Timothy Bottoms: 6 Surprising Facts on His 75th Birth Anniversary

Timothy Bottoms, a face you've surely seen on the big or small screen, celebrates 75 years since his birth. From his early days in cinema with two groundbreaking films to roles that have left many astonished by his versatility, his career is a journey full of surprises. At losupe.com, we love to celebrate artists who have made a mark, much like we did with Florence Welch or Rob Halford, and today we bring you six fascinating facts about Timothy Bottoms' life that you might not have known.

The Only Actor to Play George W. Bush Three Times

Timothy Bottoms holds a truly curious distinction: he has portrayed President George W. Bush on three very different occasions. We're not just talking about one time, but three, each with a completely distinct tone, showcasing his ability to adapt to a wide range of roles.

The first time was in the Comedy Central sitcom That's My Bush!, between 2000 and 2001, where he delivered a parody of the president. He then appeared as Bush in a cameo in the family film The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course. Finally, after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Bottoms once again portrayed Bush, this time in a serious and dramatic manner, in the TV movie DC 9/11: Time of Crisis, one of the first productions based on those tragic events, according to Wikipedia. This triple portrayal is quite uncommon in Hollywood.

Debuted in Two Iconic Films in the Same Year

His film career kicked off in high gear in 1971, not with one, but with two films that became classics. He debuted in Johnny Got His Gun, Dalton Trumbo's harrowing film, where he played the main character, Joe Bonham, a World War I soldier who loses his limbs and senses. This role was a significant challenge for a young actor.

But that same year, we also saw him in The Last Picture Show, a cinematic gem directed by Peter Bogdanovich, where he shared the screen with his brother Sam Bottoms. Interestingly, Timothy would reprise the same character, Sonny Crawford, almost twenty years later, in the 1990 sequel, Texasville, a unique experience few actors get to have, as mentioned in his biography.

His Unrequited Love for Cybill Shepherd

One of Timothy Bottoms' most personal revelations came from his own hand, in a documentary he co-produced in 1991, Picture This: The Times of Peter Bogdanovich in Archer City, Texas. This film takes us behind the scenes of The Last Picture Show and its sequel, Texasville, offering an intimate look at the production and the relationships among the cast.

In this documentary, Bottoms confessed that he had fallen in love with his co-star from The Last Picture Show, Cybill Shepherd. However, his feelings were not reciprocated by her. This honesty in a documentary he helped create gives us a window into the actor's personal and emotional life during such a formative stage of his career, a fact you can find on his Wikipedia profile.

Unwitting Star of Metallica's 'One' Music Video

If you're a rock music fan, you've probably seen Timothy Bottoms without even knowing it. His image is a key feature in the music video for Metallica's 'One,' one of the band's most iconic songs and a metal anthem. This video, famous for its dark atmosphere and powerful anti-war message, intercuts footage of the band performing with scenes from a dramatic film.

The scenes featured in the video are precisely from Johnny Got His Gun, the 1971 film in which Timothy Bottoms made his cinematic debut. The band used fragments of the movie to illustrate the brutality of war, making Bottoms' face a symbol for millions of Metallica fans worldwide, a fascinating detail highlighted in his filmography.

From a Family of Actors and Artists

Timothy Bottoms isn't the only talent in his family. He grew up in a home where art ran through their veins, not only because of his father, James Bud Bottoms, who was a sculptor and art teacher, but also because of his three younger brothers: Joseph, Sam, and Ben Bottoms, who also pursued acting. This familial connection to the artistic world was something that accompanied him from a young age.

In fact, his brother Sam Bottoms, with whom he shared the screen in The Last Picture Show, was a close figure to Timothy. Sadly, Sam passed away in 2008 due to brain cancer, as mentioned in his Wikipedia biography. The story of the Bottoms brothers is an example of how talent can manifest in different members of the same family within the entertainment industry.

The Terrified Principal in 'That '70s Show'

Beyond his dramatic roles and presidential parodies, Timothy Bottoms also gave us a memorable moment on television, showcasing his versatility for comedy. He appeared as a principal in an episode of the popular series That '70s Show.

In the episode titled 'Tornado Prom,' high school students are trapped due to a tornado warning, and Bottoms plays the principal, visibly terrified by the situation. His performance added a touch of humor and humanity to the scene, showing a different facet of his talent that fans of the series surely remember fondly, as detailed in his list of television appearances.

Why it matters

Timothy Bottoms' career is a reminder of how an actor can navigate different genres and roles, leaving a unique mark on each. From profound dramas to light comedies and presidential portrayals, his work has been a testament to consistent versatility. Celebrating his 75th birth anniversary is to acknowledge a trajectory that continues to surprise and connect generations through iconic moments in film and television.