TAFs Interviews Terminator's Earl Boen: The Cockroach That Wouldn't Die!

Last November Terminator fans in Texas began to rejoice at the addition of a film reunion at Dallas convention, Texas Frightmare Weekend. They began by adding Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn. Slowly but surely celebrity guests were added to the list….Robert Patrick, then Kristanna Loken, then Arnold’s stunt double in so many films, Peter Kent. There was a lull for about 30 days. The guest list paused and Terminator fans yearned for more additions, dreaming about the signatures they could add to their posters. Then there came another addition. Janelle, Jenette Goldstein, was added. Folks that drank milk straight from the carton cringed at the thought. Then another pause. Another lull. Those who go to these events and are familiar with the show circuit understand that there are only a few others not listed, that normally attend shows. 

Some of TheArnoldFans may not know that yours truly, CromisGod, has become a convention agent. I work at bringing guests into these types of events across the country. I have a client list over 40 celebrities strong now and have become one of the most respected agents in the business, always working hard to bring in elusive guests.

I was looking at this Terminator guest list early this year and wanted to add to it. I wanted to be part of it and make the event shine. I knew all the biggest stars of the films were going to be there already, besides Arnold of course, so I brooded about who to find. I happen to be at another event and was discussing this show with another agent. We were talking about the guest list and he said to me “Too bad Earl Boen wouldn’t do it, but nobody has been able to contact or find him…so that’s impossible” Now, if anybody knows me, “impossible” is not part of my CPU. I began the hunt for Mr. Boen. I won’t bore you with the details, with the phone calls, with the emails. The fact that this story includes a three day interview with Earl proves that in fact my CPU is not the “learning” type and I don’t know impossible. Here is a three day interaction comprised of my own conversation questions and a fan Q&A involving Dr. Silberman himself, Earl Boen:

Rick: I have to say that I really had a love/hate relationship with your character in the films.

Earl Boen: “I know right, I’m like the cockroach that wouldn’t die. I just keep turning up and showing up. Besides Arnold, I’m the only one that was in all of the first three Terminator movies. Him and I, we are the only two that can say that."

Rick: That’s true. Is it possible that you will be making it a fourth? Any calls into you about the movie that they are making now? 

Earl Boen: “Sadly no. I’m old now, Rick...but if they called me, I would do it. Would Silberman be alive? It takes place pretty far in the future, right?

Rick: I think so although I’m not sure. I mean technically it’s the past right…or maybe not.

Earl Boen: (Laughs) "I would still do it…past or future."

Rick: It would be cool if you appeared as like this futuristic hologram that Skynet uses to “condition” humans. Like it pops on an your introduce yourself. That would get huge cheers.

Earl Boen: “Well, you know that was kind of like Terminator 3, ya know. I’m not sure anybody expected me to be in that graveyard scene and from what I’m told, people clapped and stuff when that scene came on in the theatres. I’ve always enjoyed comedy and that scene I got to use it when Silberman is recounting to Clare Danes. Then I get the hell out of there when I see Arnold. Just like a cockroach…I must survive."

Rick: There really wasn’t a lot of comedy from you in the first two films.

Earl Boen: "It wasn’t in the script and Jim wanted done what was in the script. I thought the whole “Model Citizen” line was kinda funny, but when I told Jim that I wanted to add some funny little things he would always tell me “no” and that if I did any that he would just trim/cut it out of the final product. BUT…..there was one moment. We were doing the scene in the hospital hallway, where we tackle Sarah and then Arnold comes in and throws everybody around. So that was the time where Robert (Patrick) was supposed to melt through the bars. They are doing the shot of me looking at him, you know, shocked at what I’m seeing and Jim stops the scene for a second. He says to me “Whats that it your mouth?” I hadn’t realized that I had the hypodermic needle cap still in my mouth. Jim was like “Ok, you wanted some comedy in here…you got it. I want you to drop that thing out of your mouth when you see him come in”. So I did that and it really turned out to be a great part of the scene. It’s kinda of like Silberman realizes that this story Sarah has been telling has some validity.” 

Rick: Terminator was your first time working with Jim Cameron, right?

Earl Boen: “No, no..actually it wasn’t. I made a movie in the late 70’s called “Battle Beyond the Stars”. It was this interesting Roger Corman movie with George Peppard and Robert Vaughn. It was a fun sci-fi picture where I played a character called “Nestor”. Roger bought like a lumber yard or something to film it on. Anyway… Jim was the Art director and had something to do with special effects. I met him there."

Rick: I have seen that movie, Sybil Danning right?

Earl Boen: “Oh yes." (smiles)

The Terminator cast also participated in a standing room only panel with at least 1000 people in attendance. Here are some questions that were asked and how Earl answered them:

Fan: I thought that it was kinda of strange that you were psychologist in the first movie yet you were prescribing drugs in the second. Psychologist’s can’t prescribe drugs.

Earl Boen: “There was a long time between those two moments. Maybe Silberman’s career progressed."

Linda Hamilton: (interjecting) “He got a new job and went through classes.”

Fan: I really liked the scene with you and Michael (Biehn) in the police room, it was intense.

Earl Boen: “Well, a lot of those kudos go to Michael, you see, during the filming of that Michael told Jim that Reese would be too smart to think that Silberman was the guy in charge. He has military training and was a resourceful smart soldier. It was Michael’s idea to jump up and start yelling at the surveillance camera, because he thought that Reese knew that that’s where the people in charge were. Hiding behind the camera.”

*Michael Biehn confirmed this and told more of the story at the panel.

Fan: (to the whole panel) Did the Terminator films make you fear the future?

Earl Boen: “They sure make you think about Technology in a different way. A lot of that stuff seems like it came true, too. I don’t own a cell phone, don’t email or any of that electronic stuff.”

All in all, the experience that I had with Earl at this event was fantastic. I sat with him all weekend and he spun yarns of Hollywood in its hayday, working with some of the best directors in the business and life on a movie set. Earl has had a prolific career both in front of the scene and behind the microphone. Chances are if you have played a video game, watched a cartoon or seen a commercial in the last 30 years, it’s Earl’s voice you hear. Now, Earl is satisfied with his retirement in Hawaii with his lovely wife Kathy (who came with him and I got to meet, she was a sweetheart).

It was a great time hanging out with Earl but what would be even greater is if Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions and the producers of Terminator Genesis would strongly consider bringing on Earl Boen onto T5. Fans of the Terminator films would geek out of ultimate delight with the original alumnus of Boen (and get Franco Columbu too). PLEASE bring back Earl, whether it be as a hologram, Dr. Silberman's lost audio tapes, playing a new disguised character, or other. TheTerminatorFans.com and others are also on board with this "Bring BACK Silberman" campaign. As Earl Boen says, he and Arnold are the ONLY actors to star in Terminator 1 - 3. Let's bring back the reunion for Terminator 5!