PORTLAND, Ore. — Back in 2001, Portland became the backdrop for the Hollywood thriller “The Hunted,” starring Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio Del Toro—and featuring, to my surprise, a small appearance by yours truly.
It all began when Oscar-winning director William Friedkin, known for classics like The Exorcist and The French Connection, reached out to me. He wanted a real news anchor to play the part of a TV reporter, someone authentic to Portland’s local media scene. Somehow, that ended up being me.
A Chance to Play Reporter—on Screen
Friedkin and I immediately hit it off. Before shooting began, he gave me a bit of acting advice—something along the lines of “channel your inner Robert DeNiro.” I took that to heart.
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Filming days can be long, with plenty of time spent just waiting around between takes. I discovered I was quite good at that part. The real stars—Jones and Del Toro—had stand-ins to handle the waiting, but for the rest of us, patience was part of the job.
Filming in Portland
My scene was set outside the tunnel on NW Cornell Road, where the crew had been working for several weeks. Much of the movie was filmed right here in Portland, including an unforgettable chase sequence on the Hawthorne Bridge—one that even featured the KOIN 6 News helicopter in a cameo role.
As the day stretched on, I learned my scene would be the final shot of the day. The nerves started to creep in: what if I blew it? Could I deliver my lines convincingly enough for a director of Friedkin’s stature?
Lights, Camera, Action
When the cameras finally rolled, I gave it everything I had. One take later—I nailed it. Friedkin smiled, called it a wrap, and that was that. I couldn’t help but think, Take that, DeNiro.
A Lasting Memory
It took nearly two years before The Hunted made its way to theaters, but when it finally did, I sat in that dark cinema feeling both proud and amused. I didn’t get an Oscar for Best Supporting Reporter, but I did come away with something better—a great story and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Being part of that production, even in a small way, was a reminder of Portland’s growing connection to Hollywood filmmaking. And for me personally, it was a fun departure from the news desk—a day when my “breaking news” moment happened not on air, but on the big screen.
