Timothy Carey American actor and director Date of Birth: 11.03.1929 Country: USA

1. Timothy Carey: An Unconventional Hollywood Icon
2. Early Career and Breakthrough
3. The Hollywood Villain and Other Roles
4. The World's Greatest Sinner and Career Highlights
5. Later Years and Legacy

Timothy Carey: An Unconventional Hollywood Icon

Timothy William Carey, born on March 11, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York, USA, was an American actor and director. He was known for his iconic portrayals of doomed, psychotic, and deranged characters, earning him the title of the Great American Original of the Decade even after his death. One of Carey's trademarks was his unique habit of speaking by only moving his lips, without parting his teeth. When asked if he ever used drugs or abused alcohol, he famously replied, "No, I am a teetotaler. I have never even smoked. People always offered me weed or cocaine. I have my own cocaine – it's my own personality. I am cocaine...".

Early Career and Breakthrough

After graduating from acting school at the age of 22, Carey made his film debut in 1951 as a dead body in a western movie alongside Clark Gable. His inclination towards improvisation led him to splash beer on Marlon Brando's face while portraying Chino, a member of a biker gang, in the 1953 drama film "The Wild One." Continuing to captivate the audience, Carey played Joe, a bouncer threatening James Dean, in the 1955 drama film "East of Eden." He then had the opportunity to showcase his talent in two Stanley Kubrick films - the thriller "The Killing" in 1956 and the crime drama "Paths of Glory" in 1957. In the former, he played the sociopathic Nikki Arane, who signed a contract to shoot racehorses with great pleasure. However, in the latter, Carey portrayed Ferol, a sympathetic French soldier unjustly sentenced to execution to atone for the foolishness of his generals during World War I.

The Hollywood Villain and Other Roles

Despite being typecast as a villain, Carey's talent was recognized by some directors who saw beyond his menacing appearance. Marlon Brando, replacing Stanley Kubrick as the director, gave Carey a prominent role in the western film "One-Eyed Jacks" in 1961. Francis Ford Coppola attempted to cast Carey in his masterpiece films "The Godfather" in 1972 and "The Godfather: Part II" in 1974, but the actor was already committed to other projects. Director John Cassavetes also provided Carey with notable roles in the comedy film "Minnie and Moskowitz" in 1971 and allowed him to play Flo in the crime drama "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie" in 1976.

The World's Greatest Sinner and Career Highlights

One of Carey's career highlights was the 1962 drama film "The World's Greatest Sinner," for which he served as a director, screenwriter, producer, and lead actor. In the film, Carey played Clarence Hilliard, a rock'n'roll evangelist who, out of pride, starts calling himself God. His character, an insurance salesman, creates his own religion, plays rock'n'roll with a group of female saxophonists, manipulating crowds, and enters a race for the presidential seat. With a budget of $100,000, shot intermittently from 1958 to 1961, "The World's Greatest Sinner" remains one of the most famous works in the grindhouse genre. Rumor has it that even Elvis Presley requested a copy of this film from Timothy Carey.

Later Years and Legacy

Timothy Carey's last film appearance was in the 1986 comedy-drama "Echo Park." Aspiring director Quentin Tarantino tested his favorite actor Carey for the role of crime boss Joe Cabot in his first film "Reservoir Dogs" in 1992, but eventually felt that Lawrence Tierney was a better fit for the character. Nevertheless, the film "Reservoir Dogs" was dedicated to Carey. In his final years, Carey taught acting and passed away from a stroke on May 11, 1994, in Los Angeles, California. Reflecting on the difficulties he faced in finding work early in his career, he once revealed, "Someone brought me to Laslo Benedek, who directed 'The Wild One,' and he liked me. But he wouldn't let me ride a motorcycle. I think he didn't trust me. He thought I would kill a few people."