Texan screen actor returns to Gainesville

Jun. 14—Texan and veteran screen actor Barry Corbin is coming to Gainesville to talk about his career on stage and screen.

Corbin has been acting for over 40 years, performing in over a hundred plays, tv shows and movies. People may recognize him from as far back as his appearances in Urban Cowboy and Lonesome Dove, or as recently as The Ranch or Yellowstone. He was also featured in the 2014 film Windsor, which was shot in Gainesville.

"[Acting] is something that I've always wanted to do from the time I was about seven years old," said Corbin. "And I never grew up; I just kept on going, and now I'm in my mid-80s and I'm still going."

Corbin is currently visiting people with his show, "An Evening with Barry Corbin," where he talks about everything from his life in Texas to his acting career.

"I don't have a set program; I just get up and tell a story," said Corbin. "Then the second half of the show, I leave it open for question and answer ... I enjoy hearing the questions and answering; that's the fun part for me."

Career

Corbin began his career as a Shakespearean actor, doing live theatre in the 1960s.

"I really like the immediacy of theatre because you get an immediate reaction," said Corbin. "You have kind of an intimate relationship with a crowd of people, so it's kinda nice that way. And always I like to stay around after the show and talk to anybody who wants to stay there."

In 1980, Corbin had his first movie appearance in Urban Cowboy as Bob Davis, the uncle to John Travolta's character, Bud. From there, he went on to appear as over a hundred roles across film and television.

"The actual process is pretty much the same [as live theatre], except you don't have the extended rehearsal period," said Corbin. "You get on the set, and that might be the first time you meet the people you're working with, and you've got to make an immediate connection with them ... In a play, you probably have a month, month and a half rehearsal, so you get to know the people pretty well ... If you're a regular on a television show, then that becomes a family."

Being born and raised in Texas, Corbin is proud of his heritage and loves playing roles where he gets to celebrate where he's from.

"I lived in New York for about 15 years before I went to California, and now I've been back in Texas for 30 years," said Corbin. "I never lost my Texas accent because I didn't want to, because that's really me. ... If you lose yourself, then you're not really authentic."

The show comes to Thirty-Five & Liberty on Gainesville's Northside July 27 at 7 p.m.