Fresh Roles, Outlook Are Good for Bad Boy

Jan-Michael Vincent has a cameo in the current, critically acclaimed movie “Buffalo 66.” He’s filming a leading role in another independent film, and not long ago, he had a guest spot opposite Don Johnson on TV’s “Nash Bridges.”

Is this a comeback?

It’s no news that the actor, who lives in Coto de Caza, has a lot to come back from. Even his bio states the case: “Booze, women fans and drugs” all “took their toll” on the blue-eyed bad-boy, who pleaded guilty for drunk driving after rear-ending his girlfriend’s Cadillac in 1996.

The crash, in which Vincent, 53, broke his neck, followed two decades of drug- and alcohol-related arrests, convictions, rehab stints and domestic violence charges.

Hollywood hasn’t been under a rock. When actor Jim Carrey accepted an award at an AIDS benefit in February, he concluded with self-deprecating humor that “Marilyn Manson, Linda Tripp and Jan-Michael Vincent would all have been poorer choices than myself.”

But “Buffalo 66” director Vincent Gallo said that while well-weathered by life, the actor still had the charisma that made him a heartthrob star in the ‘70s, and called his artful characterization as a broken-down bowling alley manager “brilliant.”

Director John Marino, now shooting “White Boy” with Vincent as a racist cop, said anyone reluctant to hire him because of his reputation “is missing out on a lot.”

“He plays a very unsympathetic character,” Marino said, “but somebody with humanity behind that shell, and, from what I understand, Jan is a wonderfully sweet man with a beautiful soul, who [has maintained that] throughout all the self-inflicted abuse. That’s what we needed for the role.”

The actor openly acknowledges his troubles, but he says all that’s over, that he hasn’t taken illicit drugs or had a drink since the accident. Still, he seems more interested in maintaining a low profile than regaining the sort of success he achieved with the 1978 cult surfer film “Big Wednesday,” which screens Aug. 7-13 at the Port in Corona del Mar, where “Buffalo 66” runs through Thursday.

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Jan-Michael Vincent’s early credits include starring with Charles Bronson in “The Mechanic” (1972), a co-starring role in the “Winds of War” (1982) miniseries, and the lead in the series “Airwolf” (1984-86). He hasn’t had any major parts since then but still throws himself into his work.

Chuckling, he said he’s fashioned a brazenly bigoted guy for his role in “White Boy.” “I think they were a little startled that I went so far with the part.”

On a personal level, he said he’s making a concerted effort to slow down, and professionally, he added, “You just have to take everything as it comes.”

Most of all, though, he’s excited about a renewed interest in “Big Wednesday,” which was shown to sold-out audiences during this spring’s Newport Beach International Film Festival and will be screened in Malibu in August.

The film traces the surfing adventures of pals played by Gary Busey, William Katt and Vincent, who, as in real life, had struggled while growing into maturity.

“It’s not just about surfing,” he said of the movie, a first by writer-director John Milius with help from co-writer Denny Aaberg. “It’s about friendship, and the kids today I think are getting something out of it; they’re seeing things like alcohol abuse, what it does to you. I think there’s a moral story there.”

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During a recent interview at his home, Vincent seemed groggy and forgetful. He has lived with girlfriend Karen Thompson for three years, but didn’t know his home telephone number. He said, in fact, that his psychiatrist has him on a low dosage of a sedative because his worries sometimes have kept him up at night.

Complications from his accident, which damaged his vocal cords, still cause the actor to speak with a marked rasp, and he has a stiff neck. However, Gallo and Marino praised his professionalism, and he looks tan and trim. He said his doctors predict an eventual full recovery, and he surfs regularly, which he said has saved his life.

“It’s been good for me. I mean, I’ve had some things I’ve gotten into--not because of surfing, but just being human--that haven’t been, you know, the biggest potential for success. But surfing has always [provided healthy] athleticism, it always kept me disciplined. And the people, in their own funny way, are very disciplined.”

His close surfer friends and biker buddies--he rides a Harley-Davidson--are down on drugs and excessive drinking, he said, and don’t like it in their friends.

“It’s not a matter of keeping me in line,” he said. “You can’t keep me in line. I’m going to either be in line or I’m not.” But these friends, Thompson, and his 26-year-old daughter, Amber, who lives in San Francisco, give him verbal “whuppings,” said Vincent, who attends meetings to deal with his alcoholism.

“I’m very fortunate they are there. They’ll allow you to screw up, but they won’t allow it too many times.”

Born in Denver, the now gray-haired actor who still has a certain charisma about him, grew up in the San Joaquin Valley. He appeared in his first film, “Los Bandidos” with Robert Conrad, at about 20. He got that part while working as a sign painter for his father when he was discovered by Robert Black, whom he said nurtured the careers of such stars as Burt Reynolds.

“My father disputes he ever told me this, but I always quote him as telling me, ‘You’re too lazy and nervous to steal, you’re too jealous to pimp, and you sure as hell know better than to ride a few-thousand-pound bull, and I know you don’t want to work for a living, so you ought to go try and be an actor.’ ”

Today, he has no regrets. “Some of the things have been hard to swallow, but I learned something from everything I did.” And he’s optimistic about his future.

Moving to Orange County from Malibu about three years ago has helped, he said.

“I lived there for 30 years and I knew everybody, the good guys and the bad guys. Out here I’m just a citizen, and everybody treats me real well, with respect, as long as I behave myself.”

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* “Buffalo 66,” with Jan-Michael Vincent, runs through Thursday, and “Big Wednesday,” starring Vincent, Gary Busey and William Katt, runs Aug. 7-13 at the Port Theatre, 2905 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. $4.50-$7. (949) 673-6260.