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Film Actor Michael Rooker

Rooker appeared in the big budget action flick Days of Thunder, and the independently produced Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer -- now out on home video. He was born into a poor, predominantly white town in Alabama, and later moved to a black neighborhood in Chicago. After growing up among people working 15-hour days, it took Rooker until his early twenties to believe that acting could be a real job.

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Other segments from the episode on October 5, 1990

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, October 5, 1990: Interview with Lenny Kaye; Commentary on post-college life and video games; Interview with Michael Rooker; Review of the film "Henry and June."
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24:16

Record Producer Lenny Kaye on 40 Years of Rock History

Kaye played guitar in the Patti Smith Group and has recorded albums with his own band. He produced Suzanne Vega's first two albums, and more recently worked with Soul Asylum and Michelle Malone. Kaye compiled the 1960s garage rock anthology, Nuggets, and was the executive producer for the Elektra Records 40th anniversary compilation, Rubaiyat.

Interview
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03:45

The Sex-Charged "Henry & June" is Short on Eroticism

Critic Owen Gleiberman reviews the new, NC-17 rated film about the relationship between writers Henry Miller and Anais Nin, and Miller's wife, June. Gleiberman says the director Philip Kaufman fails to capture the authors' talent and passion -- but Uma Thurman shines as June.

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10:52

Director John McNaughton Discusses His Controversial Film "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer."

Film maker John McNaughton, director of the controversial movie, "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer." The film is loosely based on real-life murderer Henry Lee Lucas. McNaughton shot the film in 1986, but it's only now gaining wide release. The delay is in large part do to the fact that the Motion Picture Association insisted on giving the film a "X" rating, a rating that stemmed less from the graphic violence that the absolute unrepentant nature of the killer. Despite that, the film's already made many critic's ten best lists.

Interview
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11:21

Actor Michael Rooker

Rooker appears in two recently-released films -- the big budget action flick Days of Thunder, and the independently produced Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. He was born into a poor, predominantly white town in Alabama, and later moved to a black neighborhood in Chicago. After growing up among people working 15-hour days, it took Rooker until his early twenties to believe that acting could be a real job.

Interview

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