Summary

• Kevin Bacon's Animal House experience was marred by uncomfortable hazing scenes directed by John Landis.
• Bacon felt alienated from his co-stars due to Landis' on-screen division that spilled over into real life dynamics.
• Despite the challenges, Bacon has moved past his negative Animal House experience, and has become a revered Hollywood actor.

Animal House is a classic gross-out comedy that broke new ground with its raucous humor, rebellious spirit, and a memorable cast that brought the anarchic world of a 1960s fraternity to life. Among the ensemble was a young Kevin Bacon portraying Chip Dillard, a naïve college freshman pledging the elitist Omega Theta Pi fraternity. While the film has achieved cult status, Bacon didn't have the best personal experiences on set.

Kevin Bacon's career, both before and after Animal House, is a testament to his versatility and staying power in Hollywood. From his breakout role in Footloose to his complex performances in films like Mystic River and The Woodsman, Bacon has consistently proven his ability to delve deep into the psyches of varied characters. The actor's trajectory in the entertainment industry following Animal House is a narrative of resilience and evolution, navigating through challenging roles and emerging as an actor respected for his depth and dedication to his craft. However, Kevin Bacon's Animal House experience wasn't one of his personal highlights.

Kevin Bacon Felt Alienated From His Animal House Co-Stars

Director John Landis Intentionally Separated The Deltas & The Omegas

The infamous hazing scene in Animal House is ed for its humor and over-the-top portrayal of fraternity initiation rites. However, for Kevin Bacon, the experience was far from comedic. The actor recalled (via Jimmy Kimmel Live):

They showed me the paddle Metcalf was going to use on me, and it was made of balsa wood. I was like, 'No problem.' But Landis had him hit me over and over. In the script, my character said 'Thank you, sir, may I have another?' maybe three times. Landis kept yelling, 'Again! Again! Again!' and it definitely started to sting.

The scene's repetition, egged on by director John Landis's relentless "Again! Again! Again!" directions, moved it from a staged act to an uncomfortably realistic experience. Bacon's recounting highlights a problematic aspect of the film's production, where physical discomfort was used as a tool for authenticity, a practice that wouldn't fly in today's industry standards. The alienation didn't end there, either, as Landis decided to maintain a separation between the cast portraying the "good" and "bad" guys in the film, which translated into real-life dynamics that exacerbated Bacon's sense of isolation. Bacon explained:

I was in the a****** group, along with Neidermeyer and all the bad guys. But the good guys, he wanted them all to be separate from us and have this, like, really cohesive unit [...] and it sort of took hold in our private life.

Bacon describes how this on-screen division spilled over, impacting off-screen interactions. The two groups were kept from speaking with each other, and this enforced separation meant Bacon was left out of the camaraderie and celebrations that could have eased the pressures of filming.

Neidermeyer actor Mark Metcalf had a different approach and used the division to work on his character — "I stayed in the room above McGill’s. I wanted to party with the Deltas, but it would’ve been wrong for Neidermeyer to do that. I was kept up late by the noise. I’d polish my R.O.T.C. helmet and get deeper and deeper into character." (via NY Times), but his method approach didn't make Landis' strategy right. Today, this approach to directing would be questioned for its ethical implications.

Bacon Has Moved Past His Animal House Experience

The Actor Is Better Known For More Three-Dimensional Roles

Despite the rough patches during Animal House, Kevin Bacon's reflection on the experience and his relationship with John Landis has mellowed over the years. On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Bacon shared a more nuanced view, commenting, "Don't feel too bad for me." Bacon's comments indicated his ability to look back without bitterness; he acknowledged Landis' warmth and humor outside the pressures of the set, painting a complex picture of their interactions that transcended the challenging moments during production. The actor noted:

I found John [Landis] to be extremely warm and funny, In fact, I would run into him [in the Village] sometimes after we did the movie, and he was always a super friendly and generous guy. He was cool. I really liked John.

Kevin Bacon's journey post-Animal House is a narrative of remarkable success. His diverse roles have allowed him to explore a breadth of characters far removed from the likes of Chip Dillard. He starred in the iconic Footloose as Ren McCormack, a role that solidified his place in Hollywood. In Mystic River, Bacon delivered a powerful performance as Detective Sean Devine, navigating the murky waters of friendship and tragedy. Another notable role came in The Woodsman, where he played Walter, a convicted sex offender struggling with reintegration into society—a performance lauded for its bravery and nuance.

These roles, among others, highlight Bacon's ability to dive into complex characters, offering audiences a glimpse into the human condition through his performances. It's a relief to see that the versatile actor seems to have genuinely move past his negative Animal House experience, but that still doesn't make it right. Thankfully, in today's filming climate, actors' physical and emotional safety are being more taken into consideration.

Watch Animal House on Netflix

Source: Jimmy Kimmel Live!