George Buck Flower American actor, writer, producer, assistant director Date of Birth: 28.10.1937 Country: USA

1. Biography of George Buck Flower
2. Early Life and Career
3. Collaboration with John Carpenter
4. Other Notable Roles
5. Legacy

Biography of George Buck Flower

George Buck Flower was an American actor, writer, producer, assistant director, producer, and casting specialist. He was known for his distinctive appearance and often played characters that fit a narrow stereotype, such as alcoholics and homeless individuals.

Early Life and Career

Born in Blue Mountains, Eastern Oregon, Flower joined the army as a teenager before attending Eastern Oregon College. However, he soon moved to California and enrolled in Pasadena City College. He quickly became a member of the local theater group, 'The Inspiration Players,' where he spent twelve years performing with them. The group traveled to Alaska and all forty-eight continental states in America.

In the early 1970s, Flower began his film career in low-budget films aimed at mass audiences, such as 'Country Cuzzins' (1970), 'Below the Belt' (1971), and 'The Dirty Mind of Young Sally' (1970). He had the opportunity to work with the legendary creator of American exploitation cinema, Harry Novak.

Collaboration with John Carpenter

Flower had a good working relationship with director John Carpenter, who often included a small role for him in his films. Some of his notable roles in Carpenter's films include a unlucky fisherman in 'The Fog,' a beggar in 'Escape from New York,' a grumpy cook in 'Starmen,' a slob who rises to power in 'They Live,' another beggar in 'Body Bags,' and an alcoholic school janitor in 'Village of the Damned.' These roles brought Flower popularity and recognition.

Other Notable Roles

Aside from his collaboration with John Carpenter, Flower worked with other renowned directors such as Matt Cimber, Jim Wynorski, Don Edmonds, William Lustig, Bill Rebane, David DeCoteau, Bethel Buckalew, Jack Starrett, Nick Phillips, Anthony Hickox, and Fred Olen Ray. Some of his other notable roles include a cantankerous hermit in 'Wilderness Family,' a detective in 'The Witch Who Came from the Sea,' a corrupt policeman in 'The Candy Tangerine Man,' a machete-wielding psychopath in 'Drive In Massacre,' an irritable old fool in 'Relentless,' an elderly janitor in 'Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama,' an unwavering patriarch in 'Pumpkinhead,' a perpetually grumpy laborer in 'Cheerleader Camp,' a sociable railroad worker in 'The Alpha Incident,' a homeless man living on a park bench in 'Back to the Future' (he reprised this role in the sequel), a unkempt countryman in 'A Small Town in Texas,' a camp guard in 'Berseker,' and a rural hunter in 'Skeeter.'

Flower also had television roles in popular series such as 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' 'Flo,' 'NYPD Blue,' 'ER,' and 'Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.'

Legacy

George Buck Flower passed away from cancer on June 18, 2004, at the age of sixty-six. Many of his roles are considered classics in the world of cinema.