Gary Lockwood of “2001: A Space Odyssey”

By Vittorio Carli 

Gary Lockwood is perhaps best known for his role as the astronaut, Dr. Francis Poole, in the classic sci-fi film,"2001: A Space Odyssey," and playing  Commander Gary Mitchell in the second Star Trek pilot (both will be showing at the Movieside sci-fi fest), but he has had a long and varied career.  He worked with many important industry figures such as Stanley Kubrick, Jimmy Stewart, William Shatner, Sally Kellerman, Josuah Logan, Elia Kazan, Vincent McEveety, and Gene Roddenberry.  He even appeared  in a  goofy  episode of  the  Love American Style show with his  then wife Stephanie Powers called “Love and the Door” (it’s available on the Love American Style first season DVD). And on top of all that he got to punch Captain Kirk (William Shatner) on screen.  

Lockwood will appear in person on May 10 as part of the Movieside and Music Box Sci-Fi Spectacular 3 at the Music Box Theater at 3733 N. Southport Ave. He will answer questions after a 5:30 screening “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Tickets are $12:00. It’s a great bargain and  for that paltry fee moviegoers  will get to see over 12 hours of sci-fi classics. For the complete schedule go to www.musicboxtheatre.com/feature/scifispectacular3.html. 

Recently I got the chance to do a phone interview with Lockwood. He turned out to be very amiable, down to earth , and eager to reminisce about his career. Unlike some of the celebrities I interviewed, he never came off as egotistical.  Despite his many achievements, he just seemed like an ordinary nice guy with many industry stories that he wanted to share.  For further info readers might want to peruse his book, “2001 Memories: An Actor’s Odyssey.” 

..................A Conversation with Gary Lockwood by Vittorio Carli 

Vittorio: Can you tell me how you got started in acting?  

Gary: I was a cowboy stuntman. I was always riding around on horses.  Also, I sometimes worked as a double/stand in for actors.   I once doubled for Tony Curtis.  Then “The Tall Story” came along. It was a film with Tony Perkins (from “Psycho”) plus Jane Fonda and a young Robert Redford were also in it. In the film a Russian baseball team travels to America. They needed someone who looked Slavic for the role.  They asked me if I wanted to audition for the part.  Up until then I had gotten stuntman work, but it was sporadic. But in this film I got 10 full weeks of work, so it was definitely a step up.  Evidently they were happy with me. Jane Fonda’s agent started representing me.  That’s how my acting career started. 

Vittorio: What was it like to work with Tony Perkins?  

Gary: Well you have to understand that there is a definite pecking order in films.  I was just starting out. I was a new actor, so I didn’t say too much to the stars.  

Vittorio: How do you generally prepare for a role, and what’s important for young actors to remember?  

Gary: Well I actually think that the way you dress and how your hair looks are extremely important.  These are things you have the most control over. Also important are the rhythm and rapidity of your speech. You have to be audible, and you have to know how to deliver lines-- especially action verbs. But to tell you the truth, most of the time you are not talking, and 90% of the time you are just physically reacting to things.  

Vittorio: You’ve done both TV series and films. Which do you prefer doing?  

Gary: Well of course I prefer films. Who doesn’t?  I would rather have done more of them and less TV.  But I usually did not get the plum roles in the big films. In film you only have to learn 3 pages of dialogue for a day of shooting, but In TV you have to learn 10 or 20.  I did get to play Toots in "Splendor in the Grass" under Elia Kazan along with Montgomey Clift and Natalie Wood.  

Vittorio: Could you tell me about the two TV series that you appeared in?  

Gary: Well I did some episodes of “Follow the Sun.”  But the most significant TV work I did was in “The Lieutenant” which ran in 1963-64. I played Marine Second Lieutenant William Tiberius Rice who was very idealistic.  It was a big break. That’s how I got to know the Star Trek producer, Gene Roddenberry. He also produced the show Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols and Majel Barrett also worked with Gene on that show and that was before Star Trek.  

Vittorio: What was it like working for Gene?  

Gary: We had a very good working relationship. We trusted each other completely unless it had to do with women. Ha ha. Later on I worked with Gene again on "Star Trek."

Vittorio: What was it like working on the second Star Trek pilot, "Where No Man has Gone Before?"  

Gary: Well I was miserable during much of the shooting because I had to wear these lenses in my eyes to show I had been taken over by an alien force. But I made a ton of money later appearing at Star Trek conventions and signing autographs, so it was worth it.   

Vittorio: Did you have any memorable encounters with Star Trek fans? 

Gary: Well one fan asked me what it was like at the academy.   At first I thought he was using the term the way film makers do, but he had me confused with the character I played in the episode, and he thought I had really attended an outer space academy!  

Vittorio:  You also played a major role in another important sci-fi production “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Did you ever suspect that “2001" would become such a monumental classic film while you were making it?  

Gary: I knew right away that we had done something great. I later saw Arthur C. Clarke on the plane after he had seen the film. He had written the novel and co-scripted the film.  I was surprised that he seemed to have no idea what a fantastic job he had done. And the film could only have been done that well by Kubrick.  

Vittorio: What’s your take on Kubrick?  

Gary: He saw some film footage with me in it, and cast me in the film sight unseen. This is only done by directors that are very supremely confident in their craft.  He was very smart and he never over directed. He had an instinctive knowledge of cinematic language. He’s quite simply the best that’s ever been.  

Vittorio: Were you a Kubrick aficionado before you did “2001?”                                                                                                                        

Gary: Oh yes.  I thought he was great ever since I saw "The Killers" when I was younger.  I feel his last work “Eyes Wide Shut’ was not fully appreciated, and also had many great things going for it.  

Vittorio: Were there some things that you didn’t like about the whole “2001” experience?  

Gary: Well some of the critics irritated the hell out of me, and they pissed me off with their negative reviews.  Many of them thought it was too slow. Other people caught on first. When the film played in Lester Square in England, John Lennon bought a ticket for every night’s performance, and it played there a year.  What else is better than “2001?” Well maybe “Blade Runner.”  I love that film too.  

Vittorio: Well to tell you the truth when I first saw the film I thought it was merely good, but every subsequent time I saw it I liked it more, and now it’s my favorite science fiction film.  A lot of other people told me that the film also expanded in their heads after they saw it many time. Why do you think that is?  

Gary: Well This isn’t meant as an insult, but it obviously means that you matured and grew intellectually as you kept watching the film over and over.  

Vittorio : “2001” is known for its brilliant use of music. What did you think of the music in the film?  

Gary: They were wonderful of course. I mostly listen to classical music anyway, although I also love jazz, and more modern synthesizer based music.  

Vittorio: Did you ever hear that David Bowie deeply regretted not getting the opportunity to write pieces for the film’s soundtrack?  His first big hit “Space Oddity” was inspired by 2001, and it came out the year after the film.  It was obviously inspired by the film. 

Gary: Yes, well the film makers wanted to only use classical on the film. I think they made good choices.  

Vittorio: Did you ever get to see the sequel “2010,” and if so what did  you think of it?  

Gary: Well I liked it well enough, but I thought it was a bit too talky. The original had more silence.  

Vittorio: Of course “2001” ended up being one of the most acclaimed and influential films of all time. Were there any projects that you worked on that you thought were underrated that you should have gotten more recognition for doing? 

Gary: Well I was in a film called “Firecreek” which came out the same year as 2001. It might be my best performance from an actor’s standpoint.  I did some of my best work in the role of the villainous gunslinger. Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart were also in it.  I always played good villains. Of course the film making was much more straightforward and less technical than 2001.  

Vittorio: The musical “Oliver!” won best picture in 1969 and hardly anyone thinks that’s an important film anymore. Were you surprised or disappointed that “2001” did not win any major awards on Academy Awards Night?  

Gary: Well you have to understand that many of the voters are old farts who are used to films that are filled with clichés. They’re always behind the times.  

Vittorio: “Night of the Scarecrow” has acquired a cult following. Did you like doing that?  

Gary: Well it was a lot of fun to make, and it was made on a very low budget.  The time went by incredibly fast, and we made it very quickly, so I don’t have that many memories I can share about it.  

Vittorio: What were some of your most rewarding experiences in Hollywood and who did you especially like working with?  

Gary: I also Liked doing “Bus Stop” with Don Siegel, and of course working for Elia Kazan on “Splendor in the Grass was rewarding.  

Vittorio: Kazan is associated with method acting more than any other American film director. How do you feel about that approach to acting? 

Gary: I didn’t think I completely understood it in the beginning. When people go to such great lengths to become a character the results can be either very good or very bad.  

Vittorio: Do you have any advice that you want to give to aspiring actors?  

Gary: Believe it or not that they need to read all the books that they can. When it’s all over that’s what does the most to expand your mind. That’s the best way to enrich your brain. Also it’s essential that aspiring actors must learn to actually listen to other people.  

Vittorio: I’ll make sure that I share this advice with the students in the lit class that I teach.