Actor gets chance for another break
September 4, 2001
The Detroit News
It could be big-break time for character actor Vincent D'Onofrio (he was one of the creepy aliens in Men in Black). His face will soon be seen weekly on TV starring in NBC's Criminal Intent, the latest spinoff from Law & Order.
But his first break came years ago after a chat with his pal, actor Matthew Modine.
"I saw him in New York, and he said he was going off to do his third film. I said, 'Who are you doing it with?' He said, 'Stanley Kubrick.' I said, 'Lucky you.' "
Modine told D'Onofrio there might be a part in the film for him and urged him to send Kubrick a tape. D'Onofrio did, not realizing thousands of other actors were doing the same.
Something caught Kubrick's interest, and he sent D'Onofrio a couple of script pages and asked him to put those on tape.
D'Onofrio did and got the job -- a starring role in Full Metal Jacket, still one of his best performances.
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