Born: March 18, 1950
Age: 73
Birthplace: Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.

Bradford Claude Dourif (/ˈdɔːrɪf/; born March 18, 1950) is an American actor. He was nominated for an Oscar, as well as winning a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award for his supporting role as Billy Bibbit in the critically acclaimed film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975).
Dourif's other notable film roles were in Dune (1984), Mississippi Burning (1988), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), and Child's Play franchise. He also appeared in many television series, notably Deadwood (2004-2006, 2019), for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
Dourif was born in Huntington, West Virginia, on March 18, 1950, to Joan Mavis Felton (née Bradford), an actress, and Jean Henri Dourif, an art collector who owned and operated a dye factory.[1][2] His stepfather was golfer William C. Campbell.[3]His paternal grandparents emigrated from France, and his paternal grandfather co-founded the Standard Ultramarine and Color Company in Huntington.[4] After Aiken, he attended Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, graduating in 1968. Dourif appeared as an amateur at the Fountain Valley Film Festival in 1969, taking second place in the 8 mm film category with his 10-minute entry "Blind Date."[5] Dourif attended Marshall University for a time, before quitting college and moving to New York City to study acting on the advice of actress Conchata Ferrell.[6]
Starting in school productions, Dourif progressed to community theater, joining up with the Huntington Community Players while attending Marshall University. In New York City, he studied with Sanford Meisner, and worked with Marshall Mason and Lanford Wilson at the Circle Repertory Company. During the early 1970s, Dourif appeared in a number of plays, off-Broadway and at Woodstock, New York, including The Ghost Sonata, The Doctor in Spite of Himself, and When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?, in which he was spotted by director Miloš Forman[6] who cast him in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975).
In 2013, after a three-decade absence from the stage, Dourif chose to star alongside Amanda Plummer in the Off-Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' The Two-Character Play that played to critical acclaim at the New World Stages.[7] He explained, in a filmed interview released by the producers, why he broke his 29-year hiatus from acting in live theater: "I hated the stage, did not want to do it. And then somebody said, 'Will you do a play? It's with Amanda Plummer', and I said, 'Oh shit! No. Oh God, I'm gonna have to do this...'".[8] It opened on June 10, 2013 and closed on September 29, 2013.[9] The play was subject to a number of performance cancellations, one relating to Dourif's absence, due to a death in the family. Plummer refused to perform without Dourif, notwithstanding the presence of an understudy.[10]
Although One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is frequently cited as Dourif's film debut, his first acting for screen was in a low-budget film called Split, which was never released. He followed this with a role in the film W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975), but his bit part was omitted from the final cut of the film.[11] His portrayal of the vulnerable Billy Bibbit in Cuckoo's Nest ended up being his big break, earning him a Golden Globe Award (Best Actor Debut) and a British Academy Award (Supporting Actor) as well as a nomination for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.[6]
In 1981, Vincent Canby listed Dourif as one of twelve actors to watch, calling Dourif "one of the most intense, most interesting young film actors of his generation."[12] Skeptical of his instant stardom, Dourif returned to New York, where he continued in theater and taught acting and directing classes at Columbia University until 1988, when he moved to Hollywood.
Dourif has often played eccentric or disturbed characters[citation needed], starting with Cuckoo's Nest and continuing with Eyes of Laura Mars (1978), John Huston's Wise Blood (1979),"[13] Forman's Ragtime (1981), Marc Didden's Istanbul (1985) and David Lynch's Dune (1984) and Blue Velvet (1986).
Dourif has appeared in a number of horror films, notably as the voice of Chucky in the Chucky franchise. He portrayed the Gemini Killer in The Exorcist III (1990) and appeared in Death Machine (1994) and Alien Resurrection (1997). He later appeared as Sheriff Lee Brackett in Rob Zombie's Halloween (2007) and Halloween II (2009). In 2013, Dourif reprised his role as Chucky in the sixth installment of the Child's Play franchise, Curse of Chucky, and then again in the 2017 sequel, Cult of Chucky, both of which were straight-to-DVD releases. His daughter, Fiona Dourif, also starred with him in both films.
Other notable film roles include Gríma Wormtongue in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and supporting roles in Fatal Beauty (1987), Mississippi Burning (1988), Hidden Agenda (1990), London Kills Me (1991) and Sinner (2007).
Dourif was initially cast as the Scarecrow in Batman Forever (1995) while Tim Burton was attached to the project (Burton had also wanted to cast Dourif as The Joker in "Batman" (1989), but the studio refused[14]). However, the script was later heavily rewritten and the character was eventually removed. Joel Schumacher eventually took over the project and cast Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face and Jim Carrey as the Riddler.
Dourif has worked with director Werner Herzog on many occasions, appearing in Scream of Stone (1991), The Wild Blue Yonder (2005), Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009), and My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? (2009).
In 1984, Dourif played a suspected serial killer in the episode "Number Eight" of Tales of the Unexpected. In 1994, he appeared in The X-Files episode "Beyond the Sea" as the psychic serial killer Luther Lee Boggs. He also portrayed Lon Suder in a three episode story arc on Star Trek: Voyager and guest starred as a troubled monk haunted by visions in Babylon 5. Dourif later gained acclaim as Doc Cochran in Deadwood, receiving a 2004 Emmy Award nomination for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series."
In 2011, he guest starred in the third-season finale of Fringe[15] and in 2014 he made a brief cameo in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode "The End of the Beginning."[16]
In 2012, Dourif contributed spoken word vocals to three songs on the album Misery Together by the Norwegian duo Thinguma*jigSaw.[17] Dourif also appears in the music videos for "Stranger in Town" (1984) by Toto and "Drinking from the Bottle" (2012) by Calvin Harris.
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately. |
Dourif has been married twice. He has one daughter with his first wife Janet, and another daughter, actress Fiona Dourif, with his second wife Joni.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings | Unknown | Uncredited |
1975 | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest | Billy Bibbit | BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year - Actor Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor |
1977 | Group Portrait with a Lady | Boris Koltowski | |
1978 | Eyes of Laura Mars | Tommy Ludlow | |
1979 | Studs Lonigan | Danny O'Neill | |
1979 | Wise Blood | Hazel Motes | |
1980 | Heaven's Gate | Mr. Eggleston | |
1981 | Ragtime | Younger Brother | |
1984 | Dune | The Mentat Piter De Vries | |
1985 | Istanbul | Martin Klamski | |
1986 | Blue Velvet | Raymond | |
1986 | Impure Thoughts | Kevin Harrington | |
1987 | Fatal Beauty | Leo Nova | |
1988 | Child's Play | Chucky/Charles Lee Ray | |
1988 | Mississippi Burning | Deputy Clinton Pell | Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor |
1989 | Sonny Boy | Weasel | |
1990 | Child's Play 2 | Chucky | Voice |
1990 | Spontaneous Combustion | Sam | |
1990 | Horseplayer | Bud Cowan | |
1990 | Graveyard Shift | Tucker Cleveland | |
1990 | The Exorcist III | James Venamun | Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor |
1990 | Hidden Agenda | Paul Sullivan | |
1990 | Chaindance | Johnny Reynolds | Nominated—Canadian Screen Award for Best Actor |
1990 | Grim Prairie Tales | Farley | |
1991 | Murder Blues | John Barnes | |
1991 | Child's Play 3 | Chucky | Voice |
1991 | Jungle Fever | Leslie | |
1991 | Body Parts | Remo Lacey | Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actor |
1991 | Scream of Stone | Fingerless | |
1991 | London Kills Me | Hemingway | |
1992 | Final Judgement | Father Tyrone | |
1992 | Critters 4 | Al Bert | |
1993 | Trauma | Dr. Lloyd | |
1993 | Amos & Andrew | Officer Donnie Donaldson | |
1994 | Color of Night | Clark | |
1994 | Death Machine | Dante | |
1995 | Murder in the First | Byron Stamphill | |
1995 | Phoenix | Reiger | |
1996 | Sworn to Justice | Teddy | |
1996 | A Step Toward Tomorrow | Kirby | |
1997 | Jamaica Beat | Tom Peterson | |
1997 | Nightwatch | Duty Doctor | |
1997 | Best Men | The Vet | |
1997 | Alien Resurrection | Dr. Jonathan Gediman | |
1998 | Brown's Requiem | Edwards | |
1998 | Senseless | Dr. Wheedon | |
1998 | Progeny | Dr. Bert Clavell | |
1998 | Urban Legend | Michael McDonnell | Uncredited |
1998 | Bride of Chucky | Chucky | Voice |
1999 | The Diary of the Hurdy-Gurdy Man | Gabriel | |
1999 | Cypress Edge | Colin McCammon | |
1999 | Interceptors | David M. Webber | |
1999 | Silicon Towers | Alton | |
2000 | Shadow Hours | Roland Montague | |
2000 | The Prophecy 3: The Ascent | Zealot | |
2001 | The Ghost | Lt. Garland | |
2001 | Soulkeeper | Mr. Pascal | |
2002 | The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | Gríma Wormtongue | Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
2003 | The Box | Stan | |
2003 | Vlad | Radescu | |
2003 | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | Gríma Wormtongue | Extended Edition only |
2004 | Seed of Chucky | Chucky | Voice |
2004 | The Devil's Due at Midnight | The Dark One | |
2004 | The Hazing | Professor Kapps | |
2004 | El Padrino | Cyrus | |
2005 | Drop Dead Sexy | Herman | |
2005 | The Wild Blue Yonder | The Alien | |
2005 | Man of Faith | B. B. Gallen | |
2006 | Pulse | Thin Bookish Guy | |
2007 | Sinner | Caddie | |
2007 | The List | Johan Gabini | |
2007 | The Wizard of Gore | Dr. Chong | |
2007 | Halloween | Sheriff Lee Brackett | |
2008 | Touching Home | Clyde Winston | |
2008 | Humboldt County | Jack | |
2009 | Born of Earth | Mayor | |
2009 | Lock and Roll Forever | Zee | |
2009 | Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans | Ned Schoenholtz | |
2009 | Halloween II | Sheriff Lee Brackett | |
2009 | My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? | Uncle Ted | |
2010 | Chain Letter | Mr. Smirker | |
2010 | Junkyard Dog | Sheriff Holk | |
2011 | Fading of the Cries | Mathias | |
2011 | Priest | Salesman | |
2011 | Catch .44 | Sheriff Connors | |
2011 | Death and Cremation | Stan | |
2012 | Last Kind Words | Wylon | |
2012 | Black Box | Tom | |
2013 | Santa Monica | Stan | Short film |
2013 | Gingerclown | Worm Creature | Voice |
2013 | Blood Shot | Bob | |
2013 | Curse of Chucky | Chucky/Charles Lee Ray | |
2013 | Malignant | The Man | |
2014 | The Control Group[citation needed] | Dr. Broward | |
2015 | Rosemont | Abe | |
2017 | Cult of Chucky | Chucky | Voice |
2018 | Wildling | Daddy/Gabriel Hanson |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1976 | The Mound Builders | Chad Jasker | Television film |
1977 | The Gardener's Son | Robert McEvoy | Television film |
1978 | Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force | Sgt. Leonard Matlovich | Television film |
1980 | Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones | David Langtree | Television film |
1982 | I, Desire | Paul | Television film |
1986 | The Equalizer | Fenn | Episode: "Out of the Past" |
1986 | Spenser: For Hire | Maxie Lyons | Episode: "Rage" |
1986 | Rage of Angels | Seymour Bourne | Television film |
1986 | Vengeance: The Story of Tony Cimo | Lamar Sands | Television film |
1987 | Moonlighting | Father McDonovan | Episode: "All Creatures Great...and Not So Great" |
1987 | The Hitchhiker | Billy Baltimore Jr. | Episode: "The Legendary Billy B." |
1987 | Miami Vice | Joey Wyatt | Episode: "Theresa" |
1989 | Murder, She Wrote | Dr. Warren Overman | Episode: "Fire Burn, Cauldron Bubble" |
1989 | Desperado: The Outlaw Wars | Camillus Fly | Television film |
1989 | Terror on Highway 91 | Keith Evans | Television film |
1993 | Wild Palms | Chickie Levitt | 3 episodes |
1993 | Tales from the Crypt | Virgil | Episode: "People Who Live in Brass Hearses" |
1994 | The X-Files | Luther Lee Boggs | Episode: "Beyond the Sea" |
1994 | A Worn Path | Hunter | Television film |
1995 | Babylon 5 | Charles Dexter/Brother Edward | Episode: "Passing Through Gethsemane" |
1995 | Escape from Terror: The Teresa Stamper Story | Sheriff Bill Douglass | Television film |
1995 | Escape to Witch Mountain | Luther/Bruno | Television film |
1996 | Star Trek: Voyager | Lon Suder | 3 episodes |
1996 | Blackout | Thomas Payne | Television film |
1996 | If Looks Could Kill | M. Eugene "Gene" Hanson | Television film |
1997 | Millennium | Dennis Hoffman | Episode: "Force Majeure" |
1999 | The Norm Show | The Devil | Episode: "Norm and Shelley" |
1999 | The Magnificent Seven | Rupert Brauner | Episode: "Chinatown" |
1999 | The Hunger | Manno | Episode: "Sin Seer" |
2001-2002 | Ponderosa | Maurice Deveraux | 8 episodes |
2004-2006 | Deadwood | Dr. Amos "Doc" Cochran | 33 episodes Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series |
2008 | Law & Order | Dr. David Lingard | Episode: "Called Home" |
2010 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Iggy Drexel | Episode: "Torch" |
2011 | Fringe | Moreau | Episode: "The Day We Died" |
2011 | Psych | Bernie Bethel | Episode: "Shawn, Interrupted" |
2011 | Miami Magma | Jacob Capilla | Television film |
2012 | Wilfred | P.T. | Episode: "Questions" |
2012 | Criminal Minds | Adam Rain | Episode: "The Lesson" |
2012 | Swamp Volcano | Jacob Capilla | Television film |
2012-2014 | Once Upon a Time | Zoso | 2 episodes |
2013 | End of the World | Dr. Walter Brown | Television film |
2014 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Thomas Nash | Episode: "End of the Beginning" |
2015 | F Is for Family | Principal Jay (voice) | Episode: "Billy Murphy's Day Off" |
2019 | Deadwood | Dr. Amos "Doc" Cochran | Television film |
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2001 | Myst III: Exile | Saavedro |
2002 | Run Like Hell | Fred (voice) |
2005 | Gun | Reverend Josiah Reed (voice) |
2012 | Dishonored | Piero Joplin (voice) |
[ Source: Wikipedia ]