AC Exclusive Interview with Pulp Fiction's Duane Whitaker

Pulp Fiction Actor Talks About Working With Quentin Tarantino

Once seen, director Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction can't be forgotten. Arguably, the most unforgettable scene is Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames held captive in a pawnshop. Duane Whitaker is the actor who brought Maynard, the infamous pawnshop owner to vivid life.

Duane graciously agreed to an interview, after I saw a new independent film he's starring in with C. Thomas Howell. "Cold Ones" is a smart, quirky drama chock full of colorful characters. He plays Buddy - a wannabe writer and natural storyteller. Whitaker isn't only a solid character actor, but also an acting teacher as well as gifted screenwriter whom Tarantino entrusted to write From Dusk To Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money - the sequel to his hit horror action flick starring himself and George Clooney.

Who were your acting heroes growing up? Who are they today?

Marlon Brando. He never appeared to be acting which fascinated me. I liked a lot of actors but Brando was one that really made me want to be an actor. Then seeing "Midnight Cowboy." I thought, if I can ever be involved in something like this, it would be worth it, whatever the struggle. That's a couple of pretty good film actors - Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight.

Today, as far as film actors, Sean Penn is hard to beat. I think Jeff Bridges is also right up there. There's a lot of good ones.

Pulp Fiction is a film classic. What are you most proud of about it?

I'm just proud to be in the film - period. You can have a long and good career and never be involved in something like that. You have to get lucky. "Pulp" was one of those films that caught a critical and popular wave and just took off. It doesn't happen every day. It's become part of the culture and holds up awfully well I think.

When you read the part of Maynard, was there hesitation because of the violent nature of the role & sexual violation?