Actor Michael O'Keefe recently offered a frank glimpse into the production environment of the iconic 1980 film "Caddyshack."
In a recent interview, the 71-year-old performer revealed a significant presence of cocaine during the filming of the beloved comedy. He asserted that the substance was even factored into the movie's financial planning, stating it was listed as "some miscellaneous item."
Reflecting on the era, O'Keefe commented,
"It was the 70s. That’s what was happening back then. People were just treating it like it was toothpaste, and you had to do it twice a day to stay healthy."
Filmed in 1979 and released the following year, the picture featured a notable ensemble cast including Ted Knight, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, and Rodney Dangerfield, and was set at the fictional Bushwood Country Club.
Reflecting on Production and Personal Choices
Discussing the drug use during production, O'Keefe recounted consuming cocaine prior to shooting specific scenes. He admitted that viewing those moments today, "it was not my favorite memory," and expressed that he is "not too happy about them."
He emphasized,
"But I can report to you that right after that movie, during that movie, was the last time I ever did anything like cocaine."He elaborated on his realization, stating,
"I realized that it was a terrible thing to get involved [with], and like so many things in the drug world, it looked like fun, but in reality, it wasn’t."
A significant factor in his decision to cease drug use was the tragic passing of Doug Kenney, who co-wrote and produced "Caddyshack." O'Keefe described Kenney's death as "a huge wake-up call." Kenney, who was 33, died in 1980 after an accidental fall from a cliff in Hawaii.
O'Keefe remembered Kenney as
"[one of the most] affable, intelligent, funny people in the world."He added,
"[He] was strung out on cocaine, got depressed, and committed suicide."For O'Keefe, this event
"was truly a result of drug addiction, and that was a huge wake-up call."
Beyond Bushwood: A Career in Film and Television
Before his role in "Caddyshack," O'Keefe achieved a career breakthrough with his performance in "The Great Santini," which garnered him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
His subsequent filmography includes "Ironweed" and "Frozen River." More recently, he appeared in the Apple TV series "Your Friends & Neighbors," portraying Ron Cooper, the father of Andrew "Coop" Cooper, played by Jon Hamm. Despite his diverse roles, his portrayal of Danny Noonan in "Caddyshack" largely remains his most recognized performance.
In a July 2020 interview, O'Keefe reflected on early career success, stating,
"We always talk about how we got lucky young, and didn't know what we had."He also noted,
"As actors, we don't want to be pigeonholed, so while I was always glad to be in 'Caddyshack,' I sometimes wished that people would acknowledge my other work."
He shared an anecdote that shifted his perspective:
"But then I had this one experience with a wardrobe designer who told me that her father died of leukemia and for the last six weeks before his death, they would gather as a family and watch 'Caddyshack.' That really changed my feelings about what the movie means to people and what it means to me to be a part of it."
