As ultimate fighter Chuck Liddell prepares to re-enter the octagon this weekend, I thought it’d be a good time to explore his humble beginnings — as a child actor.
Okay, so he was no MacCaulay Culkin. But at age ten, he did have a bit part in the movie “The Postman Always Rings Twice” with Jack Nicholson.
Liddell, a Cal Poly grad who lives and trains in San Luis Obispo, will face undefeated Rashad Evans in Atlanta this weekend. (Check out a recent Chicago Sun-Times interview with Liddell here.)
Since becoming the face of ultimate fighting, former champ Liddell has become somewhat of a pop icon. His image has appeared in two Judd Apatow movies (“Knocked Up” and “Superbad”), and he appeared in an episode of “Entourage.”
Liddell is plenty into pop culture himself. In his biography, “Iceman: My Fighting Life,” he lists his favorite action movies (“Best of the Best,” “Karate Kid” and “Rocky” top the list) and songs that have played as he entered the Octagon (“Too Cold,” Vanilla Ice, “Valley of Chrome,” Cypress Hill, “Loyally,” American Head Charge and “Intro,” DMX.)
When I interviewed him earlier this year, I was surprised to hear that he had chosen a Hank Williams, Jr. song (“Family Tradition”) for his ring tone.
The oddsmakers, by the way, have placed their bets on Liddell this weekend.
Tribune photo: Joe Johnston
Posted on September 5th, 2008 by Pat
Filed under: Music
Huh. I didn’t realize that Jack Nicholson had made a remake of “Postman,” the classic 1946 film noir starring Lana Turner and John Garfield.
I have a feeling I’ll still prefer the original but I’ll give the 1981 remake a shot.