I was saddened to learn that Wings Hauser had recently passed away. While some may consider him a C-level action star due to his work in eighties and nineties direct-to-video movies, Hauser was a talented actor who could deliver unforgettable performances when given the right role. One such role was in Michael Mann’s The Insider, where he played a slimy lawyer for big tobacco alongside Bruce McGill, stealing the scene from stars Al Pacino and Russell Crowe in just ninety seconds.
Hauser’s versatility was evident in roles like a slimy bounty hunter in an action-packed episode of Beverly Hills 90210 and an over-the-top performance in Norman Mailer’s Tough Guys Don’t Dance. Despite struggles with substance abuse, Hauser managed to overcome his challenges, landing roles in cult classics like Rubber and earning praise for his portrayal of Ramrod, the killer pimp in the 1982 film Vice Squad, which was lauded by Martin Scorsese.
Directed by Gary Sherman, Vice Squad is a gritty thriller shot on location in Los Angeles’s Skid Row, following the story of a streetwalker pursued by the psychopathic pimp Ramrod. The film’s evocative cinematography by John Alcott and Hauser’s standout performance as Ramrod garnered critical acclaim, with Clint Eastwood even borrowing a famous line from the movie.
Despite not being a box office hit, Vice Squad has gained a devoted following over the years, with director Ti West citing it as an influence on his film MaXXXine. For those unfamiliar with Wings Hauser’s work, Vice Squad is a must-watch to appreciate his talent as an actor. The film is readily available on various streaming services, making it accessible to a new generation of viewers. Give it a watch and discover why Wings Hauser remains a standout figure in the world of cult cinema.
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