Hollywood’s Ever-Optimistic Outsider Artist

It’s hard to live in L.A. and not know who Dennis Woodruff is. He’s the quintessential struggling actor who is famous, ironically, for not being famous. His cars are covered with faux Oscar statuettes, head shots and fliers, and have become folk-artsy emblems of our city of dreams.

The 48-year-old Long Beach native has appeared as “himself” many times on TV. He’s tired, though, of people assuming that “Dennis Woodruff” is the only part he can play.

“I created this guy as a character,” he said.

After 22 years, an optimistic Woodruff feels success is just around the corner. He and his brother, Scott, run their own production company, Dennis Woodruff Entertainment, out of a mobile home in L.A. And six months ago, he completed a two-part film about himself.

“Dennis Woodruff the Movie, Parts I and II” follow the actor around town as he introduces himself to people and poses for pictures with tourists at places like Mann’s Chinese and the Walk of Fame. The movies are “pieced together” and “a bit awkward,” Woodruff admits, “but everyone’s first few films are.” And he says he’s managed to sell 12,000 videos of it at $10 a pop--mostly to people he’s met on the street. (They’re also available at https://www.radproductions.com).

Woodruff also reports that he has signed with a Switzerland-based producer-director named Michael Beltrami, to star in a “John Wayne-inspired movie,” set to begin filming in October. Although he won’t exactly be playing himself, Woodruff says his character is a struggling actor.

“I’m trying to put the puzzle together to build a life with honor. I don’t want to just be a Hollywood fixture, a landmark or icon. I’m trying to create substance.”

In the meantime, he’s changed the sign on his car from “Cast Me” to “Buy My Movie.”

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Rupert Murdoch and his new bride, Wendi, hosted a swanky dinner party the other night at the News Cafe on the 20th Century Fox lot for a delegation of government, entertainment and media representatives from Beijing. The Chinese delegation was in town for a conference on Tuesday, hosted by the Asia Society of Southern California. Its members included Tian Congming, minister of state administration of radio, film and television, and actress Song Chunli.

Asia Society President Nicholas Platt flew in from New York, and Hollywood super-lobbyist Jack Valenti took a break from canvassing House members for support on the new trade deal with China to attend.

Standing out in the sea of dark suits was the irrepressibly colorful British fashion designer Zandra Rhodes, a vision of pink from her hair (a topknot with silver butterflies and orchids) to her fluttery pastel chiffon dress. Rhodes said she is working on the costumes for an opera that will open early next year in San Diego, where she spends half the year.

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* Times staff writer Nancy Yoshihara contributed to this report.

* Booth Moore can be reached at booth.moore@latimes.com.