Hollywood star Kevin Bacon has showcased his acting prowess across a diverse array of film genres, from comedic romps to iconic classics like Footloose. Along with gracing the silver screen, the actor has also delivered compelling performances on television, with notable roles in shows like The Following and City on a Hill.
However, the 65-year-old actor was not always too fond of TV roles. Bacon has candidly discussed his early reluctance to embrace television work, expressing concerns that transitioning from movies to television might not have aligned with his career aspirations in Hollywood.
Kevin Bacon Opened Up About His Initial Hesitations Towards TV Roles
Kevin Bacon had his breakout with the 1984 film Footloose. The movie was a huge hit and continues to be one of the best films of his career. During an appearance on The Corp podcast, he shared that Footloose was the film that made him fall in love with the craft of acting.
While the actor continued to star in more movies following the success of Footloose, it also made him reluctant towards TV roles as he shared during an interview, “I grew up in an era where you were either a TV actor or you were a movie actor and you didn’t do both.”
He shared that accepting television roles at the time could be perceived as a fallback option for actors whose careers faltered on the silver screen. “It was a really hard call to make,” he shared. And to avoid taking on any TV roles, Bacon strictly instructed his team not to bring in any TV scripts or projects. The Mystic River star told The Guardian in an interview,
“Before, my managers knew never to mention a TV series to me, because they knew how furious that would make me—I’d look at it like a vote of no confidence in my movie career, that I was going to be sent off to the television graveyard.
However, over time, he came to recognize that television has been producing shows of comparable quality to the finest offerings of the silver screen, prompting a change in his attitude toward television roles.
Kevin Bacon Acknowledged TV Show’s Prowess Over Movies
Although he was once ready to fire his agent if they brought in any TV project, Kevin Bacon’s perspective surrounding small screen projects has changed a lot. He has candidly expressed his appreciation for TV shows and the incredible roles he has taken on screen.
“First off, television is amazing. I mean look at this part I’m doing now. It’s great content—It’s great parts. It’s better than the movies. I hate to say it. I love movies. That’s my bread and butter.”
He has also shared his appreciation for hit shows like The Sopranos and The Wire. He recalled that his hands were shaking when he initially received three scripts for TV roles, only to realize that those were some of the best scripts he had seen in years. Kevin Bacon has since starred in many shows, including The Following, City on a Hill, Taking Chance, and I Love Dick.