Adam Baldwin's film career is vast. You can basically find him almost everywhere. Maybe that's why he considers himself 'like a fungus?' Well, this fungus has been catching ever since 1980 when he portrayed a troubled outcast in My Bodyguard. Adam's athletic physicality and emotional intensity earned him even bigger roles in dozens of action, thriller, and adventure films over the last several decades. But he is perhaps remembered most for the likeable, yet untrustworthy, grenade loving space mercenary, Jayne Cobb in the sci-fi series, Firefly.

Before you can say "Yeah, that Adam dude, he's my favorite Baldwin brother," think again! This Baldwin man is no blood relation to Alec Baldwin and his brothers. Adam is not your typical Hollywood actor. He's not in it for the glory. He's a working man.

Born February 27, 1962, in Chicago, Illnois, Adam was smitten with movies and his father would often take him to see Westerns (his favorite genre) on the big screen. In 1979, while attending New Trier High School East in Winnetka, Illnois, was cast in the title role of Ricky Linderman in My Bodyguard. Director Tony Bill had this to say about Adam - "Adam was one of many kids - hundreds, whom we interviewed and read for the part. I wanted what turned out to be a very difficult quality: a hulking, intimidating presence (in a 16 year old) with a hidden vunerability. I tested kids from all over the U.S. I really only found one: Adam."

Adam is very tall. Standing at a hieght of 6' 4, you can't help but notice him in the room, and it's not just because he's a movie star! Shortly after My Bodyguard was filmed, Adam was cast  in Robert Redford's Oscar-winning film, Ordinary People. Adam's first memorable lead role was as Albert Hockenberry in D.C. Cab.  The movie wasn't that well recieved, but remains an 80's comedy classic, co-starring loud-mouthed "I pity the fool!" icon Mr. T!
Before moving to L.A. to continue pursuing his acting career, Adam would also appear in Hadley's Rebellion (1984) as Bob (some sources cite Bobo) McKenzie, and Reckless (1984) as Randy Daniels. You can also find him in the starring role of ex-gang member Jeff Hanna forced to defend his honor and avenge his girlfriend in the high school action thriller, 3:15.
By 1987, Adam would prove himself worthy to the legendary Stanley Kubrick who cast him as the intimidating, war-crazy, yet very talented soldier Animal Mother in Full Metal Jacket.

Adam Baldwin as Animal Mother and as thrill killer Tate in Cohen & Tate:

Adam's tough guy image would type cast him well into the 90's in such films as The Chocolate War, Cohen & Tate (1989), a big part in the star-studded Patrick Swayze movie Next of Kin (1989), and Predator 2 (1990).

Some critics would say that the 1990's would find Adam in a career slump, but Adam was finding himself regular work in many small, supporting roles in films such as Where the Day Takes You (1992), Radio Flyer (1992), Deadbolt (1993), Wyatt Earp (1994), How to Make an American Quilt (1995), and Independence Day (1996). What would really keep him in demand was on television series like The Cape (1996-97), The Visitor (1997), and The Outer Limits (1998). He also has starred in many notable made-for-TV movies such as Sawbones (1995), Smoke Jumpers (1997), and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1999). Many science-fiction fans will remember Adam most for his role as Knowle Rohrer in the last two seasons of The X-Files. Not bad work, indeed.

Adam tests his strength against a soda can and stars as clueless Sheriff Jay Forrest of Anytown, USA (torn out of a movie reel from 1951) in the TV movie Monster Makers:

Adam would start the next decade strong acting in The Patriot (2000), but his television roles would prove to continue to make him legendary among his growing network of fans. Besides the role of Jayne Cobb that has made him much beloved by sci-fi fans, you can catch Adam in a re-run of CSI: Miami (2003, in an episode called Dead Woman Walking as De Soto, Radiation Man #1), JAG (2004, as Cmdr. Michael Rainer), Stargate SG1 (2004 in the two-parter episodes Heroes 1 & 2 as Colonel Dave Dixon), he would reprise his role as Cmdr. Rainer on the second season of NCIS (2004), and appear in five episodes of Angel (2004). Adam is also well known for his leading role in FOX's The Inside as Special Agent Danny Love.

Adam's most recent memorable television role is as Chad Shelten in ABC's Daybreak (2006-7).

Adam behind-the-scenes on the X-Files and explaining the sentimental value of Jayne Cobb's hat on an entertainment interview show, Hypaspace:

Playing just about everything from serial killer to cop, Adam couldn't be that big of a thug in real life. Otherwise someone wouldn't have married him and he wouldn't be the father of three kids! Like many professionals in the film industry, Adam prefers to keep his private life just that: private. Being a father, an actor in demand, and a cult hero to millions, you have to wonder, who does Adam Baldwin consider his personal heroes?

So what do I conclude from reviewing Adam's acting career and from what I've seen on interviews? Adam Baldwin is a working-class, everyman kind of guy who just happens to love his job and do it well. I'm sure he digs the attention, but I suspect that he's more intellectual than all brawn and it's all too easy to cast him as psychotic killers and thieves. Behind those eyes and that quirky big guy grimace is a mind working overtime.  In the future I predict we'll see Adam in more cerebral roles.

(Article by valentinaxxx)

 
But you have to admit that he's pretty irresistable as our favorite merc, Janye Cobb.

Adam sings "The Hero of Canton" the musical tribute to Jayne from Firefly episode "Jaynestown"

 

   

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