- Peter Gustafson Dang, y'all, and Jeffrey Duke Patterson got this via Viggo. I mean, if it's connected to Viggo, it's just gotta be good. I mean, hangs with Frodo, then, hangs out with Omar Sharif, that's cool !
Jeffrey Duke Patterson Yeah Peter, Viggo's more than just a pretty face. Oscar-nominated actor, equestrian, published writer and poet, renowned artist and sculptor, who's work has been used in some of his movies, at the request of the directors. When it came to doing the Lord Of The Rings movies, he gave his teenage son his agent's number. And told him, "Call my agent and YOU decide if I'm going to do these movies or not". And at that time, he became the biggest heart throb in the world to females, from ages 10 to 90! Throughout his film career, he's gained a particular reputation. If it's asked who the nicest person is on a movie set, the answer is always the same. Viggo. He bought the horses that he rode in both LOTR trilogy and "Hidalgo". I remember first seeing him in the mid-eighties movie "Witness" I don't even think he had a line. Or he might've had one, but it was in Amish. But, I remember thinking that we would see a lot more of that guy in the future. And I'll be damned. I was right. I had a memorable encounter with Viggo at SXSW in...2009? He was in town promoting the screening of "The Road". I think I asked him if the movie was every bit as dark and depressing as the novel, written by Cormac McCarthy. He said he was a fan of Cormac McCarthy. He read the script, but went back and read the novel again, before he agreed to do the movie. But, we talked very little shop. I told him if he was in town long enough, to check out some of Austin's art museums. I told him I knew he was a very educated art lover, and I wouldn't have recommended them if they were crap! Haha. And he laughed. We talked a bit about the galleries and museums in Dallas and Houston. He didn't know Houston was known for its art museums until that very trip. He said that someday, he wanted to spend two to three weeks, with just a roadmap, and drive around Texas. He loved the mystique and the history of it. I joked with him and told him if he were to do such a thing, not to do it in a white 1970 Dodge Challenger. That would just draw attention and speeding tickets! And of course, that was a small reference to a movie he'd made. He groaned a little. But, he said it was fun working on a movie where the car was really the STAR of the whole thing. He didn't understand "car guys" or "gear heads" too much, until he made that movie. And he said at his request to the director, that he be allowed to do as much of his own driving as he could, without stunt drivers. He said he never knew how much fun it could be, hotrodding around in an old Muscle Car, with no regard or compliance with the law. He became addicted to it, and completely understood after that why some of his friends were such big car guys. He's not a collector, but he did end up with one of the nice Challengers that they used in the movie. He did say he rarely drives it, just because he doesn't trust himself in it! Anyways, a truly interesting, talented and generous man. He had asked what I did, and I told him. He asked where I was performing, as he'd like to get out and catch some live music. But, I had to tell him I wasn't performing at the festival that year. But, we talked a good 30 to 45 minutes in a conference room that overlooked Lake Austin. Most people wouldn't do that. But, I didn't treat him like a celebrity, and he sure as hell didn't act like one. Just another guy I got in a conversation with, that turned out to be every bit as nice, as cool, and intelligent as I'd always heard...if not more. So, you can say I'm a fan or admirer of Viggo's work. But for many reasons, and not solely on his acting. A fascinating man.
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