Continuing the interview with former NFL first-round draft pick, Michigan captain and now, accomplished actor and production company owner Jarrod Bunch. In Part I, we talked about his acting career, on his beef with Samuel L. Jackson, and about surviving in Hollywood. In part II, we talk a little more about acting, his desire to return to the MMA Octagon, whether he can handle Hugh Jackman and get a little into last season (hint: furniture was moving after the Toledo game), and his thoughts on coach Rodriguez. Are there any roles that you were very close to getting that we might recognize? Bunch: Yeah, and this hurt, too. For Any Given Sunday I went in to meet Oliver Stone a couple of times for the running back role. I thought for sure I had it. But then they told me they gave it to LL Cool J. That one hurt. Then it happened again. There was a show called Playmakers on ESPN, it was about life in the NFL but they had a different name for the league. I was up for the running back role in that one and I thought for sure that I would at least get a serious look at that. The role was for a running back, the character’s wife’s name was Robin, my wife’s…
-
-
Interview: Former Michigan Captain Jarrod Bunch (Part I)
I recently exposed the bogus claims of a couple of sellers on eBay. One auction offered a pair of cleats alleged to have been worn by former Michigan fullback Jarrod Bunch. I tracked down Bunch who confirmed the fraudulent auction. In tracking down Bunch I learned quite a bit more. Knee trouble ended his NFL playing career in 1995 and he decided to take a run at an acting career. Nearly a decade and a half later the 40-year-old has accumulated an impressive list of credits and has worked with some of the most famous actors and directors in the business. He and his wife, photographer and makeup artist Robin Emtage, live in LA where it all happens. We recently spoke while Bunch was in a clinic getting treated, coincidentally, for the knee that forced him to end one career and launch another. In Part I of this interview, we focus on his career in the business, about a run-in with Mr. Samuel L. Jackson on the set of the movie Shaft, and about life in Hollywood. What are you currently working on? Bunch: I just did some work on a movie called Dozers. I completed my part but the film is still being finished. I recently launched a company called Generator, a production company that specializes in producing sports…
