@@jdsundstrom I'm not suprised how Hollywood treats their stars weither legends of the bussiness or the younger generations.. the interesting thing is during the 1980's it was the start of the Reunion TV movies from the 1950, 60's and 70's. with reunion movies like Leave it to Beaver , Green Acres, Six Million Dollor Man and the Bionic Woman, Andy Griffith show, Perry Mason, Gidget, The Incredible Hulk , Brady Bunch and Gilligan's island , Get Smart to name a few............Where Hollywood had to get the original stars of those shows to return to TV dispite their age at the time they had to drop their "to old rule" for those rare times........they knew you couldn't have a Reunion movie with out the original stars...
@@jdsundstrom as for current reboot of Classic TV shows they fail because hollywood changes to much of what made the original show so special....many of the new generation of stars may try their best on the reboot shows but with all do respect they can not match the original stars of the show.
Dirk and Dwight have both said their politics and association with The A-Team (perceived as a right-wing show) hindered their careers. Dirk was also divorced in the 1990s and decided to concentrate on raising his sons rather than pursuing his career, and I admire him for that.
@@ratedr8490 Would that be before Joe McCarthy tried to find out whether they were communists or not? They just weren't very good actors. Although Dwight didn't do too badly as Mr Barkley in Star Trek if I remember correctly. Also judging by Wiki he appears to have been working consistently from 1981 to the present day. Right wing views don't appear to have done Eastwood any harm. Or a lot of actors like him. Not everything is about politics. Mostly it's about talent or lack thereof.
@@ratedr8490 Clint Eastwood is still faring better than a whole bunch of openly left-leaning actors. To lesser degrees, Tom Selleck, Gary Sinise, John Ratzenburger, _Dwight Schltz_ , and plenty of others have held their ground as well.
Hollywood seems to forget that there are old people out there (me) that still watch tv and would like to watch programs with characters of similar age.
The ageism of Hollywood is one of the main reasons I like British and Australian shows. They believe if a person is right for the character use them don't try to age up an actor. Meaning if the character is in his or hers 60's don't get a 30 or 40 year old and put them in heavy makeup to make them look the "right age" just use a actor that's in their 60's. That and the fact that the writers for these shows actually remember how to write a real story.
As you know us Americans expect our actors and actresses to look absolutely perfect and it's hard to do over age 40. If you make it that long. Talent takes a backseat to beauty here in the land of make believe.
I remember him most from A-Team. As a kid, I liked pretty much every team member for different reasons. Hannibal's optimism and confidence, Face's lovable roguishness, Murdoch's zaniness, and BA's tough attitude.
One of those shows where the casting was perfect and every character was essential to its success. Just like Married with Children, Sanford and Son, The Rockford Files, Perry Mason, The Andy Griffith Show, Martin, Frasier, Seinfeld, Cheers, Magnum, PI, Night Court, Everybody Loves Raymond, Malcolm in The Middle, The Middle etc.
His roles are kind of a Han Solo or Indian Jones archetype. In another universe I could easily see him as being able to play Han Solo as well as Harrison Ford.
Have to agree. I think Dirk would have aced it as Solo. I also think Kurt Russell would have done it great too (I think he even auditioned). If Kurt had brought that Snake Plisken attitude to it, it would have been fantastic. Ford made Solo and Jones his own, but again, I think Tom Selleck (the original choice) could have done a decent job (i've seen his audition tape). I also thought that after Last Crusade, they could have continued with someone like Dennis Quaid. But as Ford and Spielberg both noted, the scripts just weren't there. Which was strange, because they made several series of 'Young Indiana Jones', so people were obviously writing for the franchise....
Starbuck the Faceman! Huge BSG '78 fan and loved A-Team. Always loved the Cylon scene on the A-Team credits when the centurion passed by Face and he was like, "Hey...". TV was super fun back then. Great upload, Dave!
@@jdsundstrom The only line I remember from BSG:80 was them reading what coffee is and grossed out that people would drink a hot liquid poured over a ground bean.
Dirk made a truck load of money, invested it well and because of his conservative values is able to live a comfortable lifestyle. I'd say he's doing well.
@@scottstrang1583 Hatch passed on a few years ago. He got a good role in the 2004 remake of Battlestar Galactica that, while a different character, was an important one and gave him a chance to show his talent again.
Still love "Battlestar Galactica". Loved the "A-Team". I've met Mr. Benedict a few times at conventions. If I remember correctly he told me and others gathered around his autograph table, that the director of the episode of the "A-Team" where the Cylon walks by and Face Man looks at him like, "Don't I know you?" didn't think the audience would get it, didn't think it would work.
Don't forget the hand gesture in that scene. It was almost like he could have had his BSG laser pistol ready for action. BTW, early in this video, there's a shot of Starbuck, full length. The uniform is proprietary to the show, with one exception. He's wearing "down to Earth" motocross boots!
@@JW...-oj5iw Yep. Very hard to find SIDI Full Bore Boots, dyed brown with the ski binding type buckles as opposed to the eye hole "belt buckle" style.
I'm perfectly agree. And I add that this happens not only in Hollywood, but almost everywhere. After all, Dirk himself once stated that a great star does not always correspond to a great actor and vice versa. It's really true.
I remember that movie as well! The funny thing is when Battlestar Galactica initially aired, I didn't immediately recognize that Dirk had been in "Sssssss". It was only years later when I re-watched the movie that I connected the dots.
Liked him also in “Body Slam”, the eighties’ rock and ‘restlin’ flick which also co-starred the both late Roddy Piper and Tanya Roberts. Dirk’s autobiography is an enjoyable read as well.
I hate reboots. That indicates Hollywood has ran out of ideas for original and fresh concepts for movies/television shows. He may not have been one of my favourite actors, but it sucks when the main film making industry goes for youth over experienced acting veterans like a Dirk Benedict. I was hoping he would join his former co-star Richard Hatch in the remade Battlestar Galactica series. I know. It makes me somewhat of a hypocrite. But there was something about the show's darker feel I preferred over the 1970s version which was mainly a family oriented series. I wished Dirk jumped on board to let us know he is still around, even if he wasn't going to reprise his role of Starbuck.
It's partly true, but it's also true that Hollywood has been remaking shows for years not because they're out of ideas but because they're proven money makers.
It's like comparing a real Corvette, to a plastic model, of a Corvette. I'm not very interested in Cartoon remake either. I'd rather see the original, wrinkled and grey haired actors.
I ALWAYS watched Battlestar (AND Buck Rodgers) LOVED those shows immensely .I STILL to this day laugh at the intro to "The A Team " when that Cylon Warrior walks past him and he gives that look of Deja Vu . :)
@@jdsundstrom It's creepy how much we agree with each other. Not just this, but everything you said in the video. Not just agreeing, but like you read my mind.
The “Loveable Rogue “ had been replaced by “The Bad Boy”. Dirk’s Starbuck was a little more responsible than the bad boy because he was a Colonial Fighter Pilot. He had no time for the mischief that a bad boy causes because of the life and death situation that the Galactica and the fleet faced in the darkness of deep space. I love Starbuck because of his name. It was way cooler than the name Apollo (Sorry, Richard Hatch. You are still loved). The A-Team’s Templeton Peck was not really a roguish character, he was a charming con artist, in my humble opinion. I remember seeing an interview that he had cancer and was on a macrobiotic diet to beat the cancer. I guess he is completely cancer free now.
This comment reminds me when Starbuck was in an alien prison where the prisoners were named after their crimes. When he told them his name, they asked, “What is starbucking?”
Yes, I read that interview as well. That interview about him surviving cancer speaks larger volumes as a man than what he was as an actor. I have nothing but respect and admiration for what he had to go through and that experience took place before Battlestar Galactica if I read that right. I share that interview with many people.
@@garyreid6165 perhaps so and just the same an incredible testament in his life. I just expected to see him in other rolls along the way but either way, life moves on.
Thanks Dave. Battlestar Galactica could have been so much more than they allowed it to be... and speaking of the A-Team, I'm glad Dwight Schultz went on to play Lt. Barclay on ST:TNG. Too bad Dirk never appeared on Star Trek as well...or Babylon 5, he could have definitely contributed something special.
He said once Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan) 'went to bat' for him to help him land that role. They'd worked together on 'The Long Walk Home.' Whoopi was pretty far left but hated the idea of anyone being blacklisted because of their politics.
@@stephaniegormley9982 Whoopi is very far left, not that it matters. Karen Johnson used to be on welfare but picked herself up to become a Hollywood superstar. It's that considered the American Dream?
@@williamwelch7 It should be about an actor's acting ability as opposed to political. Take James Woods for example. He's pretty far right and that's because he announces his beliefs on his social media pages. The dude is talented beyond belief. He should be cast way more than he is!
The obsession with youth in TV shows is greater than ever, but I think another feature of dramatic shows now is everybody acts like kids. On "NCIS" the characters are kids supervised by a father figure. If you go back to shows like "Mannix" and "Cannon", the adults act like adults.
He also beat prostate cancer early in his career and was an "activist" for healthy diet and nutrition. Pretty sure he published a book about it. Anyone who was involved in health food or arobics in the late 80s was seen as a quack. I remember him being compared to Richard Simmons at one point. Not saying it ruined his career but it definitely didn't help.
My first thoughts were Typecasting. When a actor plays a role, that they become known for, they often find casting directors not wanting to cast them in anything that does not fit that type of roll.
Frank Frazetta was one of my favorite illustrators. Part of the last golden age of illustrators- the 1970s and 80s. Before the digital revolution. I liked Battlestar Galactica, too.
From what I recall it was some type of stomach related cancer and he adopted a macrobiotic diet and that , along with other approaches the cancer was eliminated . That was long ago, so whatever it was the approach he chose seemed to have been effective, he is still with us .
@@allpoints-tv Yes he is. I only wish we could see him in more movies and TV shows. He had such a natural ease in front of the camera. Nothing forced. Some people have the "IT" factor. Dirk had it in droves. I'd put him in the same class as Redford and Newman. Very charismatic. Made it look easy. He became the characters he played. I miss him.
Thank you for this video focusing on Dirk Benedict and touching upon reason no. 2 concerning why this talented and iconic television actor was unfairly and unjustly shunned by HOLLYWOOD. I fully agree with you there. Thanks again.
If he's from Montana it's easy to see why Hollywood is uncomfortable about him. Montanan's, if my relatives are any example to give, are opinionated. If they don't like something, they'll say why they don't like it, and they'll stick with their opinions no matter what. God bless them.
@@GeorgeSemel dude that’s idiotic. Shitloads of people in Hollywood aren’t from Hollywood and enjoy hunting and fishing. Don’t try too hard to pretend like average stuff is ‘so unique, and actors are shunned for it’, lol. Total self-absorbed bs.
@ItsStillRealToMe DamnIt Then tell Hollywood to stop buying land in Montana. Come to think of it, if they come there, then why not let them come out there.
Dirk Benedict was perfect as Templeton Peck on the A-Team. He was a Shady Sort of Guy, Who was a Real Smooth Talker, and Could Probably Even Sell Ice-Boxes to Eskimos. Plus he was a Ladie's Man, and was always getting into all sorts of entanglements and situations. He also added a lot of Comedy Relief to the Show.
Back in the day, if you wanted a career as a major motion picture star, then you never did TV. The two formats were in serious competition with eachother and as more people got TVs fewer people went to movie houses. Hollywood would not hire TV stars. That's why actors like Lee J. Cobb, and many others, refused to appear on Television in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. They wanted to be seen as serious dramatic actors. Of course none of that is relevant today.
I haven't seen Dirk Benedict in years, but from this video, he appears to have matured well! His slowly aging good looks may have actually worked against him in getting more mature roles later because he could no longer play 'leading man' roles but was too young looking to play 'older men'! It's still better for him to be a "Has Been" than a "Never Was"! Go, Dirk!
@@JasonAmerica the story of his son getting into fight because some one lied about his father saying he was on TV as Starbuck is heartwarming and funny.
Dirk had a genuine, unique personality and it showed in his work. He was a very watchable, easy-going personality that was quite endearing. (Also, that Magnum PI "reboot" is an absolute sin to all good, decent people.)
I completely agree with you regarding the Magnum P. I. reboot especially in light of the fact that the male actor who plays the new Magnum publicly supports the POLITICAL BLACKLISTING of actors, actresses and other artists or workers who simply have a different political view and opinion. Very sad. That's why I never watch his show.
@@stonefree1911 no danger there. I wouldn't want to tarnish the original series. I love the orginal Magnum P.I. it had some amazing episodes over the years and somehow feels less dated than other 80s shows with the causal Hawaiian fashions and classic cars. Definitley one of my favourite American shows along with Knight Rider, The A-Team, Quantum Leap, MASH and Dream On to name a few others. I woudn't watch reboots of any of those either :o)
I worked in the movie biz for twenty years and on the subject of the young actors on the reboots - the entire industry is like that. The producers of these projects are in their 20's, so an actor mid-thirties is old to them. For real!
Huge fan of Dirk Benedict. My fandom goes back even further than Battlestar Galactica and The A-Team. My Mom loved cop shows, so she introduced me to the show Chopper One, an Adam-12 type of show featuring Dirk as a cop fighting crime from the skyways in a helicopter. Sadly, it lasted only 1 season. Thanks, Dave!
Could not agree more that his 'Hell in the Pacific' inspired Finale of Galactica certainly achieved a High-Note ending to an otherwise appalling season! (If memory serves... that was Gary Owens voicing the Cylon!) Additionally, I could not agree with you more on Hollywood's tendency to 8-ball performers for personal beliefs. There is a reason our elections have a secret ballot.
If you guys love Dirk's work, and if you haven't seen it..... check out the movie "Ruckus". It's a more "lighthearted" version of Rambo(and I honestly don't remember which came out first). His performance in that is just fantastic!! Also stars Linda Blair.
Hi Dave! I met Dirk Benedict at a Comic convention here in NYC back in 1999. We spoke for a couple of minutes, I received his autograph (as Starbuck, of course), and we shook hands. Unbearingly cool guy. Thanks again, Dave! 👊👍
Sadly hollywood is very much left leaning and does not tolerate anyone who is not. Dirk was a good actor and I must admit, Man-pretty :). I am glad he is doing well, thank you for this update :)
Hey Dave, thanks for making all these videos! You are the little house on the prairie in a sea of negative content. I’m a 70’s and 80’s kid and your videos are some on my favorites on YT. Thank again!
I agree Dave that one’s political views shouldn’t interfere with their job or otherwise. Hopefully this wasn’t the reason for Dirk but I do know Hollywood is very strange
This is so true! I have researched him so much, and I think he did those two characters more justice than anyone else could have! Those reasons are 100% accurate! I really think Hollywood doesn’t know when they have a good thing! Thank you so much!
Thank you for this one! I always wondered what happened to Dirk, I was a huge fan and had a massive crush on him back in the day. Happy Saturday, Dave!
I often wondered what happened to Dirk. I cannot believe getting older was the reason he more or less disappeared. Many actors find great roles in their 50's and 60's. If the reason was political, that is a darn shame. Hope he is collecting great residuals from those two hit series in the 1980's!
@@jdsundstrom they were from the same originally submitted script (it was in Hollywood for years). Watch them back to back. Also, the sheriff being less of an antagonist was more true to the original script than First Blood.
I remember that. I always thought they resembled each other. But to be fair, Ruckus had more of a comedic theme to it and wasn't as serious compared to First Blood.
ya know, that would be a great thing, I could actually see him as the lead for knives out as an example. a Longmire type show would probably be right up his alley as well.
Love Dirk Benedict. What a guy! Something I would highly recommend for any fans of his and/or The A-Team is a one off UKTV show called "Bring Back The A-Team" hosted by Justin Lee Collins. Collins (like myself) was a huge A-Team fan, I really enjoyed Battlestar Gallactica too but for me The A-Team meant that little bit more. In the prorgam Collins frantically moves around the U.S.A. seeking out as many people who were involved in the show as he can to interview and also to invite to a social gathering laid on by the show as a kind of reunion party. I love the interview that Benedict gives and tend to watch the show again every year or so, it should still be kicking around on TH-cam if anyone is keen to check it out.
When you showed the cover of TV guide I had a flashback to 8 or so years old and seeing that cover and being excited as hell. Great show, and to experience it in the beginning is amazing and is something I hope still happens today. Also really enjoyed the A-Team.
I don't know if the political argument holds so much -- I mean, Charlton Heston took a turn for the right when Goldwater ran in 1964 and his career went on, and as a fan of Planet of the Apes and Soylent Green I'm grateful for that. Schwarzenegger started off being on the right and it didn't seem to slow him down either. As for Battlestar Galactica, I figure it would be an ideal setting for someone conservative, being in its way the Book of Mormon in Space. And I can't think of any Star Wars fan -- specifically, fangirl -- saying "Oh, I'm so over Han Solo now." No, I suspect that Dirk's career has a little more to do with Dirk. He was not an unlimited actor. But he was always a great presence.
@@jdsundstrom I believe social media (the use of it for promotion) is a double-edged sword as the general public has greater insight about artists, their personal views, and associations. In addition, celebrities historically relied on PR companies and agents to keep their personal and public lives separated and were more circumspect in their public behavior. That line is now blurred. Thank you for keeping the politics out of your site as there are plenty of sites that cover those themes.
John Wayne remains, 42 years after his death, the biggest movie star of them all despite espousing views that insulted all of liberal Hollywood! Dukes' sheer professionalism earned grudging respect from most who didn't share his Hawkish opinions...
Dirk was one of those great actors you could all way watch and not get disappointed. Also to me Reboot tv show are ruining classic tv shows. It is quite sad. I dont watch much tv. Just not the same. They just take fun and magic away in what these classic tv shows bring to us in every thing.
What a damn shame. I never thought about how much I really liked the man until right now. Hollywood disgusts me. Pure Evil. That's why all I watch now are re-runs or Documentaries . Like this wonderful channel. Thanks Dave. I know my comment is pretty harsh but I'm getting tired. Very tired.
The man himself claims his book, Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy, is what got him "banned" from Hollywood. I read the book and discussed the issue with the man at a convention in person. While Benedict has been more out with his politics in the last 2 decades, this book came out in the 80s and wasn't "political" by modern Left vs Right trash political debates we see today. It was a book about Benedict's battle with cancer, he took a very unorthodox and controversial approach to fight his cancer, and came to believe the American diet was screwed up. I can definitely see why Hollywood wouldn't want to touch this guy given that so many commercials at the time were bad food in his opinion, but it wasn't political by modern standards. More like upsetting the commercial sponsor.
@@jdsundstrom Not that many here will care. I'm a practicing doctor and like most here I'm an older fart who grew up watching Battlestar and A-Team. Benedict was impressed that I wasn't just some fanboy and actually read a book most of his fans likely haven't even heard about, and that I had the medical background to discuss his book in-depth. So when I saw him at the convention, despite there was a line of fanboys who wanted to talk to him he had me sit down next to him and talked to me for several minutes about his book, signed my copy, and made the other fanboys wait. I started feeling guilty cause the line was getting very long and he seemed to be enjoying the discussion. The guy was also still into the "macrobiotic" diet telling me he was only going to eat specific foods that day and asked about someone getting him some oatmeal. The "controversial" thing he did about his cancer was he had it "diagnosed" with a Polaroid photo that was verified by a spiritual guru because he had distrust of conventional medicine although he also had a real MD check it out. Once convinced he had cancer he then proceeded on a macrobiotic diet but also went through a phase where he starved himself to the point where he alleged he was almost skin and bones and looking very unhealthy, and believes during this phase the cancer was expunged from his system after a painful bout in his privates. I do not say this in a condescending manner at all cause we now know that limiting diet can have cancer benefits, but I told him I wasn't solid it was truly prostate cancer, the diagnostic tech in the 70s was no where near where it is now, and he may have been prostate inflammation instead of cancer. I told him I agree with most of his book, respected he took a stand he was willing to fight on even if it hurt his career and that I agree the average western diet sucks. Was it really cancer? Don't know but I believe his honesty.
Thank you Dave for the video. I've been looking forward to it as he was a favorite of mine. I liked your character analysis. I think you nailed it. The Hollywood age thing makes me mad. I would prefer to see the actors I grew up with. I don't relate to most anything new, except some reality shows that don't have actors anyway. Have a great day Dave!
Met him at a restaurant bar in early 2000, had no idea who he was but we started talking about an NBA game that was on, was such a nice man, it wasn’t until he left that someone told me he was Face.
I absolutely appreciate your commentaries and love the nostalgic trivia. I dont know ur political leanings and appreciate that u only discuss if its essential to the discussion... thank you for providing wonderful content.
Nice video Dave. Those in charge, are real hypocrites when it comes to discriminating against actors & actresses. Just because they don't like their political beliefs or think they're too old,they don't want anything to do with them! It's total BS! Sadly it's nothing new, look at what they done by blackballing some in the 50's or 60's,maybe. Not sure of the years. Not to even consider Gene because of his age? After he'd made that show so popular, it's dispicacble! Of all the remakes of popular shows form our past, many of the actors were probably in diapers, if even born yet! Many seasoned actors & actresses still have a lot to offer, if only the IDIOTS "in charge" would open their eyes & minds!
According to his own book Benedict almost did not get the 18 gig because of a serious problem with cancer that almost took his life. He obviously got through it and got the job, but that hung over his head to this day. Insurance companies don't want to cover that.
Another great video, Dave! Yeah, I too liked the original Battlestar Galactica. Too bad Hollywood crowded him out from quality acting opportunities. I do remember seeing him and Linda Blair in a little known movie from the 80s called, "Ruckus". It wasn't a bad action flick, but definitely was influenced by "First Blood".
Being a kid in early 80s A greatest time to be a kid btw I loved A team and wrestling His film with Rowdy Roddy Piper and captain Lou Albano Bodyslam was a favorite of mine
I think that the reboot of BSG should have been more like the original series. I didn't like that they changed the characters around and excluded most of them from the original series
I didn't mind the the reboot/re-imagining, but when I saw that The Great, the One and Only Starbuck had undergone a "sex change" allowing him and Apollo to interact in a more comfortable and appropriate manner than what was alluded to in the original series I went ballistic! I always thought that there was a little Homoerotic tension between Apollo and Starbuck! Nothing overt but it was Bromance to remember!!
Met him at the SD comic con about 15 years ago. Great guy! I asked him about dating Kate Jackson. He said he cared for Kate greatly, but their timing was just not right.
Battlestar was one of my favorites as a kid as well. A question came up in our home around which famous Robot dog they would prefer. K-9 from Doctor Who, Max the Bionic Dog or Muffet from Battlestar, I chose Muffet- I know the other two are technically pretty cool, but I just can’t resist that dogs spring sounds as he walked and his little robotic bark. 😁👍
Have fond memories of The A Team. My son watched it for 5 years. Age 12-16. Good fun. All the characters were unique. Mr T's one liner still resonates: :I pity the fool who pities the fool."
The Sopranos blows up two of your reasons right off the bat. Tony was a loveable Rogue and was a middle aged over weight guy, but the show was a HBO smash. As far as your third reason, that did him in for sure.
There are always exceptions to every rule. I'm not sure I would have categorized Tony Soprano as a "loveable rogue"...but, truthfully, I've only seen a handful of episodes, so I could be wrong.
@@jdsundstrom I binge watched the entire series in a week several years ago.. Actually 3/4 through it a friend got into as I was watching and I subsequently had to restart. Tony was likeable at times and had funny self identifiable moments but he was not loveable, he was a selfish egotistical cold-blooded killer. James Gandolfini did an excellent job with the role showing very human moments continually overshadowed by dark cold emotionless evil.
I had such a HUGE crush on Dirk during the Battlestar Galactica years. I was a teenager and he was the 1st 'blonde' I ever crushed on. One of my all-time favorite movies he co-starred in was 'Scavanger Hunt' - it had an all-star cast from Vincent Price to Scatman Crothers. What a great movie it was. If you ever get lucky enough to find a copy of it, GET IT! You will laugh until your sides hurt and you wet your underpants. Hilarious movie. I thought it was great that he got a sneak cameo in the reboot movie 'A-Team'. Thanks for putting this up. Brought back a lot of really fun memories.
I was a big fan of him as a teenager. I read his first book and it was like the Bible to me. I then went vegetarian. Then "vegan". Nobody knew about it back then, but today it's trendy to eat like that. Unfortunately, his books led me astray. I got thinner and thinner. At some point I stopped eating and became anorexic. I almost starved to death. Then I became a Christian. I was born again. I should really be grateful to Mr. Benedict. Because after a long time in the hunger tower, I'm now on the right path. I only have Mr. Benedict to thank for that. I threw away all the fan merchandise I had. Including a signed book in which he called me a "kamikaze cowgirl". I've been married for over twenty years now and have four healthy children. I liked Dirk Benedict very much. Too much. Today I feel a little sorry for him. But his path is not my path.
Interesting video, Dave. And I'm with you. As a child of the 80's..... I was a HUGE Battlestar Galactica Fan. I'm not a trekkie, or a Dwight Shrute type guy. Not a sci-fi nerd, so to speak.... but I loved that show. Don't know for sure what it was. The story telling was great. And the characters and actors were fantastic. Loren Green is an all-time favorite of mine. And I love the Apollo character too. Anyway, I always wondered a bit.... as to why Dirk Benedict and Richard Hatch just sort of (almost) disappeared. I'd also be interested in your thoughts on Richard Hatch.
I did a quick search and, as crazy as it sounds, he was removed from "A-Team" before the end of Season 5 because "the producers felt he looked too young to be a Vietnam War vet." Why did it take them that long to come to that conclusion? And another thing: I'm a Vietnam combat veteran, and I'm three years younger than Dirk Benedict. It doesn't make any sense.
@@mvracing3 That makes sense. Of the 75 episodes of A-Team, he appeared in all of the first 72. It doesn't make any sense to drop him from the final 3 episodes because he was too young.
That's is the whole reason why California Demoncratic Party Actors and Actress and Demoncratic Party people have owned California's Hollywood as well as China Are still paying billions of dollars towards California Hollywood actresses and actors and Movies and Corrupted Hollywood Demoncratic Party's Bosses China and Demoncratic Party people owned ESPN sports and Some Basketball players and Football Players . REAL American black and white Republicans Actors and Actress doesn't like Demoncratic Party Dictators Governor and mayors and sentors of their own State and City of New York and California and New Jersey and Illinois and Wisconsin Oregon and Washington State Arizona Pennsylvania Delaware Rhode island Maine Minnesota Telling LIES About CHINA Virus illegally lock-down against their own people in America and including illegally wearing a mask 24/7 indoors and outdoors when masks doesn't work ‼️ If you can smell your own Farts and cigarette smoke while wearing a mask 24/7 indoors and outdoors Masks up 2 to 4 masks all at once doesn't work because CHINA'S Wuhan Bio-Weapons Grade Lab Virus have already have been through the 4 masks ‼️🇺🇸 The only one way to stop breathing and stopped CHINA's Wuhan Bio-Weapons Grade Lab Virus is to wearing a $ 25 thousands dollars to $ 100. Thousands dollars White Anti-Virus Suit with a built-in oxygen tanks and some suits are Anti-radiation ☢️☣️🚫⛑️ suits and Regular Space suits . Hospital have White and Orange Biohazard suits and blue Suits and the rest of the Doctors and Nurses and others medical people have Plain Labs suits and plain medical Masks and Surgery masks and gloves and face Shield , all those are disposable regular masks and gloves and surgery masks and gloves and face shield . Those regular masks and gloves and face shield doesn't provide any protection from the Demoncratic Party's/CHINA's Wuhan Bio-Weapons Grade Lab Virus .
@Alex Daniel's drumming vids. Thanks. That makes more sense. Tim Dunigan was born August 2, 1955, and would have been seventeen when the war ended. At most, he would have been in the Army for barely five months before the Paris Peace Accords took effect. Dirk Benedict, by contrast (born March 1, 1945, thus four years older than I), was twenty years old at the time of the 1965 surge in U.S. involvement.
I was an 80’s kid & of course loved watching the A-Team…being a little girl of course Face was one of my favorites. 🥰 Always wondered what happened to Dirk, so this title quickly caught my attention when it appeared in my suggested videos (good choice TH-cam!). I’m a pretty upbeat person & try to find a bright side in everything….but I REALLY, REALLY struggle with these reboots. I didn’t have tv for a few years & haven’t been to the movies in over a decade, so didn’t even realize until recently the 2010 A- Team movie existed. When I did, said no way. Wish I had made the same choice on the 2017 CHIPS. My Mom & son are crazy for the new Hawaii Five-O…recording every episode even if they are watching, then usually watching again. I tried but couldn’t make it through 1/2 an episode. When I saw the Magnum P.I. & MacGyver ads….NO, just NO. If I see The Fall Guy, Simon & Simon or Riptide reboot ads I swear I’m cutting cable off again…I lived without it before, I definitely can live without it now. As much as so many of us wish…believe me, I mean pretty much wish 24/7/365…the magic that existed back then just can’t be brought back. Thank God we can still find some of the shows from back then online or on certain cable channels.
The same thing happened to Bert Parks they got rid of him as the MC of Miss America in 1980 (for 25 years he was the annual host)...Age discrimination happens a lot in the entertainment industry unfortunately.😒
Season 5 begins with Hannibal being approached by a former Northern Vietnam general who wants Hannibal to investigate a nerve gas attack on a village during the Vietnam war. At first Hannibal says no but after talking to Colonel Decker who gives Hannibal a classified government document Hannibal learns it was Beta Team who gas the village. Hannibal tracks down and reunites the A Team for a mission which involves them returning to Vietnam. By having The A Team investigating the nerve gas attack along with another highly trained special ops team carrying out the attack gives The A Team a fresh new format and takes the show in a fresh and original direction
Dave, we're the same age! 😅 I too was 14 when the BG movie, then the series came out. I was into _everything_ Scifi since childhood, so this show was right up my alley. And as a 14 year old teen, I thought Dirk was the most beautiful man I had ever seen, lol. (Which did not sit too well with my BF😅) As an aside, I read an article about Dirk in a late 70's _East-West journal,_ an early publication in the wholistic health movement. It said he became deathly ill after the series ended..I think he was diagnosed with cancer? Anyway, rather than going the allopathic route of radiation and chemotherapy, he went up to an isolated cabin out in the forest. There he fasted for months, drank healing teas and returned a cured man! Quite brave of him, in my opinion. And he is still a handsome guy in my book!🙏🏼
Hey Dave! Great video! Loved Dirk in ATeam! He’s a great rogue! Politically Correct……..well that ruins a great many things. Lol! Thank you again for your work! Always makes me smile!
Thanks Jan. I think it is important to be polite and considerate of other's feelings. However, I believe that there have been moments lately when political correctness has just gone way too far.
![American reacts to Posts That Prove American's Think That Only They Exist [part 2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KZ_wRzra8yo/mqdefault.jpg)
I met Dirk years ago at a con. He was one of the most down to Earth and humble guys. Definitely one of the best folks you’ll ever wanna meet.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing!
met him and Dwight at a con in Edmonton, both were great but Dirk was late due to plane issues.
@@jdsundstrom I'm not suprised how Hollywood treats their stars weither legends of the bussiness or the younger generations.. the interesting thing is during the 1980's it was the start of the Reunion TV movies from the 1950, 60's and 70's. with reunion movies like Leave it to Beaver , Green Acres, Six Million Dollor Man and the Bionic Woman, Andy Griffith show, Perry Mason, Gidget, The Incredible Hulk , Brady Bunch and Gilligan's island , Get Smart to name a few............Where Hollywood had to get the original stars of those shows to return to TV dispite their age at the time they had to drop their "to old rule" for those rare times........they knew you couldn't have a Reunion movie with out the original stars...
@@jdsundstrom as for current reboot of Classic TV shows they fail because hollywood changes to much of what made the original show so special....many of the new generation of stars may try their best on the reboot shows but with all do respect they can not match the original stars of the show.
Same here. I met him at Comic Con in 2011 and he was very cool.
Battlestar Galactica and the A-Team were two of my favorite shows. Dirk Benedict was great in both of them.
Totally feel the same way, DS!
@Doc Savage
Didn’t you invent television?
Same here.
I fully agree
Dirk and Dwight have both said their politics and association with The A-Team (perceived as a right-wing show) hindered their careers. Dirk was also divorced in the 1990s and decided to concentrate on raising his sons rather than pursuing his career, and I admire him for that.
Then again, that hasn't stopped the two from making cameos in the A-Team reboot - a lamentable cash-grab that wasted Bradley Cooper's talent
You could probably do a whole history of conservative actors that got black balled by Hollywood.
@@ratedr8490 Would that be before Joe McCarthy tried to find out whether they were communists or not? They just weren't very good actors. Although Dwight didn't do too badly as Mr Barkley in Star Trek if I remember correctly. Also judging by Wiki he appears to have been working consistently from 1981 to the present day. Right wing views don't appear to have done Eastwood any harm. Or a lot of actors like him. Not everything is about politics. Mostly it's about talent or lack thereof.
@@Makeyourselfbig your response, proves me right. BTW Joe Mccarthy's communist hunt was in the 50's...lol.. omg....
@@ratedr8490 Clint Eastwood is still faring better than a whole bunch of openly left-leaning actors. To lesser degrees, Tom Selleck, Gary Sinise, John Ratzenburger, _Dwight Schltz_ , and plenty of others have held their ground as well.
Hollywood seems to forget that there are old people out there (me) that still watch tv and would like to watch programs with characters of similar age.
Only ones I can think of right now is Yellowstone with Kevin Costner and Blue Bloods with Tom Selleck.
Dirk is just like Gil Gerard, both will speak their mind about the direction of the country and this doesn't always sit well with people.
Sometimes politics and acting don't mix. From Ms. Harper Stacey.
@D M As long as they have Conservative views it's called integrity ?
@@770WT why are you here? Go be negative and hateful on a political channel please.
The ageism of Hollywood is one of the main reasons I like British and Australian shows. They believe if a person is right for the character use them don't try to age up an actor. Meaning if the character is in his or hers 60's don't get a 30 or 40 year old and put them in heavy makeup to make them look the "right age" just use a actor that's in their 60's. That and the fact that the writers for these shows actually remember how to write a real story.
As you know us Americans expect our actors and actresses to look absolutely perfect and it's hard to do over age 40. If you make it that long. Talent takes a backseat to beauty here in the land of make believe.
I remember him most from A-Team. As a kid, I liked pretty much every team member for different reasons. Hannibal's optimism and confidence, Face's lovable roguishness, Murdoch's zaniness, and BA's tough attitude.
So true. They each had a special charm.
Me to
You couldn't help but love them all. I still do a Mr.T " I pity the fool" just acting crazy every now and then.
One of those shows where the casting was perfect and every character was essential to its success. Just like Married with Children, Sanford and Son, The Rockford Files, Perry Mason, The Andy Griffith Show, Martin, Frasier, Seinfeld, Cheers, Magnum, PI, Night Court, Everybody Loves Raymond, Malcolm in The Middle, The Middle etc.
His roles are kind of a Han Solo or Indian Jones archetype. In another universe I could easily see him as being able to play Han Solo as well as Harrison Ford.
Have to agree. I think Dirk would have aced it as Solo. I also think Kurt Russell would have done it great too (I think he even auditioned). If Kurt had brought that Snake Plisken attitude to it, it would have been fantastic. Ford made Solo and Jones his own, but again, I think Tom Selleck (the original choice) could have done a decent job (i've seen his audition tape). I also thought that after Last Crusade, they could have continued with someone like Dennis Quaid. But as Ford and Spielberg both noted, the scripts just weren't there. Which was strange, because they made several series of 'Young Indiana Jones', so people were obviously writing for the franchise....
Starbuck the Faceman! Huge BSG '78 fan and loved A-Team. Always loved the Cylon scene on the A-Team credits when the centurion passed by Face and he was like, "Hey...". TV was super fun back then. Great upload, Dave!
Glad you enjoyed it, Scott!
@@jdsundstrom The Good Stuff always makes my day! By the Lords of Kobol have a great day.=)
Yes that opening scene with the Cylon walking by was hilarious.
@@jdsundstrom The only line I remember from BSG:80 was them reading what coffee is and grossed out that people would drink a hot liquid poured over a ground bean.
Way to go Scott
Dirk made a truck load of money, invested it well and because of his conservative values is able to live a comfortable lifestyle. I'd say he's doing well.
Good to hear.
@@lucymiller6616how about Richard Hatch?
@@scottstrang1583 Hatch passed on a few years ago. He got a good role in the 2004 remake of Battlestar Galactica that, while a different character, was an important one and gave him a chance to show his talent again.
Still love "Battlestar Galactica". Loved the "A-Team". I've met Mr. Benedict a few times at conventions.
If I remember correctly he told me and others gathered around his autograph table, that the director of the episode of the "A-Team" where the Cylon walks by and Face Man looks at him like, "Don't I know you?" didn't think the audience would get it, didn't think it would work.
How could that gag not work! Pure genius!
Every time I see the intro , I get a kick out of it .
Don't forget the hand gesture in that scene. It was almost like he could have had his BSG laser pistol ready for action. BTW, early in this video, there's a shot of Starbuck, full length. The uniform is proprietary to the show, with one exception. He's wearing "down to Earth" motocross boots!
@@JW...-oj5iw Yep. Very hard to find SIDI Full Bore Boots, dyed brown with the ski binding type buckles as opposed to the eye hole "belt buckle" style.
That was my favorite part of the intro.
I'm perfectly agree. And I add that this happens not only in Hollywood, but almost everywhere. After all, Dirk himself once stated that a great star does not always correspond to a great actor and vice versa. It's really true.
He was perfect as Starbuck! I also remember fondly his unfortunate character in the lesser known horror gem Ssssssss.
I remember that movie as well! The funny thing is when Battlestar Galactica initially aired, I didn't immediately recognize that Dirk had been in "Sssssss". It was only years later when I re-watched the movie that I connected the dots.
I love that movie sssssssss great horror classic i have it on DVD
@@jdsundstrom he also did the a team🤗
Great movie, but few people have heard of it.
I was going to mention this as well. Love that film!
Liked him also in “Body Slam”, the eighties’ rock and ‘restlin’ flick which also co-starred the both late Roddy Piper and Tanya Roberts. Dirk’s autobiography is an enjoyable read as well.
Body Slam was a good movie
Good movie. Apparently Dirk didn't know how wrestling worked, and thought everything was real.
That was such a good and fun movie!
Do you think Dave Chappelle's Space Jews joke in The Closer was actually Battlestar Galactica?
Tonga kid too!
I hate reboots. That indicates Hollywood has ran out of ideas for original and fresh concepts for movies/television shows. He may not have been one of my favourite actors, but it sucks when the main film making industry goes for youth over experienced acting veterans like a Dirk Benedict. I was hoping he would join his former co-star Richard Hatch in the remade Battlestar Galactica series. I know. It makes me somewhat of a hypocrite. But there was something about the show's darker feel I preferred over the 1970s version which was mainly a family oriented series. I wished Dirk jumped on board to let us know he is still around, even if he wasn't going to reprise his role of Starbuck.
You are so correct!
It's partly true, but it's also true that Hollywood has been remaking shows for years not because they're out of ideas but because they're proven money makers.
I will never watch that A team movie nor that Battlestar Galactica reboot!
It's like comparing a real Corvette, to a plastic model, of a Corvette. I'm not very interested in Cartoon remake either.
I'd rather see the original, wrinkled and grey haired actors.
I ALWAYS watched Battlestar (AND Buck Rodgers) LOVED those shows immensely .I STILL to this day laugh at the intro to "The A Team " when that Cylon Warrior walks past him and he gives that look of Deja Vu . :)
To this day, I will not skip through the A-Team intro for that very reason!
@@jdsundstrom It's creepy how much we agree with each other. Not just this, but everything you said in the video. Not just agreeing, but like you read my mind.
the pic posted with Benedict and Cylon is from Galactica 1980.
The “Loveable Rogue “ had been replaced by “The Bad Boy”. Dirk’s Starbuck was a little more responsible than the bad boy because he was a Colonial Fighter Pilot. He had no time for the mischief that a bad boy causes because of the life and death situation that the Galactica and the fleet faced in the darkness of deep space.
I love Starbuck because of his name. It was way cooler than the name Apollo (Sorry, Richard Hatch. You are still loved).
The A-Team’s Templeton Peck was not really a roguish character, he was a charming con artist, in my humble opinion.
I remember seeing an interview that he had cancer and was on a macrobiotic diet to beat the cancer. I guess he is completely cancer free now.
Nowadays, the Loveable Rogue character trope is staging a comeback thanks to Chris Pratt
This comment reminds me when Starbuck was in an alien prison where the prisoners were named after their crimes. When he told them his name, they asked, “What is starbucking?”
Yes, I read that interview as well. That interview about him surviving cancer speaks larger volumes as a man than what he was as an actor. I have nothing but respect and admiration for what he had to go through and that experience took place before Battlestar Galactica if I read that right. I share that interview with many people.
@@donkeytime1704 I think Dirk had the cancer after Battlestar Galactica and during his time on The A-Team. But I am glad that he beat it.
@@garyreid6165 perhaps so and just the same an incredible testament in his life. I just expected to see him in other rolls along the way but either way, life moves on.
Thanks Dave. Battlestar Galactica could have been so much more than they allowed it to be... and speaking of the A-Team, I'm glad Dwight Schultz went on to play Lt. Barclay on ST:TNG. Too bad Dirk never appeared on Star Trek as well...or Babylon 5, he could have definitely contributed something special.
He was sexy!!!!!!
He said once Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan) 'went to bat' for him to help him land that role. They'd worked together on 'The Long Walk Home.' Whoopi was pretty far left but hated the idea of anyone being blacklisted because of their politics.
@@stephaniegormley9982 The world before cancel culture...
@@stephaniegormley9982 Whoopi is very far left, not that it matters. Karen Johnson used to be on welfare but picked herself up to become a Hollywood superstar. It's that considered the American Dream?
@@williamwelch7 It should be about an actor's acting ability as opposed to political. Take James Woods for example. He's pretty far right and that's because he announces his beliefs on his social media pages. The dude is talented beyond belief. He should be cast way more than he is!
The obsession with youth in TV shows is greater than ever, but I think another feature of dramatic shows now is everybody acts like kids. On "NCIS" the characters are kids supervised by a father figure. If you go back to shows like "Mannix" and "Cannon", the adults act like adults.
He also beat prostate cancer early in his career and was an "activist" for healthy diet and nutrition. Pretty sure he published a book about it.
Anyone who was involved in health food or arobics in the late 80s was seen as a quack. I remember him being compared to Richard Simmons at one point. Not saying it ruined his career but it definitely didn't help.
How can you name Mannix and Cannon without mentioning Barnaby Jones? The holy trifecta!
My first thoughts were Typecasting. When a actor plays a role, that they become known for, they often find casting directors not wanting to cast them in anything that does not fit that type of roll.
Typecasting would have been another good reason. Thanks for sharing, Daniel.
Frank Frazetta was one of my favorite illustrators. Part of the last golden age of illustrators- the 1970s and 80s. Before the digital revolution. I liked Battlestar Galactica, too.
I heard he had cancer and choose to treat it holistically. I don't know how true this is but am glad to see he is still around, doing well.
i think you may be right about that. he was a cigar smoker for real not just show. I vaguely remember something about cancer with him.
From what I recall it was some type of stomach related cancer and he adopted a macrobiotic diet and that , along with other approaches the cancer was eliminated . That was long ago, so whatever it was the approach he chose seemed to have been effective, he is still with us .
@@allpoints-tv Yes he is. I only wish we could see him in more movies and TV shows. He had such a natural ease in front of the camera. Nothing forced. Some people have the "IT" factor. Dirk had it in droves. I'd put him in the same class as Redford and Newman. Very charismatic. Made it look easy. He became the characters he played. I miss him.
Tears of nostalgia running down me face, loved growing up in the 80's, apart from being bullied at school, outside of school was magical
First thing I remember Dirk in as a kid. Was the 1974 short lived series "Chopper One". Loved it. From what I can remember. Lol
Thanks for sharing, Piney Prepper!
@@jdsundstrom thank YOU for time and effort you put into these videos. Love them.
Agreed
I was trying to remember the name of that series! Chopper One was the first show I remember Dirk Benedict in also.
Thank you. I knew I'd seen him in something before BSG.
Thank you for this video focusing on Dirk Benedict and touching upon reason no. 2 concerning why this talented and iconic television actor was unfairly and unjustly shunned by HOLLYWOOD. I fully agree with you there. Thanks again.
If he's from Montana it's easy to see why Hollywood is uncomfortable about him. Montanan's, if my relatives are any example to give, are opinionated. If they don't like something, they'll say why they don't like it, and they'll stick with their opinions no matter what. God bless them.
Yeah and knowing your way around a rifle shotgun and a fly rod does not help much either with that crowd.
God probably does not exists.
I just say what i think....
@@GeorgeSemel God is the biggest hoax in earths history
@@GeorgeSemel dude that’s idiotic. Shitloads of people in Hollywood aren’t from Hollywood and enjoy hunting and fishing. Don’t try too hard to pretend like average stuff is ‘so unique, and actors are shunned for it’, lol. Total self-absorbed bs.
@ItsStillRealToMe DamnIt Then tell Hollywood to stop buying land in Montana. Come to think of it, if they come there, then why not let them come out there.
Dirk was in a hilarious movie in the late 70s called Scavenger Hunt, Too bad its basically impossible to find nowdays
That was a good one!
Kino Lorber reissued it on Blu-ray. It should be available still and for a good price.
@@Theomite Wow Thanks for letting me know
Dirk Benedict was perfect as Templeton Peck on the A-Team. He was a Shady Sort of Guy, Who was a Real Smooth Talker, and Could Probably Even Sell Ice-Boxes to Eskimos. Plus he was a Ladie's Man, and was always getting into all sorts of entanglements and situations. He also added a lot of Comedy Relief to the Show.
Back in the day, if you wanted a career as a major motion picture star, then you never did TV. The two formats were in serious competition with eachother and as more people got TVs fewer people went to movie houses. Hollywood would not hire TV stars. That's why actors like Lee J. Cobb, and many others, refused to appear on Television in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. They wanted to be seen as serious dramatic actors. Of course none of that is relevant today.
Lee J. Cobb did appear on THE VIRGINIAN 1962-1966, but he left the show when it still had 5 seasons to go.
I haven't seen Dirk Benedict in years, but from this video, he appears to have matured well!
His slowly aging good looks may have actually worked against him in getting more mature
roles later because he could no longer play 'leading man' roles but was too young looking to
play 'older men'! It's still better for him to be a "Has Been" than a "Never Was"! Go, Dirk!
Thanks for the comment, Ron!
Read his book Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy and get the real story.
@@JasonAmerica the story of his son getting into fight because some one lied about his father saying he was on TV as Starbuck is heartwarming and funny.
Dirk had a genuine, unique personality and it showed in his work. He was a very watchable, easy-going personality that was quite endearing.
(Also, that Magnum PI "reboot" is an absolute sin to all good, decent people.)
I completely agree with you regarding the Magnum P. I. reboot especially in light of the fact that the male actor who plays the new Magnum publicly supports the POLITICAL BLACKLISTING of actors, actresses and other artists or workers who simply have a different political view and opinion. Very sad. That's why I never watch his show.
I didn't even know they had made a Magnum P.I reboot!.... Makes me feel uneasy that they have!
@@djassassinuk I hear ya. Word of advice: If you're an original Magnum fan....don't watch the "reboot", it will make you physically ill....
@@stonefree1911 no danger there. I wouldn't want to tarnish the original series. I love the orginal Magnum P.I. it had some amazing episodes over the years and somehow feels less dated than other 80s shows with the causal Hawaiian fashions and classic cars. Definitley one of my favourite American shows along with Knight Rider, The A-Team, Quantum Leap, MASH and Dream On to name a few others. I woudn't watch reboots of any of those either :o)
@@djassassinuk Dream On that was funny and the actors name is Brian Benben sounds like a cute dogs name
I worked in the movie biz for twenty years and on the subject of the young actors on the reboots - the entire industry is like that. The producers of these projects are in their 20's, so an actor mid-thirties is old to them. For real!
I miss the lovable rogue stereotype, and I wish that H'wood would ignore actors' political views.
Charlie Sheen's character on TWO AND A HALF MEN was definitely of this type, but maybe his political views were more to Hollywood's liking.
I like the intro of the A-Team when a cylon walks past Face and he acts like he's going to say something but then doesn't. LOL
Huge fan of Dirk Benedict. My fandom goes back even further than Battlestar Galactica and The A-Team. My Mom loved cop shows, so she introduced me to the show Chopper One, an Adam-12 type of show featuring Dirk as a cop fighting crime from the skyways in a helicopter. Sadly, it lasted only 1 season. Thanks, Dave!
Could not agree more that his 'Hell in the Pacific' inspired Finale of Galactica certainly achieved a High-Note ending to an otherwise appalling season! (If memory serves... that was Gary Owens voicing the Cylon!) Additionally, I could not agree with you more on Hollywood's tendency to 8-ball performers for personal beliefs. There is a reason our elections have a secret ballot.
Thanks for the comment, Rob!
This dude is full of it, Politics is not why Dirk disappeared from Hollywood. He left on purpose.
If you guys love Dirk's work, and if you haven't seen it..... check out the movie "Ruckus". It's a more "lighthearted" version of Rambo(and I honestly don't remember which came out first). His performance in that is just fantastic!! Also stars Linda Blair.
Hi Dave! I met Dirk Benedict at a Comic convention here in NYC back in 1999. We spoke for a couple of minutes, I received his autograph (as Starbuck, of course), and we shook hands. Unbearingly cool guy. Thanks again, Dave! 👊👍
Dirk is a awesome human . I've never met him but damn , what a cool human . I've never heard a bad word about him , by anyone that has met him .
He was one of my favorites too! What a stud! I loved the bit on the A Team where he sees the Cylon and does a double take.
I actually met Dirk at a convention a month ago! He came off as a sweet grump! Loads of fun!
Took my son to awesome Con in DC a few years ago and And we got to meet Dirk he was very friendly very considerate very open to talking with with us
Thanks for sharing, Mr Hallman!
Sadly hollywood is very much left leaning and does not tolerate anyone who is not. Dirk was a good actor and I must admit, Man-pretty :). I am glad he is doing well, thank you for this update :)
Evil hates the light.
@@destinyreelly2974 Nope. Hollyweird is left leaning.
Love his small town values that he never forgot. His character in both shows gave us reasons to smile.
Hey Dave, thanks for making all these videos! You are the little house on the prairie in a sea of negative content. I’m a 70’s and 80’s kid and your videos are some on my favorites on YT. Thank again!
Wow, thanks so much, Bob!
Hey Dave how are you today and yes starbuck and faceman two of my favorite roles he played
Doing great, Lance! Hope you are doing well also, my friend.
I agree Dave that one’s political views shouldn’t interfere with their job or otherwise. Hopefully this wasn’t the reason for Dirk but I do know Hollywood is very strange
Oh wow thanx Dave always wondered what happened to Dirk Benedict loved him in Battle star Galactica and A-Team 🤗💞
This is so true! I have researched him so much, and I think he did those two characters more justice than anyone else could have! Those reasons are 100% accurate! I really think Hollywood doesn’t know when they have a good thing! Thank you so much!
Anybody interested in seeing Dirk in the best scifi series, right behind Babylon 5, it is playing for free on Tubi TV.
Love Tubi!
Thank you for this one! I always wondered what happened to Dirk, I was a huge fan and had a massive crush on him back in the day. Happy Saturday, Dave!
I'm glad you enjoyed the video, Kalena 71.
I did get a kick out of when he showed up on the new movie of The A-Team, and then he made a comment about his face to Bradley Cooper.
Best part of that movie!
No Dave, the best part was the end.
I often wondered what happened to Dirk. I cannot believe getting older was the reason he more or less disappeared. Many actors find great roles in their 50's and 60's. If the reason was political, that is a darn shame. Hope he is collecting great residuals from those two hit series in the 1980's!
I think it's a combination of all three reasons that I shared. Thanks for the comment, Kevin!
@@jdsundstrom th-cam.com/video/me4pOQOt20s/w-d-xo.html
Was he a gay-basher? - it kinda seemed to imply that in the video & if he supports trump you can draw your own conclusions
@@cynthiamclellan6745 . So what if he was a basher and trum p supporter
@@guylane5804 It may not fly well in entertainment circles - Why do you think he's not working that much?
He was great in the movie “Ruckus” which was the original adaptation for the movie First Blood with Sylvester Stallone
Similar movies for sure...but I didn't think that it was an adaptation of the novel, "First Blood".
@@jdsundstrom they were from the same originally submitted script (it was in Hollywood for years). Watch them back to back. Also, the sheriff being less of an antagonist was more true to the original script than First Blood.
I'll have to go back and watch it again. Thanks for the comment!
I remember that. I always thought they resembled each other. But to be fair, Ruckus had more of a comedic theme to it and wasn't as serious compared to First Blood.
I'm a big fan. I believe that he would do great in a detective or mystery series similar to the Jesse Stone movies or the Hallmark Mysteries channel.
ya know, that would be a great thing, I could actually see him as the lead for knives out as an example. a Longmire type show would probably be right up his alley as well.
Love Dirk Benedict. What a guy! Something I would highly recommend for any fans of his and/or The A-Team is a one off UKTV show called "Bring Back The A-Team" hosted by Justin Lee Collins. Collins (like myself) was a huge A-Team fan, I really enjoyed Battlestar Gallactica too but for me The A-Team meant that little bit more. In the prorgam Collins frantically moves around the U.S.A. seeking out as many people who were involved in the show as he can to interview and also to invite to a social gathering laid on by the show as a kind of reunion party. I love the interview that Benedict gives and tend to watch the show again every year or so, it should still be kicking around on TH-cam if anyone is keen to check it out.
Thanks for sharing!
@@jdsundstrom thanks for listening :o)
Yes that is a great special. And Dirk's interview was on point! He was so right about the state of television at that point and it's far worse now.
@@kendallrivers1119 He really was. I feel his comments about The A Team being the last ever true "guy's show" is totally accurate.
I was a huge fan of Dirk's in the 70s and 80s!
Reboots, remakes, prequels and sequels suuuuuck!
Totally agree!
Very enjoyable Dave…. I have fond memories of both characters from those shows! Glad to see he is doing okay. Take care!
Thanks Bill!
When you showed the cover of TV guide I had a flashback to 8 or so years old and seeing that cover and being excited as hell. Great show, and to experience it in the beginning is amazing and is something I hope still happens today. Also really enjoyed the A-Team.
I don't know if the political argument holds so much -- I mean, Charlton Heston took a turn for the right when Goldwater ran in 1964 and his career went on, and as a fan of Planet of the Apes and Soylent Green I'm grateful for that. Schwarzenegger started off being on the right and it didn't seem to slow him down either. As for Battlestar Galactica, I figure it would be an ideal setting for someone conservative, being in its way the Book of Mormon in Space. And I can't think of any Star Wars fan -- specifically, fangirl -- saying "Oh, I'm so over Han Solo now." No, I suspect that Dirk's career has a little more to do with Dirk. He was not an unlimited actor. But he was always a great presence.
Thanks for sharing your perspective, WBH!
@@jdsundstrom I believe social media (the use of it for promotion) is a double-edged sword as the general public has greater insight about artists, their personal views, and associations. In addition, celebrities historically relied on PR companies and agents to keep their personal and public lives separated and were more circumspect in their public behavior. That line is now blurred.
Thank you for keeping the politics out of your site as there are plenty of sites that cover those themes.
@@anthonycbrown1952 Freddy
John Wayne remains, 42 years after his death, the biggest movie star of them all despite espousing views that insulted all of liberal Hollywood! Dukes' sheer professionalism earned grudging respect from most who didn't share his Hawkish opinions...
Heston and Wayne were iconic, however it was a different Era.
Dirk was one of those great actors you could all way watch and not get disappointed.
Also to me Reboot tv show are ruining classic tv shows. It is quite sad. I dont watch much tv. Just not the same. They just take fun and magic away in what these classic tv shows bring to us in every thing.
What a damn shame. I never thought about how much I really liked the man until right now.
Hollywood disgusts me. Pure Evil.
That's why all I watch now are re-runs or Documentaries .
Like this wonderful channel. Thanks Dave.
I know my comment is pretty harsh but I'm getting tired. Very tired.
The man himself claims his book, Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy, is what got him "banned" from Hollywood. I read the book and discussed the issue with the man at a convention in person. While Benedict has been more out with his politics in the last 2 decades, this book came out in the 80s and wasn't "political" by modern Left vs Right trash political debates we see today. It was a book about Benedict's battle with cancer, he took a very unorthodox and controversial approach to fight his cancer, and came to believe the American diet was screwed up. I can definitely see why Hollywood wouldn't want to touch this guy given that so many commercials at the time were bad food in his opinion, but it wasn't political by modern standards. More like upsetting the commercial sponsor.
Good stuff! Thank you for sharing.
@@jdsundstrom Not that many here will care. I'm a practicing doctor and like most here I'm an older fart who grew up watching Battlestar and A-Team. Benedict was impressed that I wasn't just some fanboy and actually read a book most of his fans likely haven't even heard about, and that I had the medical background to discuss his book in-depth. So when I saw him at the convention, despite there was a line of fanboys who wanted to talk to him he had me sit down next to him and talked to me for several minutes about his book, signed my copy, and made the other fanboys wait. I started feeling guilty cause the line was getting very long and he seemed to be enjoying the discussion. The guy was also still into the "macrobiotic" diet telling me he was only going to eat specific foods that day and asked about someone getting him some oatmeal. The "controversial" thing he did about his cancer was he had it "diagnosed" with a Polaroid photo that was verified by a spiritual guru because he had distrust of conventional medicine although he also had a real MD check it out. Once convinced he had cancer he then proceeded on a macrobiotic diet but also went through a phase where he starved himself to the point where he alleged he was almost skin and bones and looking very unhealthy, and believes during this phase the cancer was expunged from his system after a painful bout in his privates. I do not say this in a condescending manner at all cause we now know that limiting diet can have cancer benefits, but I told him I wasn't solid it was truly prostate cancer, the diagnostic tech in the 70s was no where near where it is now, and he may have been prostate inflammation instead of cancer. I told him I agree with most of his book, respected he took a stand he was willing to fight on even if it hurt his career and that I agree the average western diet sucks. Was it really cancer? Don't know but I believe his honesty.
Thank you Dave for the video. I've been looking forward to it as he was a favorite of mine. I liked your character analysis. I think you nailed it. The Hollywood age thing makes me mad. I would prefer to see the actors I grew up with. I don't relate to most anything new, except some reality shows that don't have actors anyway. Have a great day Dave!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video, Kevin!
Not a huge A Team fan but I loved his movie Body Slam! in the 80’s. Dirk, Roddy Piper and Tanya Roberts…what’s not to love?!
Yep. Wonderful cast!
THANK YOU! I was having memory rumbles if him doing a wrestling movie.
He was one of my all-time favorite actors growing up. I had a huge crush on Dirk Benedict.
I always thought he was a great actor and a honest to goodness genuine human being
Met him at a restaurant bar in early 2000, had no idea who he was but we started talking about an NBA game that was on, was such a nice man, it wasn’t until he left that someone told me he was Face.
Thanks for sharing, ClaudWig!
Dirk was my favorite from the original Battlestar Galactica
I absolutely appreciate your commentaries and love the nostalgic trivia. I dont know ur political leanings and appreciate that u only discuss if its essential to the discussion... thank you for providing wonderful content.
Nice video Dave. Those in charge, are real hypocrites when it comes to discriminating against actors & actresses. Just because they don't like their political beliefs or think they're too old,they don't want anything to do with them! It's total BS! Sadly it's nothing new, look at what they done by blackballing some in the 50's or 60's,maybe. Not sure of the years. Not to even consider Gene because of his age? After he'd made that show so popular, it's dispicacble! Of all the remakes of popular shows form our past, many of the actors were probably in diapers, if even born yet! Many seasoned actors & actresses still have a lot to offer, if only the IDIOTS "in charge" would open their eyes & minds!
Thanks for sharing, Robert!
Dirk was all over my wall back when lol...love him and I love how down to earth he is...such a nice guy in real life as I've found out.
Remember him as Starbuck, , great vide o, thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it, Tammy!
According to his own book Benedict almost did not get the 18 gig because of a serious problem with cancer that almost took his life. He obviously got through it and got the job, but that hung over his head to this day. Insurance companies don't want to cover that.
Thanks for sharing!
Another great video, Dave! Yeah, I too liked the original Battlestar Galactica. Too bad Hollywood crowded him out from quality acting opportunities. I do remember seeing him and Linda Blair in a little known movie from the 80s called, "Ruckus". It wasn't a bad action flick, but definitely was influenced by "First Blood".
Thank you! Now I get it. It’s so disappointing when you find out someone is dark. He should be credited for sure as a good actor.
Hollyweird has some nutty ideas. Dirk is to be admired for not caving.
All industries have “nutty ideas”, Hollywood is no different.
@@BlackDoveNYC lol Hollyweird is in a class all by itself.
Being a kid in early 80s
A greatest time to be a kid btw
I loved A team and wrestling
His film with Rowdy Roddy Piper and captain Lou Albano Bodyslam was a favorite of mine
I think that the reboot of BSG should have been more like the original series. I didn't like that they changed the characters around and excluded most of them from the original series
I didn't mind the the reboot/re-imagining, but when I saw that The Great, the One and Only Starbuck had undergone a "sex change" allowing him and Apollo to interact in a more comfortable and appropriate manner than what was alluded to in the original series I went ballistic! I always thought that there was a little Homoerotic tension between Apollo and Starbuck! Nothing overt but it was Bromance to remember!!
Met him at the SD comic con about 15 years ago. Great guy! I asked him about dating Kate Jackson. He said he cared for Kate greatly, but their timing was just not right.
Battlestar was one of my favorites as a kid as well. A question came up in our home around which famous Robot dog they would prefer. K-9 from Doctor Who, Max the Bionic Dog or Muffet from Battlestar, I chose Muffet- I know the other two are technically pretty cool, but I just can’t resist that dogs spring sounds as he walked and his little robotic bark. 😁👍
Dirk was a favorite of mine too. I wish him well! He made my childhood fun!
His character was my favorite in the original Galactica (aside from the beautiful ladies on that show).
Have fond memories of The A Team. My son watched it for 5 years. Age 12-16. Good fun. All the characters were unique. Mr T's one liner still resonates: :I pity the fool who pities the fool."
The Sopranos blows up two of your reasons right off the bat. Tony was a loveable Rogue and was a middle aged over weight guy, but the show was a HBO smash.
As far as your third reason, that did him in for sure.
There are always exceptions to every rule. I'm not sure I would have categorized Tony Soprano as a "loveable rogue"...but, truthfully, I've only seen a handful of episodes, so I could be wrong.
@@jdsundstrom
I binge watched the entire series in a week several years ago.. Actually 3/4 through it a friend got into as I was watching and I subsequently had to restart. Tony was likeable at times and had funny self identifiable moments but he was not loveable, he was a selfish egotistical cold-blooded killer. James Gandolfini did an excellent job with the role showing very human moments continually overshadowed by dark cold emotionless evil.
I had such a HUGE crush on Dirk during the Battlestar Galactica years. I was a teenager and he was the 1st 'blonde' I ever crushed on. One of my all-time favorite movies he co-starred in was 'Scavanger Hunt' - it had an all-star cast from Vincent Price to Scatman Crothers. What a great movie it was. If you ever get lucky enough to find a copy of it, GET IT! You will laugh until your sides hurt and you wet your underpants. Hilarious movie. I thought it was great that he got a sneak cameo in the reboot movie 'A-Team'. Thanks for putting this up. Brought back a lot of really fun memories.
Awesome video Dave
Thanks Danny!
I was a big fan of him as a teenager. I read his first book and it was like the Bible to me. I then went vegetarian. Then "vegan". Nobody knew about it back then, but today it's trendy to eat like that. Unfortunately, his books led me astray. I got thinner and thinner. At some point I stopped eating and became anorexic. I almost starved to death. Then I became a Christian. I was born again. I should really be grateful to Mr. Benedict. Because after a long time in the hunger tower, I'm now on the right path. I only have Mr. Benedict to thank for that. I threw away all the fan merchandise I had. Including a signed book in which he called me a "kamikaze cowgirl". I've been married for over twenty years now and have four healthy children. I liked Dirk Benedict very much. Too much. Today I feel a little sorry for him. But his path is not my path.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Interesting video, Dave. And I'm with you. As a child of the 80's..... I was a HUGE Battlestar Galactica Fan. I'm not a trekkie, or a Dwight Shrute type guy. Not a sci-fi nerd, so to speak.... but I loved that show. Don't know for sure what it was. The story telling was great. And the characters and actors were fantastic. Loren Green is an all-time favorite of mine. And I love the Apollo character too. Anyway, I always wondered a bit.... as to why Dirk Benedict and Richard Hatch just sort of (almost) disappeared. I'd also be interested in your thoughts on Richard Hatch.
One of these days, I'll get around to making a video on Richard Hatch. Thanks for the comment, Jimmy Z!
dirk costarred with michael jacksons brother in big brother 2007
Dave, I think you are spot on with your three reasons, especially the politics.
I did a quick search and, as crazy as it sounds, he was removed from "A-Team" before the end of Season 5 because "the producers felt he looked too young to be a Vietnam War vet." Why did it take them that long to come to that conclusion? And another thing: I'm a Vietnam combat veteran, and I'm three years younger than Dirk Benedict. It doesn't make any sense.
@@LegendLength I agree. His age was never an issue for me.
That’s just a excuse guys ... someone (producers) wanted him gone... and he was ... it’s as simple as that ...Hollywood is that shallow.... 🙄
@@mvracing3 That makes sense. Of the 75 episodes of A-Team, he appeared in all of the first 72. It doesn't make any sense to drop him from the final 3 episodes because he was too young.
That's is the whole reason why California Demoncratic Party Actors and Actress and Demoncratic Party people have owned California's Hollywood as well as China Are still paying billions of dollars towards California Hollywood actresses and actors and Movies and Corrupted Hollywood Demoncratic Party's Bosses China and Demoncratic Party people owned ESPN sports and Some Basketball players and Football Players . REAL American black and white Republicans Actors and Actress doesn't like Demoncratic Party Dictators Governor and mayors and sentors of their own State and City of New York and California and New Jersey and Illinois and Wisconsin Oregon and Washington State Arizona Pennsylvania Delaware Rhode island Maine Minnesota Telling LIES About CHINA Virus illegally lock-down against their own people in America and including illegally wearing a mask 24/7 indoors and outdoors when masks doesn't work ‼️ If you can smell your own Farts and cigarette smoke while wearing a mask 24/7 indoors and outdoors Masks up 2 to 4 masks all at once doesn't work because CHINA'S Wuhan Bio-Weapons Grade Lab Virus have already have been through the 4 masks ‼️🇺🇸 The only one way to stop breathing and stopped CHINA's Wuhan Bio-Weapons Grade Lab Virus is to wearing a $ 25 thousands dollars to $ 100. Thousands dollars White Anti-Virus Suit with a built-in oxygen tanks and some suits are Anti-radiation ☢️☣️🚫⛑️ suits and Regular Space suits . Hospital have White and Orange Biohazard suits and blue Suits and the rest of the Doctors and Nurses and others medical people have Plain Labs suits and plain medical Masks and Surgery masks and gloves and face Shield , all those are disposable regular masks and gloves and surgery masks and gloves and face shield . Those regular masks and gloves and face shield doesn't provide any protection from the Demoncratic Party's/CHINA's Wuhan Bio-Weapons Grade Lab Virus .
@Alex Daniel's drumming vids. Thanks. That makes more sense. Tim Dunigan was born August 2, 1955, and would have been seventeen when the war ended. At most, he would have been in the Army for barely five months before the Paris Peace Accords took effect. Dirk Benedict, by contrast (born March 1, 1945, thus four years older than I), was twenty years old at the time of the 1965 surge in U.S. involvement.
I was an 80’s kid & of course loved watching the A-Team…being a little girl of course Face was one of my favorites. 🥰 Always wondered what happened to Dirk, so this title quickly caught my attention when it appeared in my suggested videos (good choice TH-cam!). I’m a pretty upbeat person & try to find a bright side in everything….but I REALLY, REALLY struggle with these reboots. I didn’t have tv for a few years & haven’t been to the movies in over a decade, so didn’t even realize until recently the 2010 A- Team movie existed. When I did, said no way. Wish I had made the same choice on the 2017 CHIPS. My Mom & son are crazy for the new Hawaii Five-O…recording every episode even if they are watching, then usually watching again. I tried but couldn’t make it through 1/2 an episode. When I saw the Magnum P.I. & MacGyver ads….NO, just NO. If I see The Fall Guy, Simon & Simon or Riptide reboot ads I swear I’m cutting cable off again…I lived without it before, I definitely can live without it now. As much as so many of us wish…believe me, I mean pretty much wish 24/7/365…the magic that existed back then just can’t be brought back. Thank God we can still find some of the shows from back then online or on certain cable channels.
The same thing happened to Bert Parks they got rid of him as the MC of Miss America in 1980 (for 25 years he was the annual host)...Age discrimination happens a lot in the entertainment industry unfortunately.😒
Season 5 begins with Hannibal being approached by a former Northern Vietnam general who wants Hannibal to investigate a nerve gas attack on a village during the Vietnam war. At first Hannibal says no but after talking to Colonel Decker who gives Hannibal a classified government document Hannibal learns it was Beta Team who gas the village. Hannibal tracks down and reunites the A Team for a mission which involves them returning to Vietnam. By having The A Team investigating the nerve gas attack along with another highly trained special ops team carrying out the attack gives The A Team a fresh new format and takes the show in a fresh and original direction
Dave: "Look at these reboots of classic television shows from the 70s and 80s...."
Me: "I'm really trying not to."
Love your content, Dave!
I'd like to see the three remaining A team members come back in an A- Team reboot. Also any other living characters in that show.
I loved him on the A-team. Face was one of my favorite characters.
Dirk benedict was very handsome. From Ms. Harper Stacey.
Dave, we're the same age! 😅 I too was 14 when the BG movie, then the series came out. I was into _everything_ Scifi since childhood, so this show was right up my alley. And as a 14 year old teen, I thought Dirk was the most beautiful man I had ever seen, lol. (Which did not sit too well with my BF😅)
As an aside, I read an article about Dirk in a late 70's _East-West journal,_ an early publication in the wholistic health movement. It said he became deathly ill after the series ended..I think he was diagnosed with cancer? Anyway, rather than going the allopathic route of radiation and chemotherapy, he went up to an isolated cabin out in the forest. There he fasted for months, drank healing teas and returned a cured man! Quite brave of him, in my opinion. And he is still a handsome guy in my book!🙏🏼
Thanks for sharing!
Hey Dave! Great video! Loved Dirk in ATeam! He’s a great rogue! Politically Correct……..well that ruins a great many things. Lol! Thank you again for your work! Always makes me smile!
Thanks Jan. I think it is important to be polite and considerate of other's feelings. However, I believe that there have been moments lately when political correctness has just gone way too far.
@@jdsundstrom I agree completely.
Holly Crap!! I thought He was dead from cancer. I feel so silly. I mourned Benedict's passing like I knew the man. I'm speechless. Thank you.