Summary Kevin Bacon went undercover with a professional disguise to experience life as a non-famous person. His disguise worked too well, resulting in poor treatment and having to wait in line. Bacon concluded that he prefers being a recognizable celebrity and is grateful for his success.
Ever since his breakout role in 1984's Footloose, Kevin Bacon has been about as recognizable to the general public as Abraham Lincoln is, which is to say he lives his life under a microscope, making it hard for the megastar to perform everyday duties we take for granted. Recently, the Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F and MaXXXine star decided to go undercover to experience what life would be like as a non-famous person. His conclusion? "This sucks."
In a new interview with Vanity Fair (which sadly did not provide pictures), Bacon revealed to the publication that he recently donned an elaborate disguise to see what life was like away from the spotlight as one of us normal folk. This ruse went far beyond the normal hat and sunglasses routine he regularly employs, which Bacon says provides little protection against fans recognizing his mug.
"I'm not complaining, but I have a face that's pretty recognizable. Putting my hat and glasses on is only going to work to a certain extent."
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F 2/5
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley is the fourth film in the popular comedy franchise starring Eddie Murphy. Murphy returns as Axel Foley in the Netflix film alongside returning cast members Judge Reinhold and John Ashton and Bronson Pinchot as Serge. Kevin Bacon and Joseph Gordon-Levitt also star in the sequel as new characters.
Release Date July 3, 2024 Director Mark Molloy Cast Eddie Murphy , Kevin Bacon , John Ashton , Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Paul Reiser , Judge Reinhold Main Genre Action
In order for his disguise to work, though, Bacon had to go beyond finding something in an everyday shop to hide his appearance. It wasn't as simple as smacking on some makeup and putting a pillow under his shirt to gain weight; no, Bacon went to the extreme, hiring a professional to do the job, which included new teeth, a new nose, and glasses.
"I went to a special effects makeup artist, had consultations, and asked him to make me a prosthetic disguise."
Kevin Bacon's Disguise Worked a Little Too Well "Nobody said 'I Love You'" Close
In order to put his new appearance to the test, Bacon found himself in one of the most highly trafficked areas of Los Angeles: The Grove, an outdoor shopping mall that's a magnet for tourists and locals alike. To his surprise, the disguise worked. "Nobody recognized me," he says. However, it worked a little too well, as Bacon soon found himself treated like any other Los Angeleno, which is to say not very well.
"People were kind of pushing past me, not being nice. Nobody said, 'I love you.'"
To add to the shame of becoming a mere peasant, Bacon revealed that he had to do something he rarely has to do these days: wait in line. For the megastar, his ultimate conclusion was that life among the herd isn't for him, and he'd rather be the recognizable celebrity that he is.
"I had to wait in line to, I don't know, buy a f*cking coffee or whatever. I was like, 'This sucks. I want to go back to being famous.'"
Related Kevin Bacon & Family Recreate His Friday the 13th Death Scene for the 44th Anniversary
Friday the 13th turned 44 years old on May 9, 2024, and to celebrate, Kevin Bacon and his family poked fun at his iconic death scene in a new video.
It's all in good fun, as Bacon knows how lucky he is to be where he's at in life. "I honestly feel very grateful for where I happen to be," he said of his superstardom, which finds him starring in two films that were released back-to-back this year: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (July 3), and the conclusion to Ti West's X trilogy, MaXXXine (July 5).
"The fact they would both come my way is the thing that I feel the most gratitude for. I've fought really long and hard for it."
You can catch Kevin Bacon in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F , which is now streaming on Netflix , and MaXXXine in theaters on July 5, 2024.
MaXXXine R 4/5
In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx lands her big break, but her rise to stardom is jeopardized by a mysterious killer targeting starlets. As the body count rises, secrets from Maxine's past threaten to surface, intertwining her quest for fame with a deadly game of survival.
Release Date July 5, 2024 Director Ti West Cast Mia Goth , Elizabeth Debicki , Michelle Monaghan , Lily Collins , Giancarlo Esposito , Kevin Bacon , Bobby Cannavale , Halsey Main Genre Horror
