Unraveling Michael Nouri's Career Journey
Flashdance: A Career Turning Point
In 1983, Michael Nouri starred in 'Flashdance', a movie that grossed over $200 million at the box office. It was his third film after 1969's 'Goodbye, Columbus' (where he had an uncredited appearance) and 1981's 'Gangster Wars'. This movie seemed to open up a world of opportunities for him. As he explained on the Dec. 9 episode of Steve Kmetko's 'Still Here' podcast, "After Flashdance, that was the time to strike while the iron was hot." But fate had other plans. Billy Friedkin got in touch with him, offering a role in his new movie with Barbara Hershey called 'Sea Trial', which was set to be filmed at 20th Century Fox. However, the movie was shelved, and the momentum from 'Flashdance' dissipated.It was a moment of setback, but Nouri didn't give up. While in Tokyo promoting 'Flashdance', he received a call from his agent informing him that Steven Bochco was interested in having him in a series called 'Bay City Blues'. This series lasted for 13 episodes and had a cast that included Sharon Stone. Nouri realized the importance of keeping the momentum going after a big hit. "The huge momentum that Flashdance created, you just want to keep it going," he said. "Hopefully, when you have one big hit, you want to follow it up with something else, something equally good or better, just to keep you out there."
Despite his efforts, Nouri found himself moving on to a succession of TV shows, independent movies, and various other projects. He called it a "psychological and emotional adjustment", but also acknowledged that as a man, he had more opportunities than "women of a certain age", which he was "grateful" for.
From Big Hits to Diverse Roles
In the 2000s, Nouri had recurring roles on series like 'The O.C.', 'Damages', and 'NCIS'. Recently, he appeared on 'Yellowstone'. His career also included stints on Broadway, such as in the 1995 production of 'Victor/Victoria' starring Julie Andrews. Nouri described his journey, saying, "I went through a period of playing dads, now granddads, senators, statesmen, and so on, which I am very grateful for. The phone is still ringing. I have wonderful agents who are keeping me out there."Even in recent times, he recently auditioned for "Bradley Cooper's new movie". He emphasized the importance of putting ego aside and being grateful for what comes his way. "People say, 'You have to audition?' And the answer is, yes. I have to do that. I have to put my nerves aside and just be grateful for what comes my way."
Michael Nouri's career is a testament to his resilience and adaptability. From the heights of 'Flashdance' to a diverse range of roles on both the small and big screens, he has continued to make his mark in the entertainment industry.