The real Birdmen: Former superheroes haunted by their past
OSCAR favourite Birdman tells the story of a washed-up actor haunted by his famous role as a superhero. Is it rooted in reality?
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IN Oscar favourite Birdman, a washed-up Hollywood star best known as a former superhero is attempting to make a comeback in a serious play.
Actor Riggan Thomson is determined to be seen as relevant again, while struggling with what appear to be delusions in which he becomes his flying alter-ego again.
The hypnotic storyline bears some similarity to the life of its star, Michael Keaton, who is famous for playing Batman in Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992).
Keaton has insisted the character does not reflect him, saying he barely discussed his superhero past with director Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu and adding: “I have never related less to a character”.
But the role of the ex-hero is a hard one to inhabit. The success of Marvel and DC Comics franchises has meant superhero parts are now coveted by established Hollywood stars.
Yet if your name was made as you flew through the sky wearing a cape, you may never truly be free from the curse of your past.
PETER WELLER: ROBOCOP
Weller is best known as the lead character in RoboCop (1987) and RoboCop2 (1990).
Like Thomson in Birdman, the 67-year-old moved on to more serious roles than that of cyborg law enforcer.
He appeared in critically acclaimed films including Woody Allen’s Mighty Aphrodite and David Cronenberg’s movie of William Burroughs’s seminal novel Naked Lunch, Leviathan and Screamers.
He went on to star in short-lived series Odyssey 5, appeared in season five of 24 and made guest appearances on Star Trek: Enterprise, Dexter and sci-fi drama Fringe.
A keen historian, trumpet-playing Weller has a doctorate from UCLA in Italian Renaissance art, has taught fine art and literature at Syracuse University and contributes to History Channel documentaries. He has reportedly never watched Robocop 3.
SAM J. JONES: FLASH GORDON
Jones beat Kurt Russell and Arnold Schwartzenegger (another man known largely for playing a certain superhuman character) to the main part in1980’s Flash Gordon.
It may have been his greatest moment.
After his striking performance, Playgirl reprinted a nude centrefold he had shot before he took on the role.
The directors scrapped the planned trilogy and Jones went on to appear in a string of TV shows, including Code Red, The A-Team, Baywatch and Diagnosis Murder, plus several straight-to-video movies.
He still appeared on the big screen, however, in the excellently named In Gold We Trust, Enter the Shootfighter, Maximum Force, Hard Vice and Dead Sexy.
In 2007, he guest-starred in a Flash Gordon TV series on the Sci Fi Channel. He also appeared as himself in 2012 comedy, Ted. Like we said, his greatest moment.
HELEN SLATER: SUPERGIRL
Slater played the Kryptonian heroine in TriStar’s 1984 film Supergirl, but made an abrupt turn into comedy-drama in the ensuing years, starring in movies Ruthless People, The Secret of My Success and City Slickers.
Like Keaton’s character, she too fancied producing and acting on Broadway, founding a New York theatre group called The Naked Angels and appearing in Grease and Shakespeare and Friends.
She claims music was her first love, and recorded four albums in the 2000s, in which she sings and plays the piano. She also sang in 1989 rom-com Happy Together and 1994’s Lassie.
She later made a brief return the superhero universe, making three guest appearances on TV series Smallville as Clark Kent’s biological mother.
TOBEY MAGUIRE: SPIDER-MAN
Maguire’s face will surely always be synonymous with Spider-Man, who he played in Sam Raimi’s movie trilogy.
While the baby-faced 39-year-old has appeared in plenty of other critically acclaimed movies, he remains best known as the perfect Peter Parker.
Maguire was known before Spidey for roles in Pleasantville, The Cider House Rules and Wonder Boys — and he impressed again in Seabiscuit, Brothers and The Great Gatsby. He has been nominated for Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe Awards, although he hasn’t won yet.
But can we ever separate him from that Lycra-clad figure kissing Kirsten Dunst upside-down in an alleyway?
He was replaced in 2012 prequel The Amazing Spider-Man by Andrew Garfield, and even switched to producing films. Everyone’s tried to move on. It just seems we can’t.
BRANDON ROUTH: SUPERMAN
Routh may not be the most famous Superman, but he got a pretty rough ride after starring in 2006’s widely respected Superman Returns.
The 35-year-old was in a tricky position from the outset, since he was partly cast because he looked like the best-known Superman actor, Christopher Reeve.
He had hoped to return again, but Henry Cavill took on the role in 2006’s Man of Steel.
Cast out of the red underwear, Routh had a cameo in Kevin Smith’s Zack and Miri Make a Porno as well as appearing in Scott Pilgrim vs the World.
He has made guest appearances on Gilmore Girls, Will & Grace and The Millers, but it isn’t perhaps the greatness you might expect from someone who beat Hugh Jackman to “Best Superhero” in the 2006 Spike TV Awards.
Routh is a World of Warcraft fan.
Originally published as The real Birdmen: Former superheroes haunted by their past
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