Eric Bogosian Talks About His Early Career

In 2005, Eric Bogosian - one of America's favorite monologuists, best-known for his fast-talking characterizations of hucksters, self-help gurus, addicts, and morally-flawed celebrities - visited the New York State Writers Insititute. In this video excerpt from his visit, Bogosian talks about his early career. At the time this was filmed, Bogosian had recently authored two novels: Mall (2002), and Wasted Beauty (2005). Wasted Beauty is a sprawling portrait of New York City's drug and fashion worlds and of the desperation running just beneath the surface glamour. Bogosian's acclaimed solo performance pieces include Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (2000); Pounding Nails in the Floor with My Forehead (1994), winner of an Obie Award for playwriting; Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll (1988), which received an Obie special citation; Talk Radio (1987); and Drinking in America (1986), which received another Obie Award for playwriting and the Drama Desk Award for outstanding solo performance. As an actor, Bogosian has appeared in numerous films, including Deconstructing Harry (1997), A Bright Shining Lie (1998), and Wonderland (2003).

[@drewlsy]

The go-to performer/actor/monologuist to impress friends with while stoned out of our gourds on a cornucopia of mind-expansive "enhancers". And I say this with the utmost respect. On a serious note, having grown up with Talk Radio as an 80's child, he is and always will be the most riveting one-man performer/actor to have graced the theatrical stage and/or silver screen in my lifetime. TY Eric for all the laughs, frights, and thrills.

[@RayFromLUCKYSHADOW]

Thanks for this. Much love to Bogosian. Sex, Drugs and Rock&Roll and Talk Radio are both things I can watch again and again. I once watched Talk Radio like four times in two days, while it was on HBO-Go. It was very interesting hearing about his early days, and where he's at now, or where he was at in '05 anyway. I know he recently wrote a book about the aftermath of the Armenian genocide that I really need to read. Guy's got a great mind. I did have a funny thought though, watching this...how these twenty-plus minutes seem to be the answer to the interviewer's first question...I chuckled to myself imagining a sort of Portnoy's Complaint moment, where we finally see who Eric was talking to the whole time, and it's just an empty chair. haha.

[@claudrebille178]

Raymond Arcangel à

[@YolandaAnneBrown95726]

STILL grieving over his death in Law and Order: Criminal Intent. That just came out of nowhere! And I absolutely LOVE Talk Radio.

[@johnrojas9535]

Talk radio is a great movie

[@mbrgrbr]

@@johnrojas9535 I wish there was some way to watch the original stage production of it.

[@jansdoe6963]

Me too. I just love the movie "Talk Radio." Eric Bogosian was wonderful was great in it. i love his voice and he is good looking. I wonder if he's intelligent & has a sense of humor too.

[@truthseeker3503]

Travis Dane!

[@eivindgjengstjohansen9625]

"Ryback RYBACK"