B-movie legend and King of the Chin Bruce Campbell turned 60 last month, and because of how incredibly lazy I am, I've just now decided to make this countdown list. Also, I wanted to catch up on a few of his movies and shows that I've missed, and since I don't have to fit anything inside any sort of timetable, here we are.
Just like many of my favorite actors (don't use the top 100 list I made a couple years back as any sort of guide, that list was an absolute mess and not accurately representative of my actual favorites), Campbell is a guy who never quite found a mainstream audience, but with a big cult following and some genuinely bizarre and entertaining shows and movies to his name, has a very distinct appeal to his dedicated fans. His weird sense of humor likely held him back, as he could have easily become a Harrison Ford type, but it's a big part of why we love him. He may not be the most versatile actors who's ever lived, but he has some decent range and plenty of fun performances to choose from. Here are the 10 that stand out the most to me.
And before I get into the meat of things, yes, this is an opinion list. Obviously it's just my opinion. I hate that I even have to add this disclaimer after writing on here for like 7 years, but there we are. These are my favorite performances of his, so when the inevitable angry thoughts come out in people when I have a certain something too low for your tastes, just keep that in mind. And now it's actually time for the list.
| 10. | Robert Van Helsing
in Sundown: The Vampire In Retreat |
In spite of relatively little screen time, Bruce plays up this descendant of Abraham Van Helsing wonderfully, balancing his goofiness with a genuine hatred for vampires, successfully coming across as someone raised with a certain belief only to have it challenged when they're in over their head and out of their element. Again, he wasn't given quite enough to do in this movie, but when he was on-screen I found him entertaining and surprisingly layered as a character with more dramatic potential than we ever got to see on screen.
| 9. | Himself
in My Name Is Bruce |
The movie as a whole may be ridiculously flawed and features not one, not two, but THREE different characters played by the inconceivably untalented Ted Raimi, but Bruce Campbell playing himself is one of the most natural things you could ever imagine for the actor, since a majority of the roles he plays come across just about the same anyway. Incredibly snarky, self-deprecating, and equally as smug, Campbell doesn't really hold back in his continuing lampooning of his career and obsessed fanbase, and the performance he gives is about as revealing as you could expect from such a cornball actor.
| 8. | Surgeon General of Beverly Hills
in Escape From L.A. |
One scene is sometimes all it takes for an actor to stand out as one of the best things about a movie (Christopher Walken can attest to that), and this single scene focusing heavily on Campbell's lunatic plastic surgeon is just the kind of bizarre and suspenseful sequence that much of the rest of the movie lacked. Even though Campbell frequently appears in the horror genre, he rarely plays a villain and even more rarely takes on such a creepy role. Under heavy prosthetics that highlight his already exaggerated features, this small role is freakish and unsettling and one of the best things about this incredibly uneven movie.
| 7. | Mayor Shelbourne
in Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs |
In another rare sort of role for Campbell, he plays a tiny, blustery mayor of a town that's come under the influence of the weather-altering food device that rains meals down on its residents. His physical and mental changes throughout the movie give Campbell a lot to work with as this loud little man begins to morph into a land-whale with some serious power issues. I don't recall seeing him in another animated movie or show, and playing a semi-villain at the same time puts this performance in a class of its own for him. Not one of the more likable characters he's ever played, but definitely an interesting direction for him as an actor, and one I wouldn't mind seeing him lean into in the future.
| 6. | Jack Stiles/Daring Dragoon
in Jack Of All Trades |
One of several short-lived TV serieses he's been involved with, this one seems like something that most audiences might balk at, in spite of the humor, adventure, and action all being quite entertaining. With short 20~ minute episodes and less than two dozen episodes throughout its run, there is an upsettingly small amount of this show, but Campbell made the most of it. One-liners and silly action galore, in a lot of ways this show encapsulates Campbell's career about as well as anything he's ever done. He's got humor, swagger, lots of innuendo, and unrealistic and entertaining fight scenes. It's a great introduction to his style and humor, as well as a representation of how sadly unsuccessful many of his projects seem to be.
| 5. | Sam Axe
in Burn Notice |
Campbell's most prolific role (over 100 episodes of Bruce, as well as a spin-off TV movie), here he plays an ex-spy who leaches off old single women and often helps out his friend by distracting the bad guys with his boorish behavior. A naturally loud and aggressive personality, Sam Axe isn't much of a stretch for Bruce, but seeing him take on an aged character like this without constant one-liners was a nice change of pace. Not to say he isn't funny, but a more toned-down character with casual skills in espionage was just the kind of relaxed role he was able to make work. In spite of enjoying Jeffrey Donovan here, Campbell is of course the highlight of the show.
| 4. | Ash Williams
in The Evil Dead trilogy |
I can already hear the "WTF"s, but I'm really not just trying to get reactions from this not being on top. In spite of the popularity of the series and this character, I see this as more of an icon of horror than I do as a flat-out great performance. That being said, he *is* really good here. His blend of line delivery, physical comedy, and energy make for an excellent combination for the movie series (the energy is sadly missing in the TV show), changing from a totally normal guy to an unstoppable slayer of the undead. With a chainsaw where an arm should be, he really has quite the presence. This is as over-the-top as he gets, and even though I only put it 4th on the list, I don't view that as an insult at all, because I still love it.
| 3. | Brisco County, Jr.
in The Adventures Of Brisco County, Jr. |
One of Campbell's most straightforward roles, Brisco County is a classic hero type in the vein of Indiana Jones. Much like Indy, he's got a sense of humor, has a noble cause, performs death defying stunts, and often whines up in bizarrely supernatural scenarios that defy all logic. A lawyer-turned-bounty hunter, Brisco's main goal is to track down and bring to justice the men who killed his father. He partners up with people, and his interplay with them is natural and fun. This isn't a mind-blowing series, but even with only one season worth of material, Campbell makes for an excellent hero, really leading me to wonder why he isn't a full-blown A-lister.
| 2. | Autolycus
in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys & Xena: Warrior Princess |
Lovable and roguish are two words that describe a good amount of Campbell roles pretty well, but no other role better shows off his ability at being both than this. With only a handful of appearances in each show, the self-titled King of Thieves instantly set himself apart as the best character in the franchise, not only serving as occasional antagonist, but frequently an ally to both Xena and Hercules. He may be in it for himself most of the time, but he has a big heart enough and does the right thing in the end -- even at the prospective loss of material wealth. He's funny, quick-witted, super charming, with a sleazy swagger about him that makes for a really enjoyable character overall. This is perfect casting and a wonderful performance.
| 1. | Elvis Presley
in Bubba Ho-Tep |
Frequenters of this site could probably guess this would be my top pick, but to most everyone else, it still shouldn't be much of a shocker. On the surface, this is a dumb movie with a crazy concept that never should have succeeded as anything but a ridiculous comedy. But somehow, it becomes far more than that. Thanks to Campbell's goofy yet sincere performance as a geriatric Elvis Presley facing off against an ancient mummy in a retirement home, there manages to be a lot of heart in this movie. With an intricate backstory and some genuinely touching moments, Campbell matches the physicality of his elderly role (keep in mind he was only 42 at the time), with the voice and mannerisms of Elvis while still managing to avoid coming across as just an impersonator. He managed to make me actually care, and in a movie like this, that is a genuine feat. My favorite Bruce performance - and movie - hands down.
In spite of relatively little screen time, Bruce plays up this descendant of Abraham Van Helsing wonderfully, balancing his goofiness with a genuine hatred for vampires, successfully coming across as someone raised with a certain belief only to have it challenged when they're in over their head and out of their element. Again, he wasn't given quite enough to do in this movie, but when he was on-screen I found him entertaining and surprisingly layered as a character with more dramatic potential than we ever got to see on screen.
The movie as a whole may be ridiculously flawed and features not one, not two, but THREE different characters played by the inconceivably untalented Ted Raimi, but Bruce Campbell playing himself is one of the most natural things you could ever imagine for the actor, since a majority of the roles he plays come across just about the same anyway. Incredibly snarky, self-deprecating, and equally as smug, Campbell doesn't really hold back in his continuing lampooning of his career and obsessed fanbase, and the performance he gives is about as revealing as you could expect from such a cornball actor.
One scene is sometimes all it takes for an actor to stand out as one of the best things about a movie (Christopher Walken can attest to that), and this single scene focusing heavily on Campbell's lunatic plastic surgeon is just the kind of bizarre and suspenseful sequence that much of the rest of the movie lacked. Even though Campbell frequently appears in the horror genre, he rarely plays a villain and even more rarely takes on such a creepy role. Under heavy prosthetics that highlight his already exaggerated features, this small role is freakish and unsettling and one of the best things about this incredibly uneven movie.
In another rare sort of role for Campbell, he plays a tiny, blustery mayor of a town that's come under the influence of the weather-altering food device that rains meals down on its residents. His physical and mental changes throughout the movie give Campbell a lot to work with as this loud little man begins to morph into a land-whale with some serious power issues. I don't recall seeing him in another animated movie or show, and playing a semi-villain at the same time puts this performance in a class of its own for him. Not one of the more likable characters he's ever played, but definitely an interesting direction for him as an actor, and one I wouldn't mind seeing him lean into in the future.
One of several short-lived TV serieses he's been involved with, this one seems like something that most audiences might balk at, in spite of the humor, adventure, and action all being quite entertaining. With short 20~ minute episodes and less than two dozen episodes throughout its run, there is an upsettingly small amount of this show, but Campbell made the most of it. One-liners and silly action galore, in a lot of ways this show encapsulates Campbell's career about as well as anything he's ever done. He's got humor, swagger, lots of innuendo, and unrealistic and entertaining fight scenes. It's a great introduction to his style and humor, as well as a representation of how sadly unsuccessful many of his projects seem to be. 
Campbell's most prolific role (over 100 episodes of Bruce, as well as a spin-off TV movie), here he plays an ex-spy who leaches off old single women and often helps out his friend by distracting the bad guys with his boorish behavior. A naturally loud and aggressive personality, Sam Axe isn't much of a stretch for Bruce, but seeing him take on an aged character like this without constant one-liners was a nice change of pace. Not to say he isn't funny, but a more toned-down character with casual skills in espionage was just the kind of relaxed role he was able to make work. In spite of enjoying Jeffrey Donovan here, Campbell is of course the highlight of the show.
I can already hear the "WTF"s, but I'm really not just trying to get reactions from this not being on top. In spite of the popularity of the series and this character, I see this as more of an icon of horror than I do as a flat-out great performance. That being said, he *is* really good here. His blend of line delivery, physical comedy, and energy make for an excellent combination for the movie series (the energy is sadly missing in the TV show), changing from a totally normal guy to an unstoppable slayer of the undead. With a chainsaw where an arm should be, he really has quite the presence. This is as over-the-top as he gets, and even though I only put it 4th on the list, I don't view that as an insult at all, because I still love it.
One of Campbell's most straightforward roles, Brisco County is a classic hero type in the vein of Indiana Jones. Much like Indy, he's got a sense of humor, has a noble cause, performs death defying stunts, and often whines up in bizarrely supernatural scenarios that defy all logic. A lawyer-turned-bounty hunter, Brisco's main goal is to track down and bring to justice the men who killed his father. He partners up with people, and his interplay with them is natural and fun. This isn't a mind-blowing series, but even with only one season worth of material, Campbell makes for an excellent hero, really leading me to wonder why he isn't a full-blown A-lister.
Lovable and roguish are two words that describe a good amount of Campbell roles pretty well, but no other role better shows off his ability at being both than this. With only a handful of appearances in each show, the self-titled King of Thieves instantly set himself apart as the best character in the franchise, not only serving as occasional antagonist, but frequently an ally to both Xena and Hercules. He may be in it for himself most of the time, but he has a big heart enough and does the right thing in the end -- even at the prospective loss of material wealth. He's funny, quick-witted, super charming, with a sleazy swagger about him that makes for a really enjoyable character overall. This is perfect casting and a wonderful performance.
Frequenters of this site could probably guess this would be my top pick, but to most everyone else, it still shouldn't be much of a shocker. On the surface, this is a dumb movie with a crazy concept that never should have succeeded as anything but a ridiculous comedy. But somehow, it becomes far more than that. Thanks to Campbell's goofy yet sincere performance as a geriatric Elvis Presley facing off against an ancient mummy in a retirement home, there manages to be a lot of heart in this movie. With an intricate backstory and some genuinely touching moments, Campbell matches the physicality of his elderly role (keep in mind he was only 42 at the time), with the voice and mannerisms of Elvis while still managing to avoid coming across as just an impersonator. He managed to make me actually care, and in a movie like this, that is a genuine feat. My favorite Bruce performance - and movie - hands down.
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