Craig T. Nelson Talks Recovery, Life Lessons and Random Acts of Kindness

Author:
Samuel R. Murrian
Oct 23, 2018

Ricky Middlesworth/ Disney-Pixar — Craig T. Nelson.

It was easy to predict that Incredibles 2would be successful, but its $1.2 billion worldwide haul, making it one of the highest-grossing movies ever made (not to mention the critical acclaim) was enough to surprise even star Craig T. Nelson, the voice of Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible.

In addition to voicing the patriarch of everyone's favorite superhero family, Nelson is also known for his work in classic movies like Poltergeist, Silkwood and Private Benjamin, and for TV's Parenthood. He won a Primetime Emmy in 1992 for playing football head coach Hayden Fox in the long-running sitcom Coach.

Nelson has been open about his past struggles with addiction, and how he transformed his life in recovery. Today, he says working with Sidney Poitier on Stir Crazy early in his career changed his life for the better.

Parade spoke with Nelson about what went on behind the scenes of Incredibles 2, the life lessons he learned from Sidney Poitier and random acts of kindness.

https://parade.com/676479/parade/the-best-parts-of-the-incredibles/

Incredibles 2 is one of the highest-earning movies of all time. Have you been surprised by just how successful it's been?

Totally. I mean, how do you even put it into perspective? It's amazing.

What can you tell us about what went on behind the scenes from your perspective?

The process is completely different than you would do for a film or television film. You're not necessarily reacting to any stimulus from another actor, although [writer /director] Brad Bird was there. You're in a studio, a soundstage. We did a lot of it at Disney, in the same studio where they did The Jungle Book and others. The actual work itself is very specific because there are time constraints and also there's the vocal tone they need for specific sequences. You're having to get to where Brad has heard it in his head. It's pretty specific.

So you were't working with Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson or any of the other actors?

No, just me and Brad.

You have so much experience in different kinds of performance. You were an early member of The Groundlings. Did your improv training come in handy here?

Yeah, there'a a certain amount of freedom, and there's a lot of exchanging. And the release date was moved up; it wasn't supposed to come out until June 2019 at first. So it was crunch time. There was a lot to do in a very limited amount of time. Brad was changing the script as we were going; that made it more immediate and more fun.

So the added pressure and challenge actually made it more fun?

Oh yeah, totally; you know from the outset it is going to be a lot of fun. Just by the nature of the movie itself, the nature of the genre, it's going to be fun. And with the technology they'd developed between making the first and the second, we were able to do a lot of new things.

And what did you think of Incredibles 2 when you saw it?

Oh, I thought it was fantastic. My favorite thing was the whole Screenslaver [the villain] plot. That was something I wasn't aware of; Brad just kind of glossed over it.

You have a big family. Did you see it with any family members?

One of my granddaughters. She was just, you know, knocked out by it. I was, too.

Incredibles 2 is one of those rare movies that appeals to just about everyone and brings an audience full of strangers together for a shared experience; that's one of the main reasons we love movies.

I think that's true. I really do. You're not really taking sides; you're just watching something that's all-encompassing and you're able to get into it. There's such heart to it, a lot of warmth and it's familial. I think it's what we want to be--as a unit and as a family.

Brad Bird is a modern master. Is there anything else you can tell us about working with him?

The thing about Brad is he's not making an animated movie; he's making a film. He looks at it as an elevation; it's not a separate category. In the studio, he does all the voices. If you're working on a scene that [Samuel L. Jackson] is in, he'll do Sam. He'll do Jack-Jack and he'll do Violet—he does them all and it's a lot of fun. It's hard work, but fun.

Let's talk about a few of your classic films. It's almost Halloween, and Poltergeist is a perennial favorite. It's so scary and it holds up. Do you revisit the film much anymore?

Not so much anymore, only because it's something that just seems like a lifetime ago. But for me, it was a really big moment, a life-changing experience. My kids, my grandkids and my great-grandkids have all been part of it and have seen it. You're right, it holds up. Like [Incredibles 2], you have the elements of a family and unity and the struggle to maintain cohesiveness—and the fact that they're willing to take risks for each other.

Earlier in your career, you also appeared in Stir Crazy, starring two of the all-time greats: Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder.

And Sidney Poitier directing it. He had been an icon of mine. He was the classiest human being I've ever been around; he taught me so much, because I was pretty loose in those days. I just really respected him so much. He basically redirected what I thought about what I was doing to give it more gravity, to give it more thought and to respect it more. I thought I had that, but he really brought that out in me. He took time to do that and I really appreciated it.

I didn't get a chance to know Gene very well, but I love what he does. I think I like him more now than I did then--gosh, he's just so good. And Richard was such a warm, kind guy--who was trapped in this tragic thing that was going on in his life. It was really sad. He was lucky to have Sidney there, too.

When you say the tragic thing Richard was going through, you're referring to his addiction, correct?

Yeah.

You've been very open about your past struggles and your recovery, and you've even shared your story at Drug Education Council. Can you tell us a little about this issue that's clearly close to your heart?

It's suicide on the installment plan. You don't know who's going to be able to recover and who isn't, but you have to make that choice available. Especially now, it's such a rampant thing. It's pervasive, it's insidious, it affects families so dramatically and deeply. It's so wide-ranging.

The point is that for me it was an education in where that goes and what can happen. Like I say, if Sidney Poitier hadn't been there, I would have had a different turn. He reminded me of my humanity and what he expected out of me. It was done in a very gentle, wonderful and charming way, but with severity. I really had him to thank for making me aware of what I was doing to myself, and also how I was affecting the profession that he loved so much. I don't want to make it overly dramatic, but it certainly is when you're talking about life and death.

It is absolutely dramatic.

Yeah. I think in Richard's case, it was a little late. He had to go through what he had to go through, unfortunately-- and it was just really sad. Looking at it from the outside, I'm thinking, well, this is a guy who's got so much talent and is so funny. Really such a warm guy. And he's destroying himself.

It means a lot that you speak about this. The epidemic of addiction affects millions of families and it's only becoming more of an issue.

Yeah it is. It really is. The point is: the options are there. I totally understand why people reject it. That's what addiction is: a rejection of the goodness that's in us all. So that acknowledgement is sometimes very hard to elicit from anybody.

The sadness I feel for people that are in that addiction phase is mainly because of the lack of hope. When that's bled, when that's drained and sublimated by something else, it's so, so sad. I get what they're doing; I've been there. It's just a matter of flipping the quarter; on the other side is this wonderful life of being drug-free or alcohol-free that allows you to experience life in all its wonderful and beautiful elements. Both the good and the bad.

You have worked with so many of the all-time greats. Who are some of the performers working today you most admire?

Sam Rockwell. I just think the guy is so talented. And he makes me laugh. He's so funny in The Way, Way Back. A wonderful film. I love Dax Shepard. He's amazing. And I think in terms of just awesomeness, probably Tom Hardy.

He is so, so awesome.

Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen anybody inhabit a character like that. What a range. He also has this wonderful sense of humor. What we've seen has been pretty dark, but it's there and I imagine it will come to fruition here pretty soon.

Who would you love to collaborate with?

I'd love to do something with Walter Hill. I'd love to do something with the Coen Brothers. There were such great performances in Wolf Hall (starring Damian Lewis, Mark Rylance and Claire Foy). The joy, the fun of what I get to do is I get surprised. I'll get a script and somebody will be involved, then I'll be involved and I get to enjoy this whole new thing again. It's so much fun because I never know what's going to happen.