James Woods would “love to be acting again,” but said it isn’t likely to happen now that he is making music.
The legendary actor and producer sat down with television host Mike Rowe for a lengthy interview in which he looked back on effectively being blacklisted by Hollywood after publicly taking a conservative stand.
“Years from now, long after the final credits roll, this actor will be remembered for his incredible contribution to film and television. And based on his latest work, I think it’s likely he’ll also be remembered for his contribution to music,” Rowe wrote in a social media post promoting his podcast interview with the veteran actor.
“But thanks to his affection for the first amendment, his unapologetic patriotism, and the principled stand he took 10 years ago that caused Hollywood to permanently lose his number, he will be remembered for something a lot more important,” Rowe continued. “Courage, for starters. And character.”
I’m speechless, and that’s a first.
I can only say thank you, thank you, thank you to a great American and yes, a new friend. Mike, you have me in tears. https://t.co/sUYazBTNC3
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 25, 2026
“I’m speechless, and that’s a first,” Woods wrote on X, sharing Rowe’s post. “I can only say thank you, thank you, thank you to a great American and yes, a new friend. Mike, you have me in tears.”
The 78-year-old star of films including Once Upon a Time in America, Ghosts of Mississippi, and Casino reflected on the realities of Hollywood, his new music, and how the entertainment industry has treated him.
“I had an agent who called me on the Fourth of July, I don’t know if he was 10 beers deep or not, he said, ‘You know, I’m feeling patriotic today so I’m, gonna drop you as a client,'” Woods recalled at one point, referring to his talent agent Ken Kaplan, whom he once described as “a political liberal.”
“That’s odd. I always thought patriotism was about a country where people could disagree and still like each other and work together,” Woods continued. “But you know what? It’s probably more of a gift than you think. And indeed it was because I would rather have written Tombstone Opera than just about anything else or make any of the movies that they make now, which I can always tell you who the villain is, because he’s the old white guy.”
Woods went on to say he had no “self-pity” over the way he has been treated by Hollywood, saying, “I don’t have a pity party for myself over the fact that I was blacklisted.”
“Look, I would love to be acting again, I’d love to be an actor. I loved being an actor, and I loved the contribution I gave to people who love film,” he told Rowe, noting how many fans encourage him to get back to making films.
“But that’s not gonna happen,” Woods said, adding that he is now “making music” and will keep doing so.
“And whether it’s a masterpiece or junk…this album, it’s the proudest thing I’ve ever done artistically in my life.”
In a follow-up post on X, Rowe noted that after he “scrolled through a few hundred comments,” he “learned that I wasn’t alone. Lots of people are fascinated by his remarkable journey through Tinseltown, his triumphs, his banishment, and more recently, his foray into the music business, where his new albums, (both of them) are now in the Top Ten.”
Then I scrolled through a few hundred comments and learned that I wasn’t alone. Lots of people are fascinated by his remarkable journey through Tinseltown, his triumphs, his banishment, and more recently, his foray into the music business, where his new albums, (both of them) are…
— The Real Mike Rowe (@mikeroweworks) January 25, 2026
Woods returned the compliments after Rowe noted on X that he “watched my most recent conversation with James Woods on YouTube, and enjoyed it almost as much as I did in real time.”
Mike, I am just stunned by your largess. Thank you. https://t.co/EMgFymH9Uj
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 25, 2026
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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