Jeff Goldblum has been an iconic and adored actor on the scene since 1974, but what was his first movie?
The first movie Jeff Goldblum ever starred in was called Death Wish, and it was a 1974 Charles Bronson movie. This role was relatively small, giving Goldblum just a few minutes of screen time.
Read on to learn more about Jeff Goldblum’s fascinating movie history.
Famed Across Generations
Jeff Goldblum has been an iconic on-screen figure for decades. He’s starred in some of the biggest, longest-running franchises in movie history. It doesn’t matter if you’re a cult classic fan, or a modern movie master, it’s likely you’ll know Jeff Goldblum.
In 1974, Goldblum kick started his acting career with a small role in the Charles Bronson movie, Death Wish. This was a minor appearance, but it was enough to offer a taste of the industry, and Goldblum would pursue it with eagerness. You can see a clip of Goldblum in this movie on YouTube.
Goldblum ebbed and flowed, passing from project to project on film and television. He had a string of success in smaller, cult classic films and B-movies. However, his real triumphs began in the early nineties. In 1993, he appeared in Jurassic Park, and in 1996 in Independence Day. These roles helped to catapult Goldblum into the mainstream public eye.
What was considered his ‘breakthrough role’ however, came in 1986. Goldblum headlined a horror film called The Fly. This movie became infamous for its gruesome effects and visuals. Owing to its sitting in a relatively niche market, it hit cult status, but never became overly popular.
As time went on, Goldblum found more modern success. In the 2010s, he appeared in more Jurassic movies, and took a role in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. His kooky, quirky style of acting became instantly recognizable whenever he appeared on screen.
Not Just An Actor
Goldblum boasts a massive filmography and decades of experience on screen, but he isn’t just an actor. He’s found success in other walks of life and has some relatively unknown skills. First and foremost, he’s an adept musician. In Los Angeles, Goldblum performs as part of a jazz group on a weekly basis.
In this ensemble, Goldblum plays piano, and is reportedly extremely talented at his craft. In 2018, Goldblum made an impromptu appearance at a London train station, jumping on a piano and giving a performance. He’s even released two studio albums as of 2019.
It’s Jeff Goldblum’s personality and approach to life that keeps him gathering a fan following. He’s well aware of the fact that he’s seen as peculiar, and revels in it. In the late 2010s, Goldblum became something of an internet figure.
He began featuring in several memes, and ‘reaction GIFs’. These primarily featured Goldblum in his 1993 Jurassic Park characterization. In particular, they featured his iconic lines, such as: “There it is,” or, “Life finds a way.” In 2018, a video was posted to Twitter, showing Goldbum reacting to these memes.
Bizarrely, in 2018 (on the 25th Anniversary of Jurassic Park) a large statue of Goldblum appeared in London. The oversized effigy appeared almost overnight, and became an instant tourist sensation.
Further to his movie and music accomplishments, Goldblum has also starred in roles as a competition show judge. He’s taken some acting work in video games and opened or supported businesses. He’s seen success on Broadway, and as of 2020, had a net worth of around $40 million.
He’s come a long way from his first movie all those decades ago and has achieved a huge amount. In 2020, he turned sixty-seven but showed no signs of slowing down. As an actor, voice actor and musician, it remained likely that he would continue performing for many years to come.