Acting Career

Anthony Kiedis in Point Break (screenshot)

 

For a brief period in his childhood, Anthony Kiedis took acting lessons after following his father into acting;

“Now it was time for me to enroll in acting school. I took children’s classes with a woman named Diane Hull, and they were wonderful.”  

‘Scar Tissue’ Anthony Kiedis with Larry Sloman; page 50

 

Upon taking up acting, Anthony’s father, Jack Kiedis, changed his name to Blackie Dammett (in homage to his favourite writer, Dashiell Hammett), so the young Kiedis decided  he needed to follow suit:

 “Well, it’s got to be something Dammett, because I’m your son.” So Cole Dammett was born. Get it? Cole, son of Blackie.”

‘Scar Tissue’ Anthony Kiedis with Larry Sloman; page 50

 

Following an altercation with a visitor calling to see Blackie  by a producer who was so impressed with Anthony’s attitude that he immediately cast him in a role, Kiedis was soon picking up a variety of roles both in movies (e.g. in F.I.S.T) and in adverts (e.g. for Coca-Cola). He was even named in his graduation yearbook from Fairfax High in 1980 as Thespians VP (Vice President). However, his acting career took set-backs such as the loss of a very coveted role in American Hot Wax, and was to be short-lived as a child. He has acted since as an adult. 

Obviously, as the vocalist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kiedis has featured in number of things but this a list of just of the main acting roles he has played:

The Chase played the part of Will (1994) Note: The film also starred RHCP bassist, Flea (and this clip features both of them)

 

Point Break played the part of Tone (1991)

 

Less Than Zero played the part of musician #3 as Cole Dammett (1987)

Jokes My Folks Never Told Me played the part of a student. Credited as Cole Dammett (1978)

ABC Afterschool Specials (TV series; episode: It’s a Mile from Here to Glory) played the part of Jimmy Plummer- listed as Cole Dammett (1978)

F.I.S.T Played the part of Kevin Kovak- listed as Cole Dammett (1978). This film was a major disappointment to the young Kiedis as he imagined it to be a major role but it turned out to be a very minor part; in the final cut there is a shot of Anthony’s arm as he asks for the milk.

Film Credits Source: IMDb

7 Responses to Acting Career

  1. Mark Young says:

    Was Anthony Kiedis in the chorus in the last scene in the movie, Fame?

    • admin says:

      No, he wasn’t. I had a look and there is someone that looks like him so I can see why you think that, but I’ve had it verified that he definitely wasn’t in it.

  2. Mark Y. says:

    Thanks so much for checking. I believed that guy to be a dead ringer for a young Anthony Kiedis, but I trust your opinion. Especially as the filming was set in New York, and I’m assuming our guy was primarily LA based. I hope you enjoyed the ensemble performance anyway

  3. Fiend says:

    I read once he was in Happy Days but I’ve yet to see evidence of such.

    • admin says:

      I’ve never seen anything proving that. Someone claimed he was in it and I remember seeing a video clip years back saying it was him, but it wasn’t (that time at least). The person was similar looking and I can see how a “casual” observer might think it was AK but it wasn’t.

  4. Jason Holmes says:

    I was just watching reruns of Major Dad and was sure I saw him in scene at the Fuel-R-Up, was that him?

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