Wolfgang Bodison facts for kids

Brian Wolfgang Bodison (born November 19, 1966) is an American actor. He is well known for playing Lance Corporal Harold W. Dawson in the 1992 movie A Few Good Men. He also works as a creative director, helping to guide creative projects.

Early Life and Education

Wolfgang Bodison was born on November 19, 1966, in Washington, D.C.. His mother, Dorothea Bodison, worked for the National Institutes of Health. His father passed away in a car accident when Wolfgang was a child.

In 1988, he finished his studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. He earned a degree in fine arts. While at college, he also played football for the Virginia Cavaliers team.

Career Journey

Starting in Film

After graduating, Bodison began working in the film industry. He started as a file clerk at Columbia Pictures. Later, in 1989, he got a job in the mail room at Castle Rock Entertainment.

The famous director Rob Reiner then hired Bodison as his personal assistant. This was during the making of the movie Misery (1990). At this time, Bodison dreamed of becoming a screenwriter and film director. He would carefully watch and learn from Reiner's directing.

Bodison also helped with the movie Boyz n the Hood (1991). He was the picture-car coordinator. This meant his job was to find cool cars for the film. He said, "My job was to go into South Central and get some of the car clubs interested in the movie."

Breakthrough Role in A Few Good Men

Wolfgang Bodison's big break came with the movie A Few Good Men (1992). Director Rob Reiner first hired him as the location manager for the film. This job involved finding places to shoot the movie.

However, Reiner was having trouble finding the right actor for the role of Lance Corporal Harold Dawson. This character was a young Marine facing a serious trial.

One day, Reiner asked Bodison if he had ever acted. Bodison said no, but Reiner encouraged him to try out for the part. Since Bodison had no acting experience, he hired an acting coach named Julie Ariola. She said he was "like a sponge" and learned very quickly.

In August 1991, after his audition, Bodison was called back. Three days later, he got the exciting news: he had the part! He later said, "I thought, 'What in the hell is going on?'"

Film critics praised Bodison's performance. Rita Kempley from The Washington Post called him an "impressive non-actor." Malcolm Johnson of Hartford Courant described him as "fierce" and "devoted." David Gritten from the Los Angeles Times wrote that Bodison "played it from the heart and gut." He added that Bodison was "enormously good at conveying complicated emotions without a word."

Later Acting and Directing

After A Few Good Men, Bodison appeared in many other films. These include Little Big League (1994), The Expert (1995), and Akeelah and the Bee (2006). He also acted in popular TV shows. Some of these were CSI: NY, NCIS, and ER.

Bodison's dream of becoming a writer and director also came true. He wrote and directed several short films. These include Simone, Broken, Sarah's Wish, and The Long Wait. These films have been shown at major festivals around the world. He also acted in The Long Wait with Elizabeth Yoder.

Bodison has won several awards for his work. He and Elizabeth Yoder shared the Storytelling Achievement Award in 2014. He also won the Best Director Award at the Playhouse West Film Festival. In addition, he received awards for Best Actor and Best Short Film at the 2014 Beaufort International Film Festival.

In 2014, he appeared in the independent movie Ragamuffin. Today, Bodison is the artistic director at the Los Angeles branch of the Playhouse West School and Repertory Theatre. This is a place where people learn to act.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Wolfgang Bodison para niños