Alien encounter: Mark Rolston reflects on his dynamic career before C4 appearance

I'm grateful. I’m not done yet. I want to die of a heart attack in the middle of a movie when I’m 89.”

Mark Rolston

To this day, decades later, people often recognize actor Mark Rolston as Private Drake in 1986’s “Aliens” or Bogs in 1994’s “The Shawshank Redemption.” 

“Men say to me, ‘You’re the reason I never went to prison.’ That’s a good one,” Rolston, 65, said. “Compared to ‘Aliens,’ they say, ‘You’re the reason I enlisted in the Marines.’ I automatically reply, ‘Oh no, I can’t be responsible for that, but thank you for your service, sir.’” 

“Soldiers have told me the night before a mission they’d watch ‘Aliens’ just to get pumped and ready to go,” Rolston added. “I couldn’t believe it. We often get the compliment about how  real we seemed in ‘Aliens.’” 

Not a bad resume, but he’s done far more than that. Rolston has also appeared in 1998’s “Rush Hour,” 2006’s “The Departed,” as well as “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “X-Files,” “Angel,” “The Shield” and “24,” to name a few. 

Rolston will be at the Capital City Comic Con signing autographs and taking photos with fans throughout the weekend as he also reunites with “Aliens” co-stars Ricco Ross, Daniel Kash and Cynthia Dale Scott. This is his first time in Lansing. 

How did “Aliens,” which was directed by James Cameron and stars Sigourney Weaver, change your life? 

Mark Rolston: Bill Paxton would always tell me how huge this movie was going to be. I knew it was a fantastic script. With most projects, you never know if it’ll be a hit or become iconic in film history. “Aliens” certainly did. I always had it in the back of my mind that in order to get to Hollywood, I most likely had to do it on the back of a huge project. “Aliens” was it. I took the opportunity to come to the premiere — all at the behest of (Paxton) who’d call me once a week saying, “Mark, you’ve got to come, man! It’s going to be huge!” I finally relented and bought a ticket. It changed my life. 

Looking back, how was working with James “Jim” Cameron? 

He was on-set hours before anybody else because of his vision. There are rumors he’s mega-maniacal. He’s not. He was on the hook for a lot of money if he fucked something up and ran a day behind. He also knows what he wants onscreen. The main thing about Cameron is when he spent time at Roger Corman’s studios, he learned every single job. He knows when a crew member's slacking, he doesn’t have time for fools. He’s quite an innovator. 

How was the auditioning for him? 

When we all auditioned, we all read the same pages. I thought I was reading for Hudson, to be honest. I met (producer) Gale Anne Herd. She interviewed me but didn’t read me. Then they called me back to read for her and Jim. After reading, I went to Jim’s office. ‘We want you to play Drake.’ It wasn’t that I was attracted to it, they just saw me in the part. Truthfully, I’ve been very lucky to audition for so many classic films and fit the director’s picture. 

And Weaver? 

She’s the epitome of class. She’s a tremendous professional, very fine actress. She’s stunning, statuesque, serious about her work, committed and determined. What an iconic role for her to play. And for Jim and Gale to have that vision of a female action hero, Sigourney pulls it off in spades and then some. She’s the backbone of the movie. It’s such a great portrayal of mothers and what they’ll do to protect their young. 

How did “Aliens” challenge gender stereotypes in science fiction? 

It’s something often forgotten. It’s a shame. More buzz was made about Gal Gadot in “Wonder Woman.” I remember seeing it with my daughters and they’re like, “Wow, this is awesome, Dad! There’s finally a female action hero!” 

Studios wanted to talk Jim out of this idea. Imagine that. It’s way ahead of its time – way ahead. Jim stood by Sigourney, so she’d become the first woman to make $1 million. It’s amazing. Historic. 

Was it a similar process auditioning for Bogs in “Shawshank”? 

When I auditioned, I met with casting director Debra Aquila. I was interested in Hadley. She immediately shut me down. I pushed one more time to let me read. She said, “Read for Bogs.” I went, “OK, I can do that.” 

On the day I auditioned, I was looking at pages. This guy kept walking back and forth, craning his neck and looking at me. I’m like, ‘Who the fuck is this?’ I walked in the room, having never met anyone before, it was (director) Frank Darabont. He said, “Hey, man, I’m Frank and I’ve got to say, you’re Drake!” I thought, this director’s an “Aliens” nerd! 

It was the first audition I ever did where I was absolutely certain and felt it in my soul that I finally achieved something as an actor. I just talked the part. I didn’t lay a bunch of things on it or make actor choices, I just talked. That very notion was supported by a conversation I had with Morgan Freeman: “Look, the secret to film acting is just talking, don’t layer it with anything. Let it come out conversationally.” 

Did Darabont vouch for you? 

After leaving that audition, I was certain I did my absolute best work but didn’t hear anything for three months. One morning, Darabont called and told me what happened. 

(Producer) Rob Reiner didn’t want me in “Shawshank,” forcing Darabont to (audition) actors until he found the right one. Before it was finally cast, Darabont, Reiner, Aquila and the executives sat in the room and saw each character’s final choices. Frank — God bless him, my angel — went to the projection booth and said, “Hey, at the end of the Bogs auditions, slip this in” and gave them my audition tape. The five auditions were played. Frank never said who the others were, just that I beat out some really big names. 

At the end of (my audition), Frank told me that he stood, pointed at (Reiner), and said, “If you don’t think that’s the guy for this role, you’re stupid!” Apparently, Reiner’s like, “All right, you can have him!” He really forced Frank’s hand on that one. 

What do you recall about working with Jackie Chan in “Rush Hour”? 

Jackie Chan is the gentleman of all gentlemen. He’s a legend! He’s extraordinary to watch. Even if I wasn’t on-set that day, I’d go watch this guy. It’s extraordinary. He’s a human cat. He can climb up shit, latch onto stuff. He’s nimble, malleable. It’s unbelievable what this guy can do. 

Any new projects in the works right now? 

I’m doing a top-secret show. I’m grateful. I’m not done yet. I want to die of a heart attack in the middle of a movie when I’m 89.