No matter how many Oscars Sean Penn wins or roles he plays, he will most be remembered for one of his earliest roles. Nothing can compare to the greatness of Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High!
Yesterday, when the actor was on Conan, O’Brien wanted to know if based the stoner surfer on anyone in particular. He did.
After reading Cameron Crowe’s book, which the film is based on, he immediately thought of someone that was “rhythmically aligned with that character.” That guy was one of the first people he met when he moved to Malibu in 1969.
The TBS host then wanted to know if this guy knew that the ultimate ’80s dude was based on him. Penn said, “I really don’t think so, but part of that, may have had to do, with him, not knowing where he was.”
Now that we have a better image of the man that Penn knew from the time he was 9-17, has he ever seen him since their memorable time, to only one them, on the beach surfing? About 2 months ago, Penn was riding the waves and he ran into a well-spoken family man. Penn couldn’t place him until he told him his name. This businessman was the same man that was the inspiration for Jeff Spicoli.
Which is kind of interesting if you think about it. Penn is more like Spicoli today than the guy who he based the part on. Whoa. Mr. Hand would be so blown away by that.
BTW I am totally watching Fast Times again because of this interview. To me, this is the greatest coming of age movie from the ’80s. Sorry John Hughes, but it is.
Before Sean Penn was a bad student in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, he was a helping one on Little House on the Prairie. How awwwwdorable was the 13 year old in that 1974 episode.
WireImage
The Fast Times Ridgemont High class of ’82 got together for a reunion at the Guy’s Choice Awards and those guys look great! Taylor Negron, 53 (The Pizza Guy), Forest Whitaker, 49 (Charles Jefferson), director Amy Heckerling, Brian Backer, 54 (Mark ‘Rat’ Ratner), Robert Romanus, 54 (Mike Damone), Sean Penn, 50 (Jeff Spicoli) and Judge Reinhold, 54 (Brad Hamilton) all accepted the Guy Movie Hall of Fame award that will air June 10th on Spike TV. Can you believe that classic movie came out almost 29 years ago?
BTW if ever there was a movie that belonged in the Guy Movie Hall of Fame it is this one, maybe next year Porky’s will join Fast Times.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a rite of passage movie for boys and to celebrate that Spike TV is inducting the movie in to the Guy Movie Hall of Fame at the Guy’s Choice awards! Sean Penn (Jeff Spicoli), Judge Reinhold (Brad Hamilton), Robert Romanus (Mike Damone), Brian Backer (Mark ‘Rat’ Ratner), Forest Whitaker (Charles Jefferson ) and director Amy Heckerling (Clueless and Look’s Who Talking) will get together for their 29 year reunion on June 10th! Yes this movie had three (including Nicolas Cage) future Oscar winners in it.
Sadly according to Inside TV, Jennifer Jason Lee is busy with a play in NY and Phoebe Cates is unavailable. Hopefully Spike TV can convince the women to change their plans and come out to the show. Could you imagine what a coo it would be for them if they could get Mrs Kevin Kline to come out in a red bikini? I am sure a lot of boys, who used that scene like Brad Hamilton did, would really appreciate because she hasn’t aged a day since the movie came out in 1982!
Sadly another person who will not be joining them, Ray Walston aka Mr Hand passed away in 2001. You know he will be yelling at Spicoli from above on that big night!
Sean Penn said that he wishes his critics would “die screaming of rectal cancer” and when a reporter asked him about it, The Washington Examiner says that they threatened to have the police escort her out. The reporter (Tara Palmeri) from Yeas & Nays was at a “gala hosted at the Washington Hebrew Congregation and was allowed to ask one question each of the actor in a closed-door news briefing.” She asked him about his comments and the publicist immediately cut her off. Sean Penn did respond to her, but only with “You know, I think that you are investing in a culture that I am not interested in. And you should go your way.” If Sean Penn is going to wish rectal cancer on his critics, then he should have the guts to respond to them when they ask him about it. Instead of having the publicist say the interview is over in my opinion.
According to The Washington Examiner, after the reporter left the room she was told if she wanted to keep her job she would have to write a letter of apology to the Haitian Ambassador and then the paper said that she was threatened to be escorted out by police. The paper added that they also tried to take her recording device and erase the interview. As you can see from the YouTube video they did not succeed.
Seriously I will say it again, if you are going to make such a ballsy comment like telling your critics to die of rectal cancer, then you should have the balls to respond to what you said when you are asked about it and don’t back down from it. I think he should apologize for saying such a sick and disgusting thing because karma will come back and bite you in the a$$ when you say sh!t like that…no pun intended. BTW I don’t wish rectal cancer on him or any of my critics.
