor like this, a good Reporter will dig into the story to find out why, and that’s what this terrific new book – released today – does!
Travis Andrews has created what the book’s inside covers calls:
“This new semi-biography, semi-rumination, and semi-ridiculous look at the career of Goldblum.”
It’s the perfect way to explore Goldblum’s life, through a wide ranging series of vignettes and history, including an in-depth look at the inflatable statue, which was 25 feet high and weighed 330 pounds!
The actor hadn’t been aware it was even being erected, and since it only was there for a week, he never got to see it…but it’s the IDEA of it – and the fact that virtually anyone you ask thinks it makes perfect sense – captures what I call the “Kwan of Jeff Goldblum.”
Jeff Goldblum’s career now spans more than four decades, with massive hit films like “Independence Day” and quirky passion projects like The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra – and he has become an Icon – but why?
The book gives you the answer with an in-depth dive into his life and career. Andrews takes us all the way back to the Actor’s beginning, with his regrettable start in a small role as one of the brutal thugs in “Death Wish” in 1974:
As Andrews quotes Goldblum saying about this role:
“It was the first audition that I’d ever had for a movie,” Goldblum later recalled. He was given the basics of a scene and “they said, ‘just improvise with a couple other guys.’ There were fifty other horrible lookin’, mean guys kind of pumping themselves up into a state of hysteria and malevolence…”
Yet even then, that “Kwan of Jeff Goldblum” impressed the casting Agents, and he got the role.
Even though he plays a truly despicable character, Andrews reveals in the book that Jeff doesn’t regret taking the role…as the book points out:
“I was thrilled to get a part” he admits…that said, he quickly moved away from that sort of role.
For many movie fans, he made his first mark in film as the partygoer in “Annie Hall” in 1977 who makes a an emergency call for a very important reason.
“I forgot my mantra.”
He popped in that hilarious aside, and over the course of the next four decades has become one of entertainment’s most fascinating characters!
In 1983, Godlblum literally ran away with “The Big Chill”, playing the hardened journalist – for People magazine – who has the funniest asides and one-liners…as the other stellar members of the cast ponder the meaning of life, he just wants to bed Meg Tilly!
In the book “Because He’s Jeff Goldblum”, you get terrific stories about his movie roles, his personal passions, as well as some really entertaining asides – such as “Hold On To Your Butts”, which looks at other quirky Icons like Bill Murray and Christopher Walken to help you understand how an Artist becomes an Icon…
The Author spends time looking at various aspects of Goldblum’s career, although Goldblum himself says he’s not “a careerist”, and the book delves into that as well…but with a new Disney+ TV show, all about the things that Jeff Goldblum finds fascinating, it seems to me that the book makes a great case that we are all, in fact, fascinated with Jeff Goldblum for reasons he can’t quite explain…but we are!
“Because He’s Jeff Goldblum” is available now and a terrific read!
Of course, I’ve posted about this fascinating Actor/Musician before:
I saw him perform live with his Jazz band, and he was terrific on stage – he really was having fun and giving the other members plenty of time to shine as well:
You can see more of this incredibly gifted Actor/Singer/Host and his most interesting career highlights by clicking on my story here:
If you enjoy these posts, why not subscribe and never miss out? It’s easy, and there are NO ads of any kind, just stuff I like…click on the main page and “follow” me on the upper right…
Thanks so much for reading and make sure to check out Travis M. Andrews’ terrific book!
Categories: 70's Cinema, Art, Books / Media, Comedy Movies, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Hollywood, Memoirs, Movies, Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
Great post! I love Jeff Goldblum. Oddly, the first role I ever saw him in was “Cats and Dogs.” Silly kids movie I loved and watched on repeat. Was great to have that recognition in his more impressive roles!
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A different cat for sure, but that’s part of his charm.
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I love Jeff Goldblum’s movies! Besides The Big Chill, Independence Day and Jurassic Park were my favorites.
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Always appreciated Goldblum’s style
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My wife and I saw him perform with his band live and he was fantastic – fun and upbeat…my wife had him on her TV show and he’s unique, charming and sweet! No act!
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…which begs the question, whAt TV show does your wife have…?
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She’s the Executive Producer of “The Kelly Clarkson Show”, which she created with her!
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Congrats to her..and please pass that on 🙂 I only catch the end of it now and again, but it’s a sweet show…
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Thank you! They have some great guests, and are doing a very big celebration of teachers soon – Kelly’s Mom was a teacher as was my wife’s Mom as well, so it’s far and dear to them!
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He’s always been such an eccentric quirky guy, this sounds like a fun read
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It’s interesting! Thanks for commenting!
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Hi John. Sorry I have not been around much. Working hard on the novel. I love your post today. Jeff is awesome and this is a book I will read!
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Hope all is well Cindy! Thanks for leaving a note!
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That is a huge inflatable statue, John. A great tribute to Jeff Goldblum who is Mr Jurassic Park to me.
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Yes, and the funniest part of that inflatable story is that no one told him!
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Jeff is definitely one of my all-time favorite actors. I’ve been watching him onscreen, since I first saw The Big Chill, as a teenager.
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Yes, he’s got so many great films, well known and not! Thanks for commenting!
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I love the film The Big Chill, and Jeff was superb in his role.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks Pete!
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This is a Must Read for me!
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Thank you for this. I might just have to get this book!
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