Supanova star power
Killed off in Pulp Fiction before return as Jedi
The actor famed for being accidentally shot by John Travolta’s character in hit movie Pulp Fiction is excited to be Gold Coast-bound.
On top of 500 movie credits, including alongside A-listers, Phil LaMarr is one of the most prolific voice actors for animated shows, with credits including Futurama and Justice League.
Mr LaMarr, flying in for the Gold Coast’s annual Supanova convention this weekend at Broadbeach, said older fans tended to ask about his Pulp Fiction role and younger ones about his cartoon voiceovers.
The 57-year-old recalled sharing scenes with Travolta and Samuel L Jackson, who played gangsters Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction, telling the Bulletin: “That was a great role. Many times, people will come up to the table, both young and old, and the younger person will mention all of the animated shows but the older ones always bring up Pulp Fiction.”
He told Nine’s Today Extra “getting shot by John Travolta is as much fun as dancing” with him.
His character was accidentally shot in the face and killed by Vega during a cordial debate in a moving car.
LaMarr also referenced an earlier famous scene with Jackson, who kills a man after reciting a Bible passage, saying: “Getting to watch Samuel was like taking a master class. It was like ‘I feel like I’ve paid a year of university tuition, because I learned by watching him’.
“He comes on set and turns into this really scary hitman, but with no effort.”
LaMarr never predicted he’d get to voice a Jedi when growing up a Star Wars fan.
He was already a lifelong science fiction and comic book fan when cast to voice Jedi master Kit Fisto in animated Star Wars series Clone Wars.
The lightsaber-wielding character is one of many roles he’ll discuss at Supanova convention on his first trip to meet Australian fans.
“This was the first time I had ever heard about the Gold Coast – it wasn’t mentioned in Crocodile Dundee, so I’m very excited to meet the fans,” he said.
“It’s wonderful to go. It’s something people go to so they can celebrate the things they enjoy, the things they enjoyed as children or on Netflix, so it’s great to have people show appreciation for the work you’ve done.
“It’s almost like getting an applause for a performance but it’s years later, one person at a time and not in a giant group.”
Among his most prominent roles are Futurama’s Hermes Conrad, Green Lantern’s John Stewart and Samurai Jack, from the cartoon series of the same name.
Mr LaMarr said his pop culture love meant he understood fans attending conventions.
“I grew up in the 1970s loving Star Wars and now I am credited with playing a Jedi,” he said.
“I once got to have a similar conversation at a convention with comic book artist Neal Adams, because I was a big fanboy of his drawings of Batman in the 1970s.
“Neal gave Batman power, strength and feeling while creating the Green Lantern John Stewart (whom Mr LaMarr voices).
“When I got to meet him, I just said thank you Mr Adams.
Supanova is at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Saturday and Sunday from 10am. Other actors are Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who), Temuera Morrison (Star Wars), Antonia Sabato Jr (Melrose Place) and comic book artist Mick Zeck (Secret Wars).
It’s wonderful to go. It’s something people go to so they can celebrate the things they enjoy, the things they enjoyed as children or on Netflix, so it’s great to have people show appreciation for the work you’ve done.
Phil LaMarr