Political Office In Alec Baldwin's Future?

Actor Talks To Morley Safer About His Career, Personal Life, And Possible Future Plans

(CBS)  Acting is a funny business: you make a living being other people, and you move from saintly heroes to serial killers, which may sometimes lead to a certain uncertainty about who it really is occupying your skin. One of America’s finest actors is Alec Baldwin, who moves with equal ease from the stage to movies to television, from dark drama to slapstick buffoonery. And he is guilty of grand theft-he regularly, even in the smallest roles, manages to steal scenes from leading men and women. Off the set he is an incurable political junkie, giving and raising big money for causes he believes in.

But for a man so smart, so generous, so talented, he sure can be dumb: it’s his mouth that gets him into trouble; to the dismay of his friends and to the glee of his many enemies, he says stuff that ranges from merely outrageous to over-the-top insulting.

Love him or hate him, Baldwin is just about the freest spirit you'll find on the screen.

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Pretty early on, Baldwin made a conscious decision that he did not want to be a movie star. "Well, you have to want it more than anything else. And I didn't want it more than anything else," he explains.

Baldwin's star rose in the 1980's with memorable turns in "Married to the Mob" and "Working Girl." And by 1990, true mega-stardom seemed ensured when he starred as "Jack Ryan," the hero of "The Hunt for Red October," the first in a series of Tom Clancy thrillers.

But when Paramount wanted him for "Patriot Games" he said no, and instead chose Broadway and "A Streetcar Named Desire." Hollywood was not amused.

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Photos: Alec Baldwin

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"They kind of look at you like, "We don't ask just anybody to do this, you know?' And when you don't do it, they are appalled. They think you're a moron. And they went and got somebody else to do the movie," Baldwin says.

Instead, Harrison Ford ended up playing "Jack Ryan."

Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan became a multi-billion dollar franchise, and the smart money thought Baldwin had blown it. But he claims he has no regrets.

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Photos: Celebrity Brothers

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"You said many of those action movies could be done by your doorman," correspondent Morley Safer says.

"Did I say that?" Baldwin asks.

"Yeah, you did," Safer replies.

"How rude of you to bring that up, Morley," Baldwin says.

His decision to play Broadway brought him a reputation as talented but cantankerous. Things got worse when he starred with Kim Basinger in "The Marrying Man." They actually got married, and both the movie and the marriage were certified turkeys.

Nevertheless, he managed to become one of the more interesting actors of his generation.

In good movies and bad, his scenes have been memorable, like the evil surgeon in "Malice." Or his chilling performance as a sales manager in "Glengarry Glen Ross."

But it isn't just that cold blooded menace that defines Baldwin, the actor. He has brought down the house on a dozen stints on "Saturday Night Live," where his slap-stick send-ups of everyone from Robert De Niro to Tony Bennett to a perverted scout master have become cult classics.

And yet it's his off-screen performances that can get in the way of a truly gifted man, and often it's his liberal politics that make him red meat for his critics.

"They hate liberals who can throw a punch," Baldwin tells Safer.

Asked who "they" are, Baldwin says, "They, yeah, this…they. The vast right wing conspiracy that's after me."

Liberal politics has always been his passion. He grew up in a working class family on Long Island, N.Y. He has an impressive grasp of the issues, and spends a huge amount of his time and money supporting causes he believes in, like animal rights, the environment, and the arts.

[chuck1522]

My question is why would 60 Min think this Baldwin is worthy of any air time. With the many kajillion subjects to select from, why him. Then, I remembered CBS has been leaning to port for the last several years, except for Andy Roony, and I''m not really sure about him.

[lindas91732]

That PIG refuses to take responsibility for what he has done to everyone, anyone and especially his daughter. It is ALWAYS someones fault but his. Grow up Alex the PIG! He even had the stupidity to say that Morley used a "tone" with him. Every interview with this PIG I have seen says I know that you have said things to your children when you were mad. When whoever is doing the interview says "That would be NO!" then they are using a "tone" to him and on him. Bo Ho Ho Alex grow up!

[smjbab]

Morley Safer is a total hypocrite. To imply that he hasn''t said anything nearly as bad to his kids as Alec Baldwin said to his daughter is, to use AB''s words, sanctimonious in the extreme. We all do things we regret. AB is the most normal famous person out there. People should give him a break rather than feast on his public shame like a bunch of vultures.

[smjbab]

Morley Safer is a total hypocrite. To imply that he hasn''t said anything nearly as bad to his kids as Alec Baldwin said to his daughter is, to use AB''s words, sanctimonious in the extreme. We all do things we regret. AB is the most normal famous person out there. People should give him a break rather than feast on his public shame like a bunch of vultures.

[coachk472]

I am a divorced mother of two twenty something daughters and an educator in a middle school classroom. I couldn''t agree more with Alec Baldwin. There''s nothing more challenging to handle than a girl in the 11-14 age range. Who hasn''t said something to our children we regret, but are lucky enough to not have it broadcasted internationally? Give the guy a break and some privacy!!

[favvy1]

Baldwin''s behavior with his daughter is inexcuseable and unforgiveable... it''s all about him. He rationalizes it by referring to his 6 year custody battle and how difficult it''s been. He''s an adult and should grow up!!!

[jbkaufmann]

Who says all the Bush voters watch only Fixed News?? Hey, you gotta be doin" something correct to bring on such a surge of invective. Way to be, Alex!!!!!

[joe1022joe]

I noticed that Morley Safer did not point out the outrageous statements made by this coward Baldwin when on late night TV Baldwin called for viewers to go to Rep. Henry Hyde''s house and kill Hyde''s family and burn Hyde''s house down. How did Morley miss this? I''ll tell you how. The same way 60 Minutes gave Bill Clinton a pass during his pre-election interview with him. 60 Minutes never met a left-winger they didn''t like.

[honeycat1-2009]

That Man is an arrogant pr~~ck and he made a fool of himself. Bullies need to be stood up to and it sounds like his daughter and lovely ex wife are on to him. Tell him to look up the word narcissism - his picture would be there glaring at him!!!

[honeycat1-2009]

That Man is an arrogant pr~~ck and he made a fool of himself. Bullies need to be stood up to and it sounds like his daughter and lovely ex wife are on to him. Tell him to look up the word narcissism - his picture would be there glaring at him!!!