Josh Brolin Lists His Acting Influences in Instagram Post

Brolin’s Instagram Tribute

Josh Brolin turned to Instagram today to honor the artists whose work shaped his passion for performance. The post opens with a line that captures his pride: “To be proud to be influenced by so many. That’s where I’m at now.” Over a series of slides, the Deadpool and No Country for Old Men star pays homage to seven creative figures who left an indelible mark on his approach to acting and writing.

At the top of the list is Anthony Zerbe, a veteran character actor known for roles in The Omega Man and Star Trek: Insurrection. Brolin recalls finding plays and books from Zerbe “on my doorstep,” hinting at personal correspondence and a mentorship that helped fuel his early interest in classical acting.

In the accompanying snaps, Brolin appears in casual attire amid a quiet courtyard, a stack of well-thumbed books at his side as sunlight filters over spines stamped with Burton’s ex-libris. The visual underlines his message: inspiration often comes in the form of pages cracked open at dawn.

Next up is Richard Burton, whose recorded readings of Dylan Thomas and John Donne “threw me into a love of Shakespeare and word-smithing,” Brolin writes. Burton’s rich, resonant voice convinced the younger actor that language itself could be a source of dramatic power.

Spotlight On Iconic Performances

Al Pacino follows, specifically for his turns in Dog Day Afternoon (1975) and The Insider (1999). Brolin admires how Pacino’s intensity and commitment to character bring raw emotional truth to every scene—roles Pacino treated with fearless vulnerability that Brolin strives to emulate.

Robert De Niro also earns a shout-out for Taxi Driver (1976), and Brolin singles out Martin Scorsese’s direction in Raging Bull (1980) as a pairing that transformed both actor and auteur into legends. He notes how De Niro and Scorsese proved the power of collaboration in pushing each other to dizzying artistic heights.

Brolin doesn’t stop at film. He includes Charles Bukowski, praising “the raw and naked and profound simplicity” of the writer’s words. The actor even visited Bukowski’s resting place, sharing a photo from that pilgrimage and reflecting on “a life outside of contraction” where travel can be spiritual rather than geographic.

Early Career And Continuing Inspiration

This Instagram salute follows Brolin’s celebration of another milestone: the 40th anniversary of The Goonies, his first film cameo. In a separate post, he recalled bumping into a life-size Goonies poster across from Warner Bros. in Burbank and called the experience “golden” thanks to director Richard Donner and producer Steven Spielberg. (Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DKn_1a-gdAg/)

Since then, Brolin’s career has traversed TV and film. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of President George W. Bush in W. (2008) and received critical acclaim for his Academy Award-nominated turn in Milk (2008). His role as Llewelyn Moss in No Country for Old Men (2007) cemented his status among contemporary character actors. Blockbuster turns followed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from Cable in Deadpool 2 (2018) to commanding appearances alongside Josh Hutcherson in Avengers: Infinity War.

The Power Of Mentorship

Brolin’s listing of inspirations speaks to a broader theme of mentorship in the arts. By crediting Zerbe, Burton, Pacino, De Niro, Scorsese and Bukowski, he highlights the blend of formal training, lived experience and raw creativity that shapes a complete performer. Each name represents a distinct style—Zerbe’s disciplined craft, Burton’s mastery of language, Pacino’s emotional fire, De Niro’s transformative realism, Scorsese’s cinematic vision and Bukowski’s unvarnished prose.

Brolin’s public salute offers fans a rare glimpse into the artists behind the artist. By naming mentors who span stage, screen and page, he invites a new generation to seek out the same sources of power that continue to inform his work. The tribute underscores a simple truth for Brolin: every performance is part of a larger conversation with those who came before. And as long as he can follow in their footsteps—whether through scripts, recordings or quiet moments at a graveside—his own creative path will stay rooted in respect, curiosity and a profound appreciation for storytelling.

Trivia

Josh Brolin began his acting career in the late 1980s with a role in the 1985 television miniseries 'The Goonies'.

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Ratika Pai

 

Ratika holds a master's degree in commerce and a post-graduate diploma in communication and journalism from Mumbai University. She has 6 years of experience writing in various fields, such as finance, education, and lifestyle.

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