Makes his Film Acting Come-Back Debut in the Independent Film and Sundance Hopeful

The Writer

After nearly a 20 year hiatus from acting, the Emmy winning director of ‘Room 222’ and cult icon of ‘Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea’, decides to get back in the game

November 22, 2004—Los Angeles, CA—After winning an Emmy and making history as Chief Sharkey in the hit television series, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Terry Becker decided to call it quits. His career he felt, had reached an apex, and he didn’t want to go the way of so many Hollywood stars who cling to a golden era that no longer exists. Becker now had a family, a list of credits to be envied and, not to mention, an Emmy on his mantelpiece.

            But for a man who has always been described by his peers as having too much on his plate, he began to grow restless and in late 2003, Becker decided to get back in the game. He placed a call to his old friend and talent agent Bud Moss to talk to him about getting involved in a project. Something had just come across his desk, Moss said, that Becker would be perfect for. He warned Becker that it was a smaller project, not the grandiose productions he was accustomed to, but that it was a good one, and he should take a look at it.

            Becker read the script, a 50 minute film by first-time writer-director, Chad Michael, entitled The Writer. Within hours, Becker contacted Michael, a USC Film School graduate who had barely been handed his diploma, to sign up for the role of Dr. Norman Solomon, the film’s lead. “The funny thing was,” Michael recalls, “is that I was having actors from all over send me their demo tapes for this role. But not Terry. He wouldn’t do it. He said he would meet with me and that would be enough. He was right.”

            The deal was made, and Becker was now the lead in a film by a group of recent USC graduates with very few credentials to their name. When asked why he decided that he wanted the role, Becker simply stated, “It’s a good film.”

And his dedication to the project was apparent to everyone involved. A week before production was to begin, Becker was taken ill and forced to remain in the hospital for several days. “It seemed the only one who wasn’t worried about him was himself,” says actress Kelli McNeil, who plays Melinda in the film. “As soon as he got on set, everyone was so worried about his health. I kept trying to give him tea and coffee so he would stay warm, but he insisted on taking care of himself.”

In spite of his recent illness, Becker devoured the role of Norman Solomon with the same fervor he did with his role of Chief Sharkey, more than 40 years ago and delivered an outstanding performance. “I gotta good feeling about this film,” he says. “And as an actor, I have learned to always trust my feelings, my instincts. That’ll never change.”