19 is a 40th anniversary production of Alfred Jarry’s Ubu The King. But it all remains grounded in Georges Bigot’s commedia-inflected “Style,” which the Gang still offers classes in, and which informs all their work, even when they tour Shakespeare around the world or do work in California prisons. In the intervening decades, the Gang has had plenty of turnover in its membership and has relocated to the Ivy Substation in Culver City, but through it all Robbins has remained at the helm of this sui generis acting ensemble, whose aesthetic over the years has encompassed everything from Joint Stock-style devised theatre to commedia dell’arte, from Shakespeare to queer performance art, Living Newspaper commentary to Greek tragedy. The shows were of course postponed a bit, in part because Robbins, whose family was based in his native New York City, spent the next days and weeks there in the uncertain immediate aftermath of 9/11. He stared at me blankly for a moment, having heard the name of the Scottish play spoken inside a theatre, then insisted we go through a ritual of purging that involved me stepping outside the theatre building and turning around a few times a pinch of salt might have been tossed over a shoulder.Īs far as I know, the purging ritual worked and my gaffe led to nothing untoward in the runs of the Gang’s repertory productions of The Seagull and Mephisto, then in rehearsal as we spoke (though I do recall that Juliet Landau, of Buffy fame, was very suddenly replaced before opening in the role of Nina by Melanie Lora). I had lots of questions about what was then a divisive time for the the n -20-year-old troupe, but what I most remember is that I made the mistake of mentioning the Gang’s co-production with Cornerstone Theater of Medea/Macbeth/Cinderella. 10, 2001, in a dressing room at the Gang’s old digs on Santa Monica Blvd. Why didn't Hitler drink gin? It made him angry.The last time I had spoken to Tim Robbins, the actor, director, and Actors’ Gang co-founder, was on Sept. What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Expect the unexpected. How would you like to be remembered? As a lover. What song would you like played at your funeral? A New Orleans brass band to play a dirge before, and a second line to play the most joyous music after – and people had better dance. What do you consider your greatest achievement? My kids. How often do you have sex? As often as it's demanded of me. When did you last cry, and why? Watching It's A Wonderful Life at Christmas. If you could go back in time, where would you go? New Orleans at the turn of the century, to hear jazz being invented. What has been your biggest disappointment? Not pitching a perfect game in baseball to win the World Series. What is the worst job you've done? It would have to be phone sales – I lasted a day. Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? John Lennon, Thomas Paine and Carole Lombard. What was the best kiss of your life? From my children's lips. To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why? I have said I am sorry to anyone I need to say I am sorry to.

Who would play you in the film of your life? I want a shot at that myself.

If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose? Jesus. What makes you unhappy? Someone saying, 'Cheer up.' Where would you like to live? Wherever I lay my hat. What is your most treasured possession? A photograph. Property aside, what's the most expensive thing you've bought? A vacation to the Bahamas. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? I am trying not to deplore so much. Which living person do you most admire and why? Nelson Mandela, for obvious reasons. What is your earliest memory? The Empire State Building, age three. What is your greatest fear? Stupid people with guns.

Tim robbins kids