Barry Corbin, who has appeared in a variety of movies and television shows in the past 40 years, will present “An Evening with Barry Corbin” in Conroe.
The Texas-based actor offers a celebration of his personal and professional life that includes photos from some his most cherished moments on set and off. The event is highly interactive with Corbin, 82, taking questions from a moderator and the audience.
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It’s from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 26 at Western Shadows event center, 5603 Sapp Road in Conroe.
Before his event, here are some things to know about the actor.:
Growing up
Corbin was born Oct. 16, 1940, in the ranching and cotton town of Lamesa, 60 miles south of Lubbock.
His parents were school teachers, and he spent summers on his grandfather’s property where he was in the saddle every day.
His father was elected county judge in Lamesa at a very young age. He then won a state senate seat and the family moved to Austin.
“Coming from the Lubbock area to Austin was going from the Sahara Desert to a great big oasis. It was like heaven to us,” he said.
Interest in Shakespeare
He graduated from Monterey High School in Lubbock.
In high school he had a unique combination of interests including drama, Shakespeare and agriculture.
He first became captivated by Shakespearean language in junior high.
“I read the sonnets and thought this is some pretty good stuff. Then I graduated into the comedies and then the tragedies,” he said.
As a young man he moved to New York City in 1967 settling in Greenwich Village pursuing an acting career. Although he acted on Broadway, he also used the city as a base to venture elsewhere, to the American Shakespeare Festival, in Stratford, Connecticut, and to several dinner theaters in the Northeast.
As he kept true to his Texas roots in New York, he said he didn’t know if it was more of a culture shock for the New Yorkers or for him. He kept his Texas drawl and decorated his apartment with items depicting the cowboy life.
Film career
His first big screen role was as Uncle Bob in Urban Cowboy. John Travolta, an acting rookie, played his nephew Bud.
Corbin was happy to be in Texas on “Urban Cowboy,” but he wasn’t accustomed to Houston’s humidity.
“I had a nickname, uncle sweat,” he said. “We shot that in the summer, and it was hot as blue blazes.”
He said Travolta was terrific in his role.
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“I thought he transformed himself very well, going from ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and a Brooklyn kid to coming down to Texas and immersing himself in that,” he said.
He’s also proud of the work on the first three seasons of “Northern Exposure” where he played a retired astronaut.
He had early roles in “One Tree Hill,” “Dallas,” “Any Which Way You Can” with Clint Eastwood, “Stir Crazy,” “WarGames,” and the miniseries “The Thorn Birds”
Recent projects
Most recently he’s been in “The Ranch,” “Yellowstone,” “Tulsa Kings” and the new Martin Scoresese movie “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
During the filming of “Tulsa Kings” with Sylvester Stallone, the “Rocky” star challenged Corbin to an arm-wrestling contest. After they discussed their ailments, they thought it was better to steer clear of the challenge.
Currently he’s navigating the actor’s strike so his projects are on hold and he has no plans to retire anytime soon.
“I may be 82 but I still feel 35,” he said.
Conroe event
The event will start with Corbin reciting Shakespeare, then flow into stories about his growing up in Texas and his early days in New York City on Broadway.
“There’s no structure, so don’t look for a plot,” he said.
Corbin will sign autographs and take photos with audience members afterward.
Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at this link or visit the Red Brick Tavern website.
