A Bogie Face in the Crowd (Brief Interview with John H. Tobin)

A Bogie Face in the Crowd (Brief interview with John H. Tobin)

By Jerry Saravia

John H. Tobin as Humphrey Bogart, a classic pose

John H. Tobin is a workmanlike actor who has appeared in scores of films, from an uncredited part in 1974's "UFO: Target Earth" to most recently as President Nixon in Michael Bay's "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." Television credits include "Chuck," "One Life to Live," "Will and Grace," "Mad Men," etc. Film credits are wide-ranging from big blockbusters like "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" and "Mission: Impossible III," to smaller scale fare like "Far From Heaven" (Best film of 2002 in my opinion), 2011's Academy-Award Best Picture Winner "The Artist," Emilio Estevez's "Bobby," Rob Zombie's "The Devil's Rejects," "Cider House Rules," and 2001's Academy-Award Best Picture Winner "A Beautiful Mind."

John Tobin has also been a stand-in for actors such as Arie Gross, Jeff Demunn and Billy Bob Thornton (as a substitute stand-in for 2 films.) He has also photo-doubled for Dermot Mulroney in 2007's "Georgia Rule" (which starred Jane Fonda and Lindsay Lohan) and hand-doubled in David Fincher's "Zodiac." John also stood in for Paul Giamatti for one day oin 2007's  "Shoot ‘em Up."

Besides being a Foxwoods resort and Casino Poker dealer from 1995-2002 and an able soccer and golf player,  Tobin has also been a professional worldwide Humphrey Bogart impersonator for a long time, working mostly in Las Vegas and California and sometimes filling in at the last minute, such as the interview for the 2005 MTV Movie Awards where he had to play a scene from "Casablanca." John Tobin can also perform in accents such as Scottish, British, Irish and German. Though he is listed as a stand-in or has an uncredited walk-on role (with the exception of "Transformers"), he has got all the characteristics of Humphrey Bogart, both gruff, classy and world-renown in his looks. If anyone wants to do a biography of Humphrey Bogart on the big or small screen, I would say look up John H. Tobin first and foremost.

1.) In "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," you played an extra dressed in the attire of the Bogart character from "Treasure of the Sierra Madre." What was it like working on an Indiana Jones flick with people like Harrison Ford, Spielberg and company?

John H. Tobin as Sierra Madre Cowboy (to the right) in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

'It was wonderful to work 3 times with Steven Spielberg ("Crystal Skull," "Amistad" and "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" which Spielberg executive-produced)....he said I look just like Bogart!!'

2.) Speaking of Bogart, you have done multiple appearances as Bogart in many different functions, in addition to films (he played a Bogart character for the late Michael Jackson on the music video, Smooth Criminal, for the 2009 London tour). When did you realize, or was it your agent, that you had a similar look to Bogart?

'An actress in the "Verdict" film told me "you look like Bogart." In 1997, I then submitted for a Bogart type for a curtain factory commercial in Boston. I got the job and felt so blessed.'

3.) You had a slightly bigger role than usual as President Nixon in Michael Bay's "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." Is it easier playing a smaller role or a big role like a former U.S. President?

John H. Tobin as President Nixon in Transformers: Dark of the Moon

'I had pressure to play Nixon in Transformers 3 ..cause I had 8 lines to memorize in 15 minutes.'

4.) You also had an uncredited role as a violinist in "The Artist." Is violin one of your musical passions and when did you first start playing it? 

'I started playing violin in 1993. I'm not great though, but I can fake it in movies...'

5.) You were on "Mad Men" in an uncredited role as a waiter in the episode, "Six Month Leave." That has to be a cool show to work on, albeit with all the decor, the suits, the desks, the refined look of a different era. Any chance you'll have a different role in the future? 

'I'm not called for "Mad Men" this season yet but love to be called. Jon Hamm recognized me at a party...if you can put a good word in for me to casting director?'

6.) What kind of roles would you love to play in the future, and what roles would you absolutely not play? 

'As long as I get a check every 3 months for a small amount...plus my days check, and get 9 times the amount of a photo double, then I'm blessed...'

John Tobin speaks on working with Michael Jackson on the Smooth Criminal video