Yet the 55-year-old also has an extensive portfolio of acting performances across an eclectic range of films. Ahead of Marc Fennell’s sit down chat with Rollins on Tuesday, September 6 on The Feed at 7.30pm on SBS 2, we take a look at five of his best theatrical turns.
The Devil’s Tomb (2009)
Rollins has favoured wackier genre fare throughout his career (case and point everything from Jack Frost to Suck), but The Devil’s Tomb is a more serious supernatural thriller. Also starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ron Perlman, Rollins plays Father Fulton – a priest caught up with an elite group of soldiers as they try to escape an ancient evil unleashed in a laboratory.
Sons Of Anarchy (2009)
When looking for someone to play a white supremacist gang leader and rapist, the progressive and left-leaning Henry Rollins doesn’t seem like the obvious choice – which is what makes it so great. A perfect example of playing against type, and then some, his turn as AJ Weston is series two of the bikie drama made for one of the most engaging antagonists throughout the show’s seven seasons. His crimes aside, perhaps the scariest part of Rollins portrayal was the calm malice and intelligence the character exuded.
He Never Died (2015)
Rollins very rarely gets to showcase his acting skills in a starring role: He Never Dies is the exception. It’s a part that gives him plenty of room to move, with the story seemingly following a grumpy guy called Jack who learns that he has an adult daughter. Where it – and Rollins – goes from there is somewhat of an urban, supernatural noir as we learn more about Jack, an immortal being who can’t be killed and is referred to in the bible as Cain himself. Rollins gets to utilise his physical presence and comedic chops as a leading man, leaving you with a desire to see him heading up a cast more often.
Batman Beyond (1999 – 2001)
His voice has always been the money-maker, so it’s no surprise countless creators have utilised it for animated roles over the past 20+ years. Although better known for work infront of the camera, Rollins’ is an accomplished voice actor and able to inject two dimensional characters with a life and gravity a la some of the greats (i.e. Mark Hamill, Dick Van Dyke). Mad Stan was a recurring part in Batman Beyond and Rollins brought something to it every time he appeared. See also Legend Of Korra, Teen Titans and Adventure Time for other great Rollins voice performances.
Feast (2005)
Another flick with its feet planted firmly within the genre sandbox, Rollins seems to have a lot of fun with his supporting role in this monster movie. Produced by some industry heavyweights – Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Wes Craven – this is a bloody and ballsy cinema experience where the cast isn’t afraid to ham it up.
