Actor Ray Wise, known most widely as Leland Palmer in the cult classic television show "Twin Peaks," returned to his hometown of Akron this week to give fans an inside look at his almost 60-year career in show business.
Wise also talked about growing up in Akron and his time at Kent State University during an appearance at the Nightlight Cinema.
Wise has been in more than 300 roles on film, TV and beyond. And he said it all started at Akron鈥檚 Garfield High School, acting in school plays.
"I'm a child of Akron, molded like a piece of clay, you know, and I've taken all of my experience from early on, and I use it to this day," he said.
Wise, known for a mix of villainous, dramatic and comedic roles, said he also drew on hi-jinks with the friends he grew up with, like one time, swapping all the flags at the Firestone Country Club golf course.
"So when the golfers came the next day, the 18th hole flag was on hole number one," he said, "and we didn't do them in order, but we switched them all around. And I don't know if I should admit that because I was breaking the law, I think, at that time."
Wise studied at Kent State University, where he initially met the woman who would become his wife. They broke up because of Wise's "ego," but reunited years later. While at KSU, he ran his own radio show on WKSU about the adventures of "The Campus Kid."
"During the day he was a mild-mannered ballet major, and at night he became The Campus Kid in blue tights, powder-blue tights," Wise said.
But the 78-year-old with a winning grin and a piercing gaze said his most formative early experience was at Akron鈥檚 Weathervane Playhouse. There, he learned a lesson from the longtime Artistic Director Bob Belfance.
"As an actor, it's more important to listen than it is to talk. Listen to everyone in the scene with you. Listen intently, closely. And if you do that, you'll never, ever forget what you have to say to them," Wise said.
Wise said he鈥檚 carried that with him for decades. While not often the leading man, you might recognize him as the gangster in "Robocop," or the charming but sinister devil in the CW series "Reaper," or even in bit roles on "Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job" on adult swim on the Cartoon Network.
But he鈥檚 probably best known for his portrayal of Leland Palmer in Twin Peaks.
Wise talks showbiz at the Nightlight
Wise met with dozens of fans at the Nightlight Cinema in Akron Monday, including Tyler Brown.
"The seriousness he can do and then spinning into dancing and singing you know, 'Does eat oats, and lambs eat oats, and little lambs eat ivy,'" Brown said, referring to a song Leland Palmer manically chanted in "Twin Peaks." "I don't know, he's a great actor."
During his talk at the Nightlight, Wise revealed tons of juicy tidbits from his long career. Steven Spielberg almost cast him as the lead in the first "Jurassic Park" movie, with Wise and Sam Neil up for the role of Dr. Alan Grant. And Wes Craven nearly chose Wise over Robert Englund for Freddy Krueger in "A Nightmare on Elm Street."
"I think he made the right choice, because Englund looked a hell of a lot more like Freddy Krueger," Wise joked.
There was also the time Wise spoke about "Twin Peaks鈥�" big plot reveal during an interview with Russian TV.
"He (the interviewer) said, 'Mr. Wise, who killed Laura Palmer?'" Wise said in a Russian
accent.
Wise answered candidly, as the final episode had already aired. But then it dawned on him.
"In 1996, the show had just started playing in Russia. They hadn't gotten to that part yet. I just ruined it for a whole nation," Wise said, although he added he never heard if the interview actually aired.
Wise鈥檚 visit to Akron comes more than a year after "Twin Peaks鈥�" legendary chain-smoking co-creator, David Lynch, died of complications related to COPD.
Wise only had a small part in the 2017 "Twin Peaks" reboot, but he recalls fondly a voicemail he got from Lynch about returning to that strange pacific Northwest town.
"'If this is Ray Wise, this is David Lynch here. We're going back, Ray,'" Wise recounted in his best Lynch impression. "'Call the office.'"
Wise remembered Lynch as a one-of-a kind creative force.
"I play it (the voicemail) every now and then just to hear David's voice you know. I miss him like hell," Wise said, noting he tried to get Lynch to stop smoking. "We were good friends and he died a little over a year ago, and it left a hole in a lot of hearts, and we sure hated to see him go, and it just didn't seem right. The world doesn't seem the same to me. We were the same age, he might have been like a half year older than me."
On the lighter side of things, Wise also shared a tale he learned from "Twin Peaks" composer Angelo Badalamenti about Paul McCartney and "Twin Peaks." Badalamenti recounted that McCartney reportedly was invited to Queen Elizabeth II's birthday in the early 1990s, and he had written her a song.
But before he could play the song for her:
"She said, 'oh. It's ten minutes to eight. 'Twin Peaks' is coming up...' She went upstairs to watch the episode of 'Twin Peaks,' leaving Paul standing there with his sheet music in hand. And she came down after the episode, Paul was gone," Wise recounted.
The talk at the Nightlight ended with a montage of Wise鈥檚 career highlights, which had many, including Wise, misty-eyed as they looked back on a long life.
Wise said the return visit to Akron brought up a lot of emotions. He teared up as he talked about his parents, explaining the significance of his first name. He was named for his uncle Raymond, who died just a month shy of the end of World War II while fighting in Belgium. Wise's father, Herbert F. Wise, was a decorated paratrooper in World War II who received a parade in Cleveland upon his return, he said.
The Nightlight鈥檚 Executive Director Jenn Kidd said small independent theaters like hers are important for fostering these kinds of experiences with homegrown actors like Wise.
"A bunch of us were just in there crying together. It's a communal experience," Kidd said. "I love being able to pause things on my sofa, but even more I love to be able to be in a theater and watch these stories on a really giant screen and just experience it with people. It helps you feel less isolated."
Wise said he鈥檚 not ready to give up the ghost on acting. He worked on three movies in the past year.
"I'm gonna drop in front of a camera. I'm never gonna retire. You're gonna have to hit me over the head with a stick," Wise said.
In one of those projects, called "The Good Dark," Wise will be featured opposite "Twin Peaks" co-star Sherrilyn Fenn.
Wise and travel manager Mike McGraner have held several other talks with Wise across the Midwest recently. McGraner said they're currently booking more shows across the country for later this year.
