Richard Brake has played his fair share of creepy dudes. From a necrophiliac paramedic Gary Scott to Bobby DeWitt in The Black Dahlia, his penchant for peculiarity has developed into a prolific career. However, few parts have been more insane that his new role in the new film 3 From Hell. Written and directed by Rob Zombie 3 From Hell is a direct sequel to what is arguably Zombie’s best film The Devil’s Rejects. Picking up right where that film left off, we see the Firefly family’s seemingly impossible survival after a police shoot out that leaves them clinging to life. As the film progresses we meet Winslow Foxworth Coltrane, played by Brake, who joins in their chaos. With his lanky frame and southern swagger, his performance brings a new flavor of chaos to the insanity.
We had a chance to speak with Brake about his new film, his continued collaboration with Zombie, and how a young guy from Atlanta, Georgia got involved with acting.
Bill Moseley (Left), Sheri Moon Zombie (center) Richard Brake (Right) in 3 From Hell
HorrorBuzz: You were born in Wales? But your family ended up in Atlanta Why?
Richard Break: My father was an engineer and so we ended up in Atlanta because he was building parts for the B-1 Bomber during the Vietnam war. That brought him over and we all tagged along. It was quite a culture shock to go from Wales in 1968 to Atlanta, GA.
HB: When did the acting bug bite you?
RB: We ended up moving all over the place and it really didn’t happen for me until I was 18. I went to school in Ohio and I was sitting outside the school with my friend. This very attractive young lady came out and said they needed more guys to audition for the school play. So he and I went in and, of course we got cast because they didn’t have enough guys for the number of roles. And then I just loved it. I was a week into rehearsal and I told that same friend, “This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.” Here I am doing it, some 27 years later. I remember saying those words to him and it came true. Like any good story it started with a woman.
HB: You started to get cast as the bad guy? When did that begin to happen and did that bother you?
RB: Yeah, I have always wanted to do a rom-com. I keep waiting for Zombie to write the definitive romantic comedy. Till then I am very happy playing the baddy. I was never pretty enough to be the leading man, but yet I wasn’t powerful enough yet to play the bad guy. It wasn’t until I was in my 30’s when my teeth got wonky and the “bad guy” roles found me.
My first role was Death Machine and I played the bad guy in that. By the time I reached my 30’s and I got much uglier.
HB: You started on working with Rob Zombie on Halloween 2. How did that come about?
RB: Auditions. Rob, if it’s not an actor that he has worked with before, he has the casting director put them on tape for the audition. I got this crazy script, with a guy talking about shagging a corpse and I thought, “this is wild”. I did the audition and about two weeks later I got the call that Rob Zombie wanted me to be in Halloween 2. I was over the moon! Went back to Atlanta to shoot it too.
HB: What’s it like working with Zombie? Does he have a particular way of doing things on set?
RB: Going in to Halloween 2 I was familiar with his films. I knew his music. If you have seen his stage show you know it’s spectacular. He’s like a Whirling Dervish of craziness.I remember thinking, “Oh, I got this director that’s a crazy man.” You know, based on his music and his movies, they’re so insane.
So I am outside my trailer on the set and Zombie walks up and introduces himself and he was the sweetest man. He’s a vegan and I am a vegetarian. For some reason, I cannot give up the cheese. We sat there, having a discussion on the merits of vegan cheese. I remember standing there thinking, “Now wait a minute. This is Rob Zombie and we are standing here talking about vegan cheese.”
He’s just one of the loviest human beings I know. And, in terms of him being a director, All I can say is that I have worked with some incredible directors in my career. Including Spielberg, Brian De Palma, Frank Darrabont, who I admire so much, Ridley Scott, they are all wonderful directors. But if I had to pick a favorite it would be Rob Zombie. The man is an incredible force of nature and an inspiration for anyone who works with him. Everybody is inspired to do their best when they work with Rob.
HB: Tell us about your character, Winslow Foxworth Coltrane, in the new movie 3 From Hell and how he ends up coming into the fold.
RB: He’s definitely a whirlwind of energy, sexuality, and toxic masculinity. He slots right into the madness that is the world of the Firefly’s. It was a lot of fun to play. Rob wrote a great character and then just let me run with it. That’s Foxy for you.
HB: What are your future projects after 3 From Hell? Any more with Zombie?
RB: That’s up to him. What I love about Rob though is you’ll get this email or text or call from him saying, “Hey man, uh, what are you doin’ in February?” and of course, I am like, “Nothin’ if you’ve got something in mind.” He has so many things going on, you never know what he will land on next. Hopefully, it will be something he thinks is right for me. I did have a movie called Perfect Skin and another one called Feedback. Both of those have just come out or are about to come out. and a bunch of different things
We’d like to thank Mr. Brake for the time to chat. We look forward to more from him.
