Bruce McGill latest appearance in a movie must've been Vantage Point with Matthew Fox. As always a couple of scenes and than he's dead. Bruce McGill has clearly been aging but gracefully.

Michael Des Barres last appearance on screen was a guest role in Nip/Tuck as a travestite so there was a lot of make up involved, so it's unclear how he aged. In Mulholland Drive he also has a cameo, signs of aging indeed and more grey in his hairdo but that's already eight years ago. I don't know if he's been spared through the years. But I don't think it can be that bad.

Be interesting to find out.

I found a website for michael des barres including recent pics
desbarres.com

I wonder how the new Star Trek movie might affect the studio's decisions. The movie is doing really well, and is getting rave reviews, so it shows that there IS a market for bringing back old TV shows, BUT it has an entirely new cast, which may persuade the studio that reinventing a franchise is better than bringing back the original actors. Time will tell.

Of course, realistically, I know a Mac movie won't do nearly as well as a Star Trek movie. Aside from us few die hard fans, I think most of the world has moved on and now just sees Mac as kind of a campy relic from the 80s. Star Trek, on the other hand, never really left popular culture, and has a MUCH more rabid following (I mean, we've all heard of Trekkies, but have you ever heard of Maccies?)

Aren't we the Maccies? Besides there are alot more MacGyver fans out there than just us, Not to mention RDA fans.

MacGyver is still very popular around the world among the fans that is and that's us.

Can't say it any better then that MacGyverGod.

Would everyone clobber me if I said I wouldn't mind if MacGyver was played by a younger actor PROVIDED that they kept to the MacGyver character 100%, and RDA played Harry?

*runs and hides screaming, flaying hands*

I wouldn't clobber you myself. I think RDA should play MacGyver. Now if you are talking about showing him throughout his life then they would have to cast a younger actor. Maybe Dalton James plays Mac in his younger years and then switch to RDA.''

There wss thread on hear about who should lay Mac in here somewhere. With all sorts of actors.

Personally, for a new actor to be able to fill RDA's shoes, he'd have to be an unknown in my book- someone who will be able to fit the mould AND embrace it, if you know what I mean.

THe thing about RDA playing MacGyver is that unless there is a very talented script writer and a considerate story line, it can become... well, difficult for suspension of disbelief. I don't like actors who are pushing 50 (or 60? Not sure with RDA) to be forced to play characters half their actual age. It's an affront to both the actor and the character. I like actors to play within a 15-year range of their actual age.

I would feel really sad if RDA was forced to play MacGyver like he did in the 80s or even 90s. It is easy to ridicule someone that way. Even Indiana Jones by Ford was a stretch, and good enough only because they did take his age into account. (Personally I believe they could have played with it more

BUT... if RDA were to play MacGyver in his current matching age (MacGyver in his middle age) then WOOT!!! GO FOR IT!

I would love to see him in the role again. I like both him and the character. But maybe the author in me sees them as separate entities with need for respect.

Yaaaaaarggggghhhh!!!!! *Chases with axe and chainsaw*
RDA = MacGyver 100%. Young, old doesn't matter. Another actor to keep to the MacGyver character 100%. *scoffs*

If I was a hero and someone told me in forty years that he's me from now on, you can be your grandfather. I'd say 'forget it pal, I'm who I am until the day I die'.

That actually depends on the take they wanna take with the movie. Maybe the only one I see fit the play the role for the moment besides RDA (and younger actor) is Josh Holloway (Sawyer from Lost).

You don't know that? RDA's pushing 60 just as Stallone and Ford are 60+.

Just as Sly did with Rocky and Rambo. So did he ridicule himself? Why bothering to keep a character young forever? Everybody ages. It's only natural. And I think it's very cool that if the actual actors still try to give a go at it as in the old days. That's what makes me to respect them. They shouldn't be able to run long distances and crash through everything in order to get a bad guy. As long they can swap punches, it's alright for me. There are plenty of other ways to roughen things up than foot chases and jumping from one building to another. There are car chases, explosions, fist fights, MacGyverisms...

I don't know if you have seen the 2006 superbowl commercial. RDA still seemed in a pretty good shape. OK, that's been another three years ago. But I still believe in him that he can do it. I don't care if he's 65 or 35.

8while avoiding chainsaw*DON'T-- use that!

We are not actually disagreeing. I personally like to watch heros age, WELL into old age. Hollywood, however, does not. I always get the distinct impression that it tries to squeeze everyone into a youngish undefinable role that stil relies more on extreme physical stamina and urges rather than the development of the mind and general maturity/intellect that is the asset of the older age classes. And thus, the end result is at best awkward.

As for the superbowl... eh, I'm in Greece. It hasn't come over here yet. XD

A true MacGyver fan would be able to write MacGyver to fit RDA forever, regardless the age. I would greatly enjoy THAT movie and not worry about RDA's age or whatnot.

I don't trust that this will be the case though, not with the usual recipes for Hollywood action/thriller/adventure movies. I sincerely wish it will be.

...still gonna use that chainsaw?

The superbowl commercial is around here somewhere and no, I won't use the chainsaw.

You can watch it, along with many other videos in our Media Center

You can watch it, along with many other videos in our Media Center

YAY! Will do!

It shouldn't matter what his age is He is MacGyver. No body else can or ever will be.

Personally I don't like the MacGruber character. I think of it as a slap in the face of a fine talented actor. I would much rather see the Master Card commercial again and again.

You are probably right.

But I'm a cynic when it comes to industries. I know it appears as though I am undermining to RDA and MacGyver but I promise you I am the exact opposite. I love to see RDA as Mac, all the way to his 100th bday.

If you think Hollywood would balk at breaking a character's original parameters to serve box office rates, look what they did to James Bond. He's (very thankfully in my opinion) not Ian Fleming's any more, if you catch my drift. Also look at Mission Impossible and who the bad guy was in the first movie. I found that insulting when I watched it AND unfair to the actor.

And that young MacGyver series pilot stunt was But pretty insightful as to what they were trying to do with the setting and the character.

Don't shoot the messenger though! I'll stop now before everyone thinks I'm agaist our fav troubleshooter and the man who portrays him. I am NOT.

I am 31, and I am not a good example as far as looks are concerned, I still look barely 20.

But you are ALL missing my point. I see I have struck a collective sensitive chord here, so I will drop it.

But I WILL say this:

It is not about how aged RDA looks or not. It's about HOLLYWOOD SCRIPTING. That's all.

I find it a little alarming though that everyone immediately thought I had something against age- that's really a leap in deductive reasoning, especially when I have said something like FOUR TIMES already that it has nothing to do with whether a hero will be allowed to age, or an actor be allowed to keep playing said character as he ages.

It is all in the WAY IT IS LIKELY TO BE CARRIED OUT.

If you take a step back and look at what I am saying, I am sure you will see it.

Keep in mind that an actor can play a character 'true to character' only as long as the lines he recites are true to character first.

If you can't see that, then I don't know how else to say it as it is pretty clear.

um... where do I click? I dont seem to be able to access that. (I don't want you thinking I'm ignoring you)

edit: I need to sign off, but I feel the need to say after reading the thread over, that in all actuality we are all on the same page but reading different paragraphs of the same text. RDA is the one to play MacGyver for sure, because he IS MacGyver, but for past moments in his life a younger actor would need to be cast alongside him. If the script is done right, it will be a great movie. If not... well, nuts. But MacGyver will still have RDA's likeness either way in a fan's awareness.

If anyone feels I left anything out in my summary or they disagree... Aw, man.

Click above Smeeceymouse and it will show you a personal picture of me. When you've seen it let me know, and I'll show you a picture of me on my wedding day.

I know that you aren't ignoring me. Have a good weekend.

If they want to monkey around with a "younger" cast for MacGyver, then I won't watch it, pure and simple. They can do that later on if they want to, the way they have with the recent Star Trek movie, but that was only after featuring the original (and yes, older) cast in several successful feature-length films prior to the release of this current movie.

Yes! Agreed.

Though if they monkey around with mac at ANY time, I won't watch.

I only watch what I feel was done with love & respect to the material relevant.

You're confusing but now I see you're not against watching an older Mac on the silver screen.

Sorry about attacking you with an axe and chainsaw. We're all simple human beings so don't use too many difficult ways to say something easy.

The new Star Trek to me is horrible! If they try this with MacGyver I will not watch or have anything to do with it. I'd be tempted to protest if MacGyver is anyone but RDA.

But remember that they are going back into history and how the crew met. Just like they did with Star Wars. We got to know the characters histories and what made them tick.

I have the same problem with it, because Kirk isn't Kirk without Shatner, and I'm not even a Trekkie! Still, at least they were willing to stick with the original cast for awhile before attempting this current film version, and that's what I hope they do with MacGyver as well.

ummm... oops?

I am tempted to start a thread on it though. I mean, what Hollywood does to loved characters.

I don't hear anyone complain about the kid who played the young MacGyver in Blood brothers, or Phoenix Under Siege instead of RDA doing it.

I guess it depends on where they want the movie to start. At the beginning of Mac's life, or where the series left off. My personal hope is that it starts at Pete's funeral, but I wouldn't mind learning how Mac made his personnel choices both in childhood and adult hood. Who else influenced him besides Harry, his parents, and his friends.