Celebrity Info
Crispin Glover has long been known as an intense and often unpredictable presence on both the big screen and television, with a career spanning more than three decades. Throughout his time in the spotlight, Crispin Glover has consistently gravitated toward unconventional roles—some quirky and harmless, others steeped in menace. His filmography includes iconic appearances in “Back to the Future” (1985), “The River’s Edge” (1986), “Charlie’s Angels” (2000), and “Willard,” among others. Yet, beyond acting, Crispin Glover has also pursued a parallel career as a provocative musician, visual artist, and independent filmmaker, further cementing his reputation as a true eccentric in the world of entertainment.
Born Crispin Hellion Glover on April 20, 1964, in New York City, he was the son of character actor Bruce Glover and dancer Betty Glover. The family moved to Los Angeles when Crispin was just five years old, and he quickly became involved in school plays while attending the Mirman School. By the time he was thirteen, Crispin Glover made his professional stage debut in a production of “The Sound of Music” alongside Florence Henderson. His television debut came shortly thereafter, when he appeared opposite Nicolas Cage in the pilot for “The Best of Times” (ABC, 1981), a show centered around teenagers navigating the transition to adulthood.
Early guest roles on shows like “Happy Days” (ABC, 1974–1984) and “Hill Street Blues” (NBC, 1981–1987), where Crispin Glover played offbeat adolescents, foreshadowed the kind of characters he would become known for. This persona was fully realized in “My Tutor” (1983), where he played a sexually charged sidekick to lead actor Matt Lattanzi. Over the next few years, Crispin Glover continued to explore the theme of awkward youth in films such as “Teachers” (1985), before landing the role that would catapult him into the public eye: George McFly in Robert Zemeckis’ “Back to the Future” (1985). In the film, Crispin Glover portrayed a socially anxious teenager who is eventually helped along by his time-traveling son, played by Michael J. Fox.
The massive success of “Back to the Future” opened the door for more complex roles, and Crispin Glover received critical acclaim for his portrayals of troubled young men in films like “The River’s Edge” (1986), “At Close Range” (1986), and “Twister” (1989). However, his time in the mainstream was short-lived. Crispin Glover declined to reprise his role as George McFly for “Back to the Future Part II” (1989), leading the production to use unused footage from the first film and hire actor Jeffrey Weissman, who wore prosthetics to resemble Crispin Glover. This decision led to a lawsuit from Crispin Glover, who argued that his likeness was used without permission. The Screen Actors Guild later responded by adding a clause to its contracts to prevent similar incidents.
With that chapter behind him, Crispin Glover turned his attention to an alternative artistic path. He released a surreal music album titled The Big Problem Does Not Equal the Solution, The Solution Equals Let It Be, which featured his unusual interpretations of songs like “These Boots Are Made for Walking” and Charles Manson’s “Never Say ‘Never’ to Always.” In addition, Crispin Glover began reworking public domain books from the late 19th and early 20th centuries into avant-garde slide show presentations, often blending them with live performances.
Perhaps one of Crispin Glover’s most infamous moments came during a 1987 appearance on “Late Night with David Letterman” (NBC, 1982–1993), where he appeared in a bizarre wig and seemed to lose control during the interview, nearly lashing out at Letterman. Whether it was performance art or a genuine breakdown, Crispin Glover never clarified, but the incident only added to his mystique as an unpredictable and daring performer.
Over the years, Crispin Glover has continued to take on roles that highlight his unique screen presence. He played Laura Dern’s eccentric cousin Dell in David Lynch’s “Wild at Heart” (1990), delivered a haunting portrayal of Andy Warhol in Oliver Stone’s “The Doors” (1991), and appeared as a variety of offbeat characters in films like “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” (1993), “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” (1993), “Dead Man” (1995), and “The People vs. Larry Flynt” (1996).
In a surprising turn, Crispin Glover demonstrated impressive physicality as the silent assassin The Thin Man in “Charlie’s Angels” (2000), a role that helped revive his mainstream appeal. This resurgence continued with “Willard” (2003), a remake of the classic horror film, and “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” (2003), though, as before, Crispin Glover’s return to the mainstream proved fleeting.
Using the earnings from these films, Crispin Glover completed a long-gestating passion project, What Is It? (2005), an experimental film starring actors with Down’s Syndrome. The film, which polarized audiences and critics alike, was followed in 2007 by It is Fine! Everything Is Fine, co-written by and starring actor Steven C. Stewart, who had cerebral palsy. To support these independent ventures and his traveling slide show, Crispin Glover appeared in a number of low-budget horror films, including The Wizard of Gore (2007), while also maintaining a steady voice-over presence in the Open Season franchise. He even reunited with Robert Zemeckis to lend his voice and motion capture performance to the title monster in Beowulf (2007).
More recently, Crispin Glover has taken on roles in films such as Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) and The Bag Man (2010), while finding more consistent work on television. Notably, Crispin Glover appeared in the History Channel’s Texas Rising (2010) miniseries and portrayed the sinister god of globalization in the Starz series American Gods (2017–present), continuing to thrive as a performer who defies convention and embraces the unconventional.
Crispin Glover is perhaps best known for his role in what many consider his highest-rated film, Back to the Future (1985). On the other hand, one of his lowest-rated movies in terms of reception is The Con Is On (2018). While Crispin Glover has appeared in a variety of films throughout his career, these two titles often come up when discussing his most and least acclaimed work. It’s interesting to note how Crispin Glover’s performances have been received so differently across these two films.
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