During an appearance on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon', the 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' director is asked about the connection between the TV series and his breakthrough film.
- Jan 10, 2020
AceShowbiz - Quentin Tarantino's guest spot on TV hit "The Golden Girls" allowed him to fund his now iconic film "Reservoir Dogs".
Prior to developing his breakthrough 1992 crime drama, the filmmaker struggled to find work as an actor, but scored a brief role on the comedy as an Elvis Presley impersonator. And the quick job earned him enough money to put the acclaimed project into production.
"Before I did 'Reservoir Dogs', I had a very unsuccessful acting career," he shared on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on Wednesday, January 8. "One of the jobs I did get - and not because I did a wonderful audition, but simply because they sent my picture in and they said, 'He's got it' - was for an Elvis impersonator on 'The Golden Girls'."
He added, "It became a two-part 'Golden Girls' (episode), so I got paid residuals (fees) for both parts. And it was so popular they put it on a Best of 'The Golden Girls' (compilation) and I got residuals every time that showed. So I got paid maybe, I don't know, $650 for that episode, but by the time the residuals were over three years later, I made like $3,000. That kept me going during our pre-production time trying to get 'Reservoir Dogs' going."
The "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" director's career has gone from strength to strength since those early days, with his star-studded love letter to Los Angeles picking up Best Director and Best Screenplay honours at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, January 5.
