Kevin Pollak Reflects on Working with Rip Torn

Kevin Pollak didn’t hesitate when asked about the most eccentric actor he’s ever worked with. The “Tulsa King” star quickly pointed to the late Rip Torn, sharing some strange stories from the set of “Canadian Bacon,” a film featuring John Candy that was released posthumously.

“Oh, jeez. It’s not even a competition,” Pollak remarked during his appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show.”

Torn, who passed away in 2019, had a knack for keeping his co-stars on their toes, according to Pollak. “Every day Rip would decide someone in the cast or crew was out to get him,” he recalled.

Pollak, also known for his role in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” mentioned that Torn frequently brought up his inclusion on President Richard Nixon’s enemies list. “If a day went by without Rip Torn saying, ‘I was on Nixon’s list,’ it was like, all right, we got it,” Pollak joked.

When asked what exactly Torn had done to be included on that list, Pollak admitted, “Well, no one wanted to ask, quite frankly.” But, the Nixon anecdotes were far from the wildest parts of Pollak’s stories.

For example, he shared that actor Kevin O’Connor and his new wife were next-door neighbors to Torn in a Toronto hotel. Pollak recounted how the couple often heard Torn shouting at someone through the thin walls. After enduring the loud outbursts for weeks, they even crafted a top ten list of Torn’s most memorable quotes.

Pollak recalled, “The number one thing we heard Rip Torn yell at the hooker through the wall: ‘I said milk it like a cow.’” This tale certainly provided insight into Torn’s unpredictable behavior off-screen.

Torn had a distinguished and respected career across film, television, and theater. He received an Academy Award nomination for “Cross Creek” and became a well-known figure through films like “Men in Black” and shows such as “The Larry Sanders Show.” His performance as Artie on “The Larry Sanders Show” garnered him six consecutive Emmy nominations, and he won an Emmy Award in 1996.