Over the past decade, Josh Brolin has emerged as one of the most prolific actors in Hollywood, even earning an Oscar nomination for the 2008 biographical drama Milk. However, despite his success, the actor doubted his future in the film industry after his feature film debut in the 1985 comedy film The Goonies.
The film follows a group of children who find themselves being pursued by a criminal family when they discover a treasure map while attempting to save their homes from foreclosure. While it was a huge hit and has since earned a cult following, Brolin feared that his outfit in the comedy film would spell the end of his career.
Josh Brolin Was Concerned About His Career Due to The Goonies Wardrobe
Stephen Spielberg and Richard Donner’s 1985 comedy film The Goonies featured Josh Brolin as the tall and muscular teenager, Brand. The character sported a distinctive ensemble using a red bandana as a headband, a sleeveless gray shirt, and gray sweatpants with blue shorts layered over them.
And the latter one did not sit well with Brolin. The 56-year-old actor recently admitted that his outfit, especially the shorts and sweatpants combination, in the movie, left him feeling uncertain about his career in the film industry.
In a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Brolin shared that The Goonies was his first-ever film and how his unconventional attire in the movie made him question his future in Hollywood. The actor shared,
“That was my first job, and when they had me put the shorts over the long sweats. Like, I thought that was it. I thought, cuz I come from a pretty cool place, and when you do that, you think you’re going to be written off.”
The actor recalled being taken aback by the idea of wearing shorts over sweatpants. “I mean like whose decision was that,” he said before adding. “I just showed up, and they’re like, ‘What about this.’ And I was like, ‘Whatever you want.'”
While he did not find the look too amusing at the time, it surely came as a preference for the actor when he had to attend an 80’s themed birthday party, as he re-created the distinctive look, showcasing a newfound appreciation for the unusual style that once left him uncertain.
Josh Brolin on His Career Path Post The Goonies
In a conversation with CinemaBlend, the Oscar-nominated actor reflected on how things changed for him after starring in The Goonies. He shared that he was not doing very well. However, things took a turn for the better after he starred in the comedy film.
While he believed that it would continue to be this way, only to realize that that was not the case. “It was like…it was different,” he said, before further stating, “And then I thought that it continued like that. But it didn’t.”
The Sicario actor reflected on the reality of being a working actor. “But then you have to work,” he said. While Brolin was left uncertain about his acting career after his debut film, things have turned out pretty well. The actor has given several blockbuster and acclaimed films along with notable roles in hit franchises like the MCU and Dune.
The Goonies is available to stream on Prime Video.
