ROD STEIGER, 1925 - 2002
From the docks of New York to the rural back roads of Mississippi to the war torn Russian steppes, Rod Steiger reveled in creating some of the most overpowering and difficult men on the screen. He could be a total scoundrel, embodying Machiavelli's idiom that "it's better to be feared than loved" in the movies. But as an actor he refused to be typecast and his wide range included characters who were secretly tormented (The Pawnbroker, 1965) or loners (Run of the Arrow, 1965) or eccentrics (The Loved One, 1965).
Along with Marlon Brando, Steiger helped bring the 'Method School' from the Group Theater and Actors Studio in New York to the screens of Hollywood. The Method technique, taught by Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg, insisted on complete immersion into the character's psyche and resulted in intense, dramatic performances and performers. Steiger made his first significant screen appearance as Brando's older brother in On the Waterfront (1954). Their climatic scene together in a taxicab is one of the great moments in American cinema.
It was a short leap from playing a crooked lawyer in On the Waterfront to playing the shady boxing promoter in The Harder They Fall (1956). Based on the tragic tale of true-life fighter Primo Carnera, The Harder They Fall details the corruption behind the scenes of professional boxing bouts. Steiger is a fight manager named Nick Benko who enlists newspaperman Eddie Willis (Humphrey Bogart in his final screen appearance) to drum up publicity for a fixed prizefight. While the boxing scenes were often brutally realistic, the most powerful dramatic moments took place between Steiger and Bogart on the sidelines.
As mob boss Al Capone (1959), Steiger got to play another man you loved to hate. He vividly depicted the criminal from his swaggering early days to his pathetic demise from syphilis. In Doctor Zhivago (1965), Steiger was the only American in the international cast, playing the hateful and perverse Komarovsky. During the production of Dr. Zhivago, Steiger often found himself at odds with director David Lean. Schooled in the British tradition, Lean valued the integrity of the script and demanded that actors remain faithful to the script. Steiger, on the other hand, relied on improvisation and spontaneity. When kissing the lovely Lara (played by Julie Christie), Steiger jammed his tongue into Christie's mouth to produce the desired reaction - disgust. It worked! While it might not have been Lean's approach, it brought a grittier edge to the prestige production and made Komarovsky is a detestable but truly memorable figure.
Steiger dared audiences to dislike him. As the smalltown southern Sheriff Gillespie in In The Heat of the Night (1967), Steiger embodied all the prejudices and suspicions of a racist. When a black northern lawyer, played by Sidney Poitier, arrives on the crime scene, Gillespie is forced to recognize his fellow man as an equal despite skin color. Here, Steiger's character started as a bigot and developed into a better man. He finally claimed a Best Actor Academy Award for his performance as Sheriff Gillespie.
Steiger was an actor's actor. A chameleon who didn't think twice about diving into challenging roles that others would shy away from. In the Private Screenings interview he did with host Robert Osborne he admitted that Paul Muni was one of his idols because of his total immersion into his roles. Steiger said, "I believe actors are supposed to create different human beings." And Steiger showed us a rich and diverse cross section of them.
by Jeremy Geltzer & Jeff Stafford
The Specialist
Brief Synopsis
Set in contemporary Miami, an explosives expert helps a seductive beauty avenge the murder of her parents, teaming up against a formidable trio of villains: a powerful Cuban-American crime boss, his son, and their merciless hit man.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Luis Llosa
Director
Sylvester Stallone
Sharon Stone
James Woods
Rod Steiger
Chris Conrad
Film Details
Also Known As
El especialista, O Especialista, Specialist, Specialisten, expert
MPAA Rating
Genre
Action
Adaptation
Crime
Drama
Thriller
Release Date
1994
Distribution Company
WARNER BROS. PICTURES DISTRIBUTION (WBPD)
Location
Tennessee, USA; Miami, Florida, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 50m
Synopsis
Set in contemporary Miami, an explosives expert helps a seductive beauty avenge the murder of her parents, teaming up against a formidable trio of villains: a powerful Cuban-American crime boss, his son, and their merciless hit man.
Director
Luis Llosa
Director
Cast
Sylvester Stallone
Sharon Stone
James Woods
Rod Steiger
Chris Conrad
Rex Reddick
Jeff Moldovan
Frank A Devito
Scott Blake
Jeana Bell
Yeniffer Behrens
Sergio Dore
Marcela Cardona
Mario Roberts
Ramon Gonzalez-cuevas
Ashley Winston Nolan
John Archie
Tony Tatis
Chase Randolph
Victoria Bass
Tony Munafo
Mayte Vilan
Emilio Estefan
Mario Ernesto Sanchez
Jackie Davis
Yami Hildalgo
Gene Hartline
Steve Raulerson
Juan Cejus
Elvis The Cat
Michael Callabrese
Lead Person
Alfredo Alvarez-calderon
Allan Graf
Brittany Paige Bouck
Steve Gladstone
Anabela Gracia
Bud Ekins
Cheito Quinonez
Joh Brent Curry
Eric Roberts
Mercedes Enriquez
Antoni Corone
David Caprita
Carmen More
Brent Sexton
Jeff Bornstein
Bobbi Evors
Lagaylia Frazier
Guillermo Gentille
Crew
Paul Abascal
Hair Stylist
Brad Anderson
Costumes
Bob Apisa
Stunts
Giorgio Armani
Wardrobe
Mark Ashley
Assistant
Steve Barron
Executive Producer
John Barry
Music
Kevin Bartnof
Foley Artist
Chick Bernhardt
Stunts
Chuck Binder
Executive Producer
Barbara Boguski
Adr Editor
Carl Boles
Rigging Gaffer
Butch Brickell
Stunts
Al Broussard
Special Effects
Carole Brown-james
Costume Supervisor
Ricou Browning
Other
Jackie Burch
Casting
Harold Burns
Stunts
Brian Callier
Graphics
David E Campbell
Rerecording
Christopher S Capp
Assistant Editor
Paul Carden
Dialogue Editor
Curtis Carlin
Props
Andrew Castillo
Stunts
Kevin Cerchiai
Other
Michael Charboneau
Foreman
Maria K. Chavez
Location Manager
Mickey Ciarfalio
Stunts
Harold Collins
Construction Coordinator
Gary Compton
Stunts
Donald Conner
Special Effects
Sheri Davidson
Assistant
Thomas A Davila
Production Accountant
Zack Davis
Adr Editor
Mark Deallessandro
Stunts
Dan Delgado
Lighting Technician
Dennis Deveaugh
Stunts
Timothy Dunford
Assistant Camera Operator
Scott Eddo
Makeup Artist
Alex Edlin
Stunts
Mike Edmonson
Special Effects
Susan Ekins
Associate Producer
Martin Elfalan
Assistant Production Accountant
Gary J Engel
Assistant
Victor Ennis
Assistant Sound Editor
Emilio Estefan
Music Supervisor
Nayib Estefan
Assistant
Donna Evans Merlo
Stunts
Julie Feiner
Foley Editor
Fred Fontana
Production Supervisor
Bobby J Foxworth
Stunts
Mike Franz
Lighting
Jenny Fulle
Other
John E Gallagher
Assistant Director
Lex Geddings
Stunts
Mickey Giacomazzi
Stunts
Ben Gibbs
Other
Tom Gibson
Best Boy Grip
Mark S Gordon
Sound Effects Editor
Ken Gorrell
Special Effects
Clif Gotthelf
Foley Mixer
Allan Graf
Unit Director
Allan Graf
Stunt Coordinator
Kim Haggerty
Assistant
Kristine Harlin
Assistant
Bill Harrison
Special Effects
Dan Hegeman
Dialogue Editor
Mo Henry
Negative Cutting
Jack Hofstra
Editor
Scott Jacobson
Set Decorator
Kent James
Costume Supervisor
Audrey A Johnson
Assistant Property Master
Cheryl Johnson
Other
Kent Johnson
Property Master
Karin Joy
Other
A Kalani
Stunts
Donna Karan
Wardrobe
Jeffrey L Kimball
Dp/Cinematographer
Jeffrey L Kimball
Director Of Photography
Marion Kirk
Costumes
John Kockelman
Stunts
Neil Krepela
Other
Elizabeth Tobin Kurtz
Assistant Sound Editor
Steve Lambert
Stunts
Donna Langston
Other
Steve Laporte
Makeup
Joyce M Lark
Transportation Captain
Peter J Lehman
Sound Effects Editor
Lynn Leonhard
Assistant Editor
Sidney Liufau
Stunts
Kevin Long
Props
Joseph E Lotito
Assistant Director
R J Louis
Coproducer
R J Louis
Unit Production Manager
Greg Lundsgaard
Camera Operator
Marc Macaulay
Stunts
Dennis Maguire
Assistant Director
Judianna Makovsky
Costume Designer
Mollie Mallinger-helfand
Assistant Camera Operator
Kathy Marshall
Stunts
Walter P Martishius
Production Designer
Brian Mcpherson
Sound Effects Editor
Elizabeth Mersky
Other
Hans Metz
Special Effects Supervisor
James A. Miller
Rigging Gaffer
Helen Monaghan
Costumes
Dick Montagne
Assistant Camera Operator
Glenn T Morgan
Sound Effects Editor
David Moritz
Foley Editor
Jeff Most
Executive Producer
Tony Munafo
Associate Producer
Alan Muraoka
Art Director
Shawn Murphy
Music
Ashley Nolan
Assistant
Marshall J Nord
Production Associate
Michael O'shea
Director Of Photography
Michael O'shea
Dp/Cinematographer
Mark Ormandy
Audio
Edward V Pannozzo
Assistant
Pedro Pablo Pena
Choreographer
Ron Phillips
Photography
Clay Pinney
Special Effects Coordinator
J Michael Popovich
Key Grip
Bernard Presock
Assistant
Bob Putynkowski
Color Timer
Manny Ramirez
Stunts
Gwyne Redner
Hair Stylist
John T Reitz
Rerecording
John Rice
Assistant Sound Editor
Steven Riley
Special Effects
Greig Mc Ritchie
Original Music
Dan Romero
Transportation Coordinator
Katie Rowe
Foley Artist
Gregg Rudloff
Rerecording
Mike Rumain
Stunts
Sean Rush
Boom Operator
Gaston Santiso
Assistant Editor
Tricia Sawyer
Makeup Artist
Brad Scheel
Assistant
Greg Schmidt
Assistant Camera Operator
Richard Scioli
Special Effects
Michael Scott
Camera Operator
Peggy Semtob
Hair Stylist
Alexandra Seros
Screenplay
Christopher Sheldon
Sound Effects Editor
Barbara Shiff
Costumes
John Shirley
Other
Joanne Small
Script Supervisor
Frank Smathers
Dialogue Editor
Peter Sobich
Other
Scott Sohan
Other
Gar Stephens
Stunts
Mark P. Stoeckinger
Sound Editor
Stan Storc
Transportation Captain
Larry Sweet
Dolly Grip
Kevin King Templeton
Assistant
Nancy Tracy
Foley Editor
Victor Valiente
Costumes
Ariel Velasco Shaw
Other
Bill Voigtlander
Adr Supervisor
Jamie Weintraub
Assistant
Jerry Weintraub
Producer
Jody Weintraub
Assistant
Joseph Weintraub
Assistant
Julie Weintraub
Assistant
Rachel Weintraub
Assistant
Sarah Weintraub
Assistant
Jeff Winn
Stunts
Jeff Winn
Craft Service
Andy Wiskes
Sound Mixer
Scott Workman
Stunts
John Zimmerman
Stunts
Film Details
Also Known As
El especialista, O Especialista, Specialist, Specialisten, expert
MPAA Rating
Genre
Action
Adaptation
Crime
Drama
Thriller
Release Date
1994
Distribution Company
WARNER BROS. PICTURES DISTRIBUTION (WBPD)
Location
Tennessee, USA; Miami, Florida, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 50m
Articles
TCM Remembers - Rod Steiger
TCM Remembers - Rod Steiger
ROD STEIGER, 1925 - 2002
From the docks of New York to the rural back roads of Mississippi to the war torn Russian steppes, Rod Steiger reveled in creating some of the most overpowering and difficult men on the screen. He could be a total scoundrel, embodying Machiavelli's idiom that "it's better to be feared than loved" in the movies. But as an actor he refused to be typecast and his wide range included characters who were secretly tormented (The Pawnbroker, 1965) or loners (Run of the Arrow, 1965) or eccentrics (The Loved One, 1965).
Along with Marlon Brando, Steiger helped bring the 'Method School' from the Group Theater and Actors Studio in New York to the screens of Hollywood. The Method technique, taught by Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg, insisted on complete immersion into the character's psyche and resulted in intense, dramatic performances and performers. Steiger made his first significant screen appearance as Brando's older brother in On the Waterfront (1954). Their climatic scene together in a taxicab is one of the great moments in American cinema.
It was a short leap from playing a crooked lawyer in On the Waterfront to playing the shady boxing promoter in The Harder They Fall (1956). Based on the tragic tale of true-life fighter Primo Carnera, The Harder They Fall details the corruption behind the scenes of professional boxing bouts. Steiger is a fight manager named Nick Benko who enlists newspaperman Eddie Willis (Humphrey Bogart in his final screen appearance) to drum up publicity for a fixed prizefight. While the boxing scenes were often brutally realistic, the most powerful dramatic moments took place between Steiger and Bogart on the sidelines.
As mob boss Al Capone (1959), Steiger got to play another man you loved to hate. He vividly depicted the criminal from his swaggering early days to his pathetic demise from syphilis. In Doctor Zhivago (1965), Steiger was the only American in the international cast, playing the hateful and perverse Komarovsky. During the production of Dr. Zhivago, Steiger often found himself at odds with director David Lean. Schooled in the British tradition, Lean valued the integrity of the script and demanded that actors remain faithful to the script. Steiger, on the other hand, relied on improvisation and spontaneity. When kissing the lovely Lara (played by Julie Christie), Steiger jammed his tongue into Christie's mouth to produce the desired reaction - disgust. It worked! While it might not have been Lean's approach, it brought a grittier edge to the prestige production and made Komarovsky is a detestable but truly memorable figure.
Steiger dared audiences to dislike him. As the smalltown southern Sheriff Gillespie in In The Heat of the Night (1967), Steiger embodied all the prejudices and suspicions of a racist. When a black northern lawyer, played by Sidney Poitier, arrives on the crime scene, Gillespie is forced to recognize his fellow man as an equal despite skin color. Here, Steiger's character started as a bigot and developed into a better man. He finally claimed a Best Actor Academy Award for his performance as Sheriff Gillespie.
Steiger was an actor's actor. A chameleon who didn't think twice about diving into challenging roles that others would shy away from. In the Private Screenings interview he did with host Robert Osborne he admitted that Paul Muni was one of his idols because of his total immersion into his roles. Steiger said, "I believe actors are supposed to create different human beings." And Steiger showed us a rich and diverse cross section of them.
by Jeremy Geltzer & Jeff Stafford
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Fall October 7, 1994
Released in United States on Video March 21, 1995
Began shooting March 2, 1994.
Completed shooting May 8, 1994.
Steven Seagal, Mel Gibson and Wesley Snipes were all once mentioned for the lead.
Released in United States on Video March 21, 1995
Released in United States Fall October 7, 1994
