Academy Award-nominated actor Gary Busey will bring his larger-than-life persona to the First Ever 13th Annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade as the official parade starter in 2016.
The 71-year-old actor is well into his 45th year in Hollywood, celebrating the 35th anniversary of "The Buddy Holly Story" in 2014, which garnered him a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award and an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
Born in Goose Creek, Texas, and raised in Oklahoma, the star pursued theater after a career-ending knee injury derailed his plans for a professional sports career. A talented musician, Busey played percussion for Leon Russell, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson. He made his lead role, film debut in 1971 in the biker film "Angels Hard as They Come," and later in supporting roles opposite Barbra Streisand and Kristofferson in "A Star is Born" in 1976.
In 1978, he put his musical talents to work, playing guitar and singing his own vocals in his portrayal as Buddy Holly, but throughout the 1980s and '90s, his roles in "Lethal Weapon" (1987), "Predator 2" (1990), and "Under Siege" (1992) put him in more sinister roles. Other credits include "The Firm," "Point Break," "Big Wednesday" and "Straight Time."
Since the early 2000s, he has again become a household name for his reality TV appearances in "Celebrity Wife Swap," "Celebrity Apprentice" and "All Star Celebrity Apprentice," as well as cameos in HBO's "Entourage" and "Two and a Half Men."
"What can you say about Gary Busey? You mention his name, and people just smile," said Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs. "I can see him talking to everybody on the route, and I believe he really is going to set the bar for all future parade starters."
The parade committee, Arrison said, is beside itself with the addition of Busey to the already star-studded event that will feature celebrity grand marshals Kevin and Michael Bacon, who will also entertain attendees as The Bacon Brothers Band takes the stage in the post parade concert.
"You know, this year we saw an attendance of 30,006," he said. "I think it's safe to go ahead and thank Gary Busey and Kevin and Michael Bacon now for our record attendance in 2016 of 30,009. We really are blessed to have them here and this will only continue to draw more great attention to Hot Springs. It's shaping up to be a wild parade."
Arrison is encouraging everyone in attendance to brush up on their Buseyisms -- a hobby, the star said on his website, "that's really wonderful because it helps me understand the meaning of one word with a sentence that reflects the word's meaning and definition."
"I take these from my own heart, my own spirit and my own soul and make this interpretation so you can hear it and live by it," Busey said.
Bridge Street was named by Ripley's Believe It or Not as the world's shortest street in everyday use, and the parade has gained attention for its hilarious premise.
It annually features a parade of outrageous wackiness that includes a troupe of Marching Irish Elvis Impersonators, green Irish wolfhounds, zany floats and marching units. Busey will serve as the third starter in the parade's history, succeeding The Swon Brothers in 2015 and "Duck Dynasty's" Mountain Man in 2014.
Local on 07/12/2015