“I get angry easily” sounds like hyperbole, but for Rip Torn, it may have been the understatement of the century.
The actor, who died Tuesday at his home in Connecticut at 88, was well known for his outsize, outlaw persona. Most famously, he became enraged and struck Norman Mailer with a hammer while filming the latter’s 1968 film “Maidstone.” Naturally that led to a fight which included Torn biting Mailer’s ear. That fight made its way into film.
Oddly, this persona — along with his dramatic acting, which earned him an Oscar nomination for his role in 1984’s “Cross Creek” and several Tony nominations — was at the heart of his comedy, which remains the most endearing thing about him. By using that larger-than-life reputation to generate laughter rather than property damage, Torn gave us some of the most memorable characters in recent decades.
In honor of the late actor, here are the roles that defined his comedic presence.
• Artie on “The Larry Sanders Show”:
By the time Torn landed a role on an HBO comedy in 1992, he had portrayed three U.S. presidents: Ulysses Grant, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. Most fans knew the towering man as a dramatic actor who could bring a scowl with a side of gruff masculinity to any role.
He imbued Artie with those very same qualities, only this time his over-the-top toxic and threatening nature was played for laughs. The sitcom was a behind-the-scenes satire of a late-night show, this one hosted by Garry Shandling’s Larry Sanders. His producer Artie cares only about the show going well, so he keeps things running, often with threats.
For his efforts, Torn earned six consecutive Emmy nominations as Artie, winning one.
• A series of cameos, from “Men in Black” to “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story”:
A felicitous result of his role as Artie was how many big-budget studio comedies suddenly used him in small, cameo roles. Torn’s character was usually some play off his own persona.
Many point to his role in 1997’s “Men in Black” as Zed, the agent who recruits Will Smith to the secret government agency.
