28 Years Ago, Quentin Tarantino Saved This Actor’s Career from Obscurity!

When discussing Quentin Tarantino’s films, “Jackie Brown” might not be the first to come to mind. However, it stands as one of his finest works. Due to its more subdued and composed nature compared to his other films, it’s understandable why it might be mentioned less frequently than “Pulp Fiction,” “Kill Bill,” or “Django Unchained.”

The plot revolves around Jackie Brown, a flight attendant who supplements her income by smuggling cash for a gun dealer, Ordell Robbie. One day, she is caught at the airport by a federal agent and an LAPD officer who hope to use her to bring down the trafficker.

Jackie then devises a bold plan to double-cross everyone during an upcoming money transfer involving a modest sum of $500,000. However, she must deal with Ordell’s associates, who are rather ruthless.

Tarantino Revives Careers

It’s worth noting that “Jackie Brown” is the only Tarantino film based on a novel, specifically Elmore Leonard’s 1992 book “Punch Creole.” For the lead role, Tarantino selected Pam Grier, a 1970s blaxploitation superstar.

Much like John Travolta in “Pulp Fiction,” the director gave Grier’s career a significant boost; she had been largely forgotten after her reign as the queen of B-movies, known for roles like Foxy Brown and Coffy, the Black Panther of Harlem.

However, Pam Grier wasn’t the only one Tarantino helped shine a new light on with this film. He also provided a memorable role for Robert Forster, which helped relaunch his career. Forster played a likable bail bondsman who falls in love with Jackie Brown.

A Spectacular Comeback at 56

By the late 1990s, Forster, then 56 years old, found himself at a career standstill; he struggled to land meaningful roles, making ends meet through minor productions. His situation could be likened to Rick Dalton, the fading star portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.”

After being a significant actor in the 60s and 70s (“Reflections in a Golden Eye,” “Justine,” “The Don Is Dead”), Forster had languished for 20 years in low-budget Hollywood films (“The Delta Force,” “Maniac Cop 3,” “American Yakuza”) until Tarantino offered him the role of Max Cherry.

“I had to take any role because I have four kids, and you learn to accept any role and do your best with it,” he revealed in a 2011 IndieWire interview.

My career was at an all-time low, and then Quentin came along.

His performance earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1998 and brought him out of obscurity. “My career was at an all-time low, and then Quentin came along,” he shared in the documentary QT8, which aired last September on Arte. This film includes a moving interview with Robert Forster before his death in 2019.

A Life-Changing Role

“Tarantino told me he was turning ‘Punch Creole,’ a novel by Elmore Leonard, into a film. I thought he wouldn’t let me be hired. At that point in my career, no one wanted me. They were looking for big names. I’ll never forget what he said. He said, ‘I hire whoever I want.’ That’s when I knew it would change my life,” the actor revealed.

He said, ‘I hire whoever I want.’ That’s when I knew it would change my life.

Thanks to “Jackie Brown,” Robert Forster later landed a significant role in the series “Breaking Bad” as Ed, the Cleaner. Vince Gilligan, the creator of the cult series, was a fan of the film and was eager to have Forster in the role. He would reprise this role in the movie “El Camino,” one of his last performances before his death on October 11, 2019, at the age of 78.

“Today, the world loses yet another gentleman. Another straight shooter. A good man. A wonderful father. A fantastic actor. I remember all our breakfasts at Silver Spoons. All the stories. All the kind words. All the support. Casting Robert Forster in ‘Jackie Brown’ was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life,” Tarantino declared following the announcement of Robert Forster’s death.