Kevin Pollak Shares Memories of Working with Rip Torn

Kevin Pollak recently shared his experiences from his time on set with the late Rip Torn, naming Torn as the most unpredictable actor he ever worked with. Pollak recalled moments from the set of the film Canadian Bacon, which starred John Candy and was released posthumously after Torn’s passing.

“Oh, jeez. It’s not even a competition,” Pollak commented during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show.

Pollak described how Torn, who passed away in 2019, kept everyone guessing with his quirky behavior on set. He often accused someone in the cast or crew of conspiring against him.

Pollak further mentioned Torn’s frequent references to his presence on former President Richard Nixon’s enemies list. Torn would bring it up almost daily, yet no one dared to ask why he was included.

A particularly odd incident involved fellow actor Kevin O’Connor and his new wife, who stayed in a hotel room next to Torn while filming. Torn was frequently heard shouting through the walls, prompting the couple to compile a list of Torn’s most memorable lines during his rants.

Pollak shared the top line overheard by O’Connor’s wife: “The number one thing we heard Rip Torn yell at the hooker through the wall: ‘I said milk it like a cow.’”

Torn had a noteworthy career in film, television, and theater. He earned critical acclaim for his role in Cross Creek and became a familiar face through roles in Men in Black and The Larry Sanders Show. His portrayal of Artie on The Larry Sanders Show resulted in six consecutive Emmy nominations, winning one in 1996.