Ronnie Gene Blevins has spent 20 years in Hollywood as a journeyman character actor, along the way becoming producer and casting agent favorite henchman or bad guy on TV and the big screen. Ronnie has well over 100 credits; from HBO’s Westworld to The Dark Night Rises, to award-winning indie films like Uncle John and Joe. This summer, the actor has a rare starring role in Death In Texas, in select theaters and VoD June 4th, as well as major roles in The Conjuring 3, and Feral States. Hailing originally from Houston, TX and a proud graduate of Texas A&M and its famous Corp of Cadets, Ronnie was kind enough to sit down with us and answer 10 questions.
1. How would your Corp Commander judge your signature hairstyle and facial hair today, Cadet Blevins?
He’d probably kick the shit out of me. Long-haired rednecks don’t go around there . . . unless yer’ David Alan Coe. (Smiles)
2. In Death In Texas, you share the screen with Lara Flynn Boyle, Stephen Lang, John Ashton, William Shockley, Sam Daly, and more. Who was the best actor among them or some of the fresher faces? Who was the worst?
Thankfully, they were all pretty great and I learned from all of them. Thinking back, we assembled a perfect cast to hang with. Just good people aiming to make great art and have a few laughs.
3. How many times have you died in the movies? Do you think you hold the record?
Well, now this a REAL point of contention. I googled this just now. John Hurt had the world record at 60 but now it’s Danny Trejo at 65. But I KNOW I have more than that. I have like… 90. I gotta figure out who to get in touch with. This is some B#$&*@T!
4. It seems like producers and casting agents are taking notice of you lately… after 20 years, do you feel poised to become an overnight success?
Thank you for saying that. I’m very careful to manage expectations. I do feel ready to spread my wings, so to speak. Still, I feel very confident about my immediate trajectory.
5. In Death In Texas, you do some pretty horrific things because you love your mama. Do you love your real-life mama that much, or is that just the craft of acting?
Ha! I’d fight the world for my real-life momma.
Ronnie Gene Blevins
6. If you could act opposite of anyone, who would it be?
I’d love to work with Jack Nicholson, man. He’s my guy. He just turned 84, so I doubt that’s happening.
7. In the new Hollywood, with its focus on tolerance and inclusivity, are you seeing better, meatier roles and opportunities for Aggies? Is there a hashtag for calling out unacceptable Aggie intolerance? #GagEm, maybe?
Ha Ha!! You have to defer to my union… you can’t spell SAG without AG!
8. On a more serious note, you helped produce “Death In Texas” and were involved in it from soup to nuts. Did you like the sausage factory? Should we expect to see more of that from you?
I love it almost as much as acting. Perhaps, more. It’s new to me so it’s been a pretty steep learning curve. I just produced a new film in Florida that i’m proud of. I hope they don’t mess it up. I don’t have the final cut.
9. Do you wear ascots, drive a fancy sports car, carry a purse dog, and sip gold leaf cocktails poolside at the Chateau Marmot or at your estate in Beverly Hills like everyone thinks?
No. However. I live in hotels, tear out the walls. I have accountants pay for it all. I have a limo. Ride in the back. I lock the doors in case I’m attacked. Lucky I’m the same after all I’ve been through… Life’s been good to me so far…. (cue badass Joe Walsh guitar riff)
10. Ten years from now, where do you want to be geographically and career-wise?
Austin Texas!!! No doubt! Careerwise? Honestly, I like my career. I feel very proud to be working and able to put food on the table and support my family at it. I’m one of the lucky ones. One thing “Death In Texas” has done, already, is changed the scope of what the film-making community thinks I can do. I’d love to keep playing multi-dimensioned characters!
Death In Texas will be released June 4th, 2021, in selected theaters and VoD. Death In Texas is produced by AHuevo Films and Brandtone Films in partnership with Vertical Entertainment. For more information, email brandon@brandtonefilms.com