Director of Knives Out pays tribute to the late M Emmet Walsh, an admired and legendary character actor, who passed away at 88.
M Emmet Walsh, who has died at the age of 88, was one of Hollywood’s most admired character actors.
Walsh delivered a memorable performance as the police captain motivating Harrison Ford’s character out of retirement in the 1982 classic, Blade Runner. He also earned an Independent Spirit Award for his portrayal of an amoral private detective in the Coen brothers’ film, Blood Simple.
His diverse roles spanned from a security guard in Knives Out to appearances in My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Jerk, and Serpico. Director Rian Johnson, from Knives Out, led heartfelt tributes, describing him as an “absolute legend”.
“Upon arriving on set, Emmet brought along two items: his credits, neatly listed in small font across a single-spaced double column filling an entire page with modern classics, and two dollar bills distributed among the crew with the advice, ‘Keep it and you’ll never go without.'”
Fellow director Edgar Wright described Walsh as “an entirely distinctive presence on screen.”
“Could he be considered the epitome of a character actor? Perhaps even more?” Wright pondered.
Walsh amassed over 200 credits in television and film, frequently making brief yet memorable appearances.
He focused on portraying authority figures who were frequently corrupt, cynical, or unstable, with former USA Today film critic Mike Clark famously characterizing his iconic persona as “a sewage pool disguised in a floral shirt.”
Critique from fellow reviewer Steve Persall in 2011 stated: “Walsh effortlessly elevates ordinary characters, makes oddballs entertaining, and renders extraordinary plots believable.”
Equally adept in both comedic and dramatic roles, the actor remarked, “It’s reassuring to have that versatility. It fluctuates. I enjoy pushing boundaries – testing what I can achieve and what I can successfully execute.”
He contributed to various films, such as the Oscar-winning Ordinary People directed by Robert Redford, the historical epic Reds featuring Warren Beatty, and another Coen brothers’ production, Raising Arizona.
In the realm of comedy, Walsh’s credits spanned from roles in “Christmas with the Kranks” alongside Tim Allen to “Fletch” alongside Chevy Chase.
Walsh expressed contentment with his career as a character actor rather than aspiring to leading roles.
Reflecting on his experiences, he remarked to the Orange County Register in 1989, “I’ve had exposure to stardom. I’ve been around Redford and [Dustin] Hoffman, and it can be daunting. That pursuit of fame is akin to greyhounds chasing a mechanical rabbit. Once caught, they’re too exhausted to continue, and sometimes, you just have to let them go.”
In 1978’s “Straight Time,” Walsh portrayed Hoffman’s corrupt parole officer, sharing the screen with other notable talents like Harry Dean Stanton.
The film that inspired legendary critic Roger Ebert to formulate the “Stanton-Walsh” rule stipulates that any movie featuring either actor, no matter how briefly, cannot be entirely devoid of merit.
However, in the case of Will Smith’s 1999 adventure Wild Wild West, in which Walsh portrayed a train engineer, Ebert declared it to be “so bad” that it broke the rule.
Walsh’s diverse credits span from the horror-comedy Critters to Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, and he lent his voice to the Cartoon Network series Adventure Time as the Cosmic Owl.
Originally known as Michael Emmet Walsh, the actor adopted the moniker M Emmet Walsh to avoid confusion with another Hollywood actor. Reflecting on this decision, he remarked, “There was already a Michael Walsh in Hollywood when I arrived.”
It’s truly heartwarming to see a director showing appreciation for the incredible talent that made the movie so unforgettable. It’s not every day that we see such a genuine acknowledgment of the people who bring magic to the big screen. Rian Johnson’s gesture is a beautiful reminder of the impact that actors and their performances have on the movie industry. Here’s to celebrating legends and the remarkable films they have graced with their presence! Stay tuned for more updates and heartwarming stories from the world of cinema.
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