Interview: Bruce Dern Returns to Talk About Acting, Longevity, the Early Days of His Career, and Finally Sharing the Screen with His Daughter in ‘Palm Royale’

I love Bruce Dern. Not only is he an iconic actor who I find mesmerizing to watch, he’s become one of my favorite people in the industry. Over the years, it’s been an absolute privilege to find out that the love is mutual between him and I. Anytime we find the time to get on the phone, inevitably it’s hours of baseball debates, stories, and life advice. Dern is a one of a kind actor, for sure, but he’s also a one of a kind gem of a man who I can’t believe I can consider not just a talent that I have a good working relationship with, but an honest to goodness friend as well. One of the very first interviews Awards Radar ever published was a two hour discussion between him and I (found here). Today (on his 88th birthday. no less), he returns for nearly the same length of time to talk about acting in Palm Royale opposite his daughter, Laura Dern, but also to just give us all another lesson in Hollywood history. Consider this almost more of a podcast episode than a traditional interview. However you slice it, gold is coming you way today from an all-timer.

Previously, I wrote the following, in part, about him here in a tribute:

Bruce Dern is a legend. Truly, he stands tall as a part of Hollywood, past, present, and even future. That’s due in no small part to his talent as an actor, but it’s a testament to his mind, as well as his kindness, that he’s remained someone people seek out, even after his 86th birthday. Many of you know that an interview that I did with him about a decade ago for Nebraska was the start of a periodic correspondence that we maintain to this day, but I wouldn’t be writing this today just because I like the guy. No, he’s the type of industry gem that we all should be valuing more, so anytime I have the opportunity to remind folks, especially younger cinephiles, of Dern’s power, I want to make sure that I do it. You don’t get to work with the likes of Alfred Hitchock, Elia Kazan, Alexander Payne, Douglas Trumbull, and more, without having the goods. For more than half a century, Dern has had the goods, in fact re-writing the acting game as he went along. Truly, no one does it like he does, even to this day, which makes his future roles still so exciting to consider.

Below, you can hear another epic conversation between Dern and I. As was the case last time, I’m smart enough to stand back and let him speak. Listening to his vivid recollection of the old days of Hollywood is an absolute delight. Here, we spoke for nearly an hour before I even recorded, getting most of our baseball discussions out of the way (he’s very concerned about my Mets, even as his Dodgers seem very well set up), but sports does make its way into the chat here and there. This time around, we go back and forth from Palm Royale, working with Laura, his early days in the business, recent Dernsies, and everything in between. Listening to this, you’ll get a sense of just how special the man is. Plus, today is his birthday, so make this his 88th birthday gift, paying tribute to the man, the myth, the legend…Bruce Dern.

Here now is my interview with screen legend and Palm Royale cast member Bruce Dern. Enjoy:

Palm Royale is available to watch on Apple TV+ now!