Originally posted by anonymous
and i have to admit i was on his side when he decked the camera guy following him all over the place. i wouldnt like that myself.
Penn has some anger issues, that's for certain. However, he tends to avoid tangling with people who are capable of handling his aggression and frequent sucker punches.
I heard a story about a confrontation between drunken Penn and actor Brian Keith in 1988. The event took place at a party for the cast, crew and guests after production ended on the movie Colors. Penn was deriding a director, who wasn't present and just happened to be a friend of Keith. To appreciate the situation you must understand that since the late 1940s, Brian Keith was well known in Hollywood as one of the toughest characters ever to star in film. Known not only for his pre-disposition for brawling, he was also known for finishing the fights he got into. Even John Wayne recognized Keith's roughneck qualities when he commented that "Keith is the toughest SOB I know in this town."
This was related by actor Dennis Weaver: After getting stupid drunk at a hotel cocktail party, Keith had a disagreement with another actor. Keith didn't punch out his lights. No, instead he picked up the actor and threw him out of a 3rd floor window! Fortunately for both men, the actor landed in the hotel pool and suffered no serious injury.
With that in mind, the story fits his nature.
Listening to Penn for several minutes, Keith (67 years old at the time), walked over to Penn and suggested that he stop his ranting and behave himself.
Penn asked, "Why?"
Keith looked at him with that look that means pain and suffering are seconds away and replied, "Because if you don't, I'll rip your f--kin' head off, thats why."
Penn was stunned, and before he could say a word, co-star Robert Duval hustled Penn out of the room. That probably saved him considerable reconstructive surgery.
My regards,
Widewing
