Campbell Meets, Mingles With Fans

Such was the spectacle that was Bruce Campbell -- the cult icon who appeared Friday at the Bull's Head Bookshop to endorse his new book "If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a 'B' Movie Actor."

More than a mere book signing, the event brought together nearly 600 people of all sorts to create a sort of cultural phenomenon rare for any town, much less Chapel Hill. Quickly filling the bookstore's 231 chairs, fans stood against the front doors and crowded up the stairs.

The campy star of films "The Evil Dead" and "Army of Darkness," as well as television shows "The Adventures of Brisco County Jr." and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," has generated a cult following seemingly unmatched by any other figure of Generation X. Bull's Head employee Erica Eisdorfer confirmed this, estimating that between 400 and 500 copies of his book sold Friday alone.

In addition to books, the store was teeming with fans armed with posters, pictures, DVDs and even one 18-inch action figure well before Campbell showed up. Campbell arrived and spoke candidly with fans about his upcoming films, the people he's met during book signings and about small towns.

At one point, he described an upcoming film called "Bubba Ho-tep" in which he plays Elvis, who's not dead but living in a rest home and must team up with a black John F. Kennedy to fight a mummy who's waging war on their rest home.

Campbell read from his book and took many questions, then began a book signing that would continue for several hours, allowing fans to speak for a moment with the celebrity, who promised "to stay until no one was left."

After an hour of waiting, junior biology and chemistry major Amanda Goodwin looked relieved after getting Campbell's signature. "I knew he had a cult following, but I had no idea it'd be like this," Goodwin said.

Lenoir Dining Hall employee Arlene Medder, a devout fan of "The Adventures of Brisco County Jr." and "Army of Darkness" was star-struck.

"If I could have thought of anything good to say, I would have," said Medder. "I just told him how much his movies meant to me."

Speaking with characteristic wild hand and face gestures, Campbell's personality was in full force, telling one fan, "I'm sweating like a madman!"

Above all else, Friday's event at the Bull's Head gave fans a chance to at least see their hero -- and a few even left with a stronger image of him.

Junior psychology major Joe Polich left surprised at Campbell's humor, as well as his down-to-earth nature. Openly making fun of himself for his miniscule roles, Campbell showed he was not just a cult action star but a real person.

Polich said, "He's the kind of guy I'd like to have lunch with."

The Arts & Entertainment Editor can be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu.