Leon Rippy is from Rock Hill, South Carolina which was a filming location for The Patriot . Because of Rippy's swarthy features and 'interesting' dental work, he is often cast as a heavy or the uncaring military or government character. His first acting roles came in 1984 in Firestarter and a guest appearance on the TV series Hunter. He followed up with another small role in Stephen Spielberg's The Color Purple and a supporting role to Emilio Estevez in the film adaptation of Stephen King's Maximum Overdrive.

In 1990, Leon Rippy appeared in Roland Emmerich's Moon 44 , which would lead to several more collaborations. That same year, he again worked with Emilio Estevez as well as Christian Slater, Charlie Sheen and several other young actors in Young Guns II. In 1992, he played the main henchman to Slater's hero in Kuffs. Also in 1992, he appeared in the Emmerich-directed and Jean-Claude Van Damme-starring Universal Soldier .

In 1994, Leon Rippy would again work with Emmerich on Stargate protraying the general charged with keeping Kirk Russell's character in line. In 1996, he played a government agent in the science fiction film The Arrival, where he again worked with Charlie Sheen. In 1997, he played a recurring role as another government agent in the science fiction series The Visitor , on which Emmerich served as a producer. Also in 1997, he played a detective in the Kevin Spacey-starring Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which was set in Rippy's native South Carolina.

Leon Rippy's next three roles were again each collaborations with Roland Emmerich. He appeared in the Emmerich-produced science fiction movie The Thirteenth Floor  in 1999. In 2000, he appeared in The Patriot , which Emmerich directed, in a supporting role as an old acquaintance of Mel Gibson's Benjamin Martin. In 2002, he appeared in the horror knock-off Eight Legged Freaks , which Emmerich produced.

You have joined the audience.
Leon Rippy is on the stage.
Moderator:	We'll be starting at 6:00pm PST
Moderator:	3 more minutes to go.
Moderator:	1 more minute to go.
Moderator:	We're all set. I'd like to welcome Leon Rippy, who most of you have known in several Electric Movies and Television shows. Thank you for joining us Leon.
Leon Rippy:	It's nice to be here...
Ira:	exactly how many movies have you done with Dean and Roland?
Leon Rippy:	A bunch...
Leon Rippy:	Don't know the exact number...
Ira:	what was your favorite
Leon Rippy:	The Patriot ...
Sher:	Heyyyy! Thank you so much for coming, Leon! It's so great to see you again! :)
Sher:	When we met on the set of The Patriot , you'd mentioned you used to drive racecars. What type? Drags? Stock Cars? Do tell!
Leon Rippy:	Can you see me?.. Oh, there's a photo...
Leon Rippy:	I drove go-karts, but had a future in stock cars if I'd chosen that route...
Will:	What was it like having a part in Stargate  and then realising its phenomenal success?
Leon Rippy:	Any part is fun... It's a job... The success of the film is a bonus...
Cooper:	You seem to work with people more than once, like a good guest gets invited back to a party you must be good to work with. Do you work at that or are you naturally easy going?
Leon Rippy:	Naturally easy going I suppose... As far as working with people more than once, I am thankful...
Will:	Did you find Eight Legged Freaks  to be a fun movie to make?
Leon Rippy:	It was terrific!... Except for being webbed...
Cooper:	How much of the business is just business for you and how much is the fulfillment of a dream?
Leon Rippy:	It's all the fulfillment of a dream...
Will:	I've yet to see The Life of David Gale, but its on my wish list. Will you give us some spoilers?
Leon Rippy:	No spoilers... The script suprised me... Hope it does the same for you...
philoha7:	were you friends or at least acquainted with mr. emmerich before being in his movies
Leon Rippy:	Nope... He did see me in a play when he was 15 years old, during his first trip to America... Cosmic, don't you think?...
Ira:	Leon, I understand you'll soon be seen in a new TV series. A western.
Leon Rippy:	Yep... DEADWOOD, is a new western from HBO... It will come to air in 2004...
Will:	Your portrayal of John Billings in The Patriot  could not have been better. Where did you learn to ride a horse?
Leon Rippy:	When I was young... Any time I can ride is a good time... I also worked on a cattle ranch for a time...
Will:	What do you find to be the most difficult thing about being an actor?
Leon Rippy:	Waiting for a job...
philoha7:	do you still do any stock car driving either on your own or for charity?
Leon Rippy:	No... I don't drive anything, unless I have to...
Sher:	Would you ever be interested in portraying a race car driver in some future movie? *hint hint grin grin*
Leon Rippy:	Yes indeed... That would be wonderful...
Will:	Thanks for having this chat! Have you ever had a part in a movie, and also mingled as an "extra", without people knowing?
Leon Rippy:	I've never done extra work, but I've hung out with alot of them... They're usually more fun...
Auric:	Did Roland remember you when he was searching for actors for Moon 44 , or was it by chance that you met again then?
Leon Rippy:	No, he didn't remember me from the play... I auditioned for him...
Auric:	How did you like working in Germany on Moon 44 ?
Leon Rippy:	It was a wonderful experience... Everyone worked very hard and the results were amazing...
JAG!:	Hey all, sorry I'm late -- What a way to spend a birthday.. food, drink and chatting with a GREAT actor! Hi Leon, (excuse me if this question has been asked before) but I understand you were in my home state of Texas filming a movie.. Any info?
Leon Rippy:	HAPPY B/DAY!!... Just returned from Austin, where we were filming, ALAMO... Set to open Christmas day...
Cooper:	Do you have any special or superstitious habits you keep to get you ready to film?
Leon Rippy:	None that I can think of...
Sher:	I don't know if you remember....but we spoke briefly about racing when we met, and you mentioned some friends of yours built or had something to do with ZZTop's car(s).
Sher:	What do you think of the whole new fad coming on for Drag Racing thanks to the Fast and Furious movies?
Leon Rippy:	Right... His name is Bob Bauder... He does alot of custom work...
Leon Rippy:	They should keep things on the track!!...
JAG!:	I loved your character on a Star Trek : The Next Generation episode.. In it, your character had a line about a "low mileage pit woofie" -- any idea what that means?
Leon Rippy:	A "pit woofie", would be to stock car racing, what a "groupie" is to the rock and roll world...
Sher:	Should get him to do some work on my Nova. hehehe I do keep things on the track here. I'm part of the police's Street Legal program that keeps kids off the streets and on the tracks where it's safe.
Sher:	I've had the honor of meeting Leon, and I'd have to say he's one of the easiest going people I've ever met1 Very cheerful and encouraging...it's not a suprrise people enjoy working with him.
Leon Rippy:	A Nova is a great car...
Ira:	It was great to catch up with you at the wedding. Looking forward to Deadwood & the Alamo. Take Care Buddy.
Will:	Lol...Lol!
Leon Rippy:	See ya' later Ira...
Sher:	Any new projects to begin soon for you?
Leon Rippy:	Working on DEADWOOD right now... Hope some other things come up too...
Sher:	Tell us what it was like to work on The Visitor . We sure miss that show!
Leon Rippy:	We miss it too... It was wonderful... Like your family... It's ending was like the end of summer camp... Bummer...
Sher:	Well, if I can help it, Leon, you'll be working with me on MY movie when it gets made. *grin How would go through to seeing if you could attach your talent to it for when it's pitched?
Leon Rippy:	If it's a good script and you feed me well, I'm interested...
Will:	Is there any specific actor or actress that you would like to work with, but haven't as of yet?
Leon Rippy:	Any of 'em will do...
Sher:	I'll feed ya home cooked meals, and take ya racin in my Nova. LOL
JAG!:	I love the fact that Dean seems to find roles for you in his movies -- what a great friendship this must be. Which Roland/Dean movie has been your favorite?
Leon Rippy:	There's a thought...
Leon Rippy:	MOON 44 will always hold a special place, as it was where we all came together...
Sher:	I have to ask....what was it like working WITH Dean in Moon44 then later to have him as a "boss" in The Visitor ?
Leon Rippy:	No different... Same ol' Dean...
Moderator:	Anymore questions?
Auric:	Were you approached directly to play in those films like Universal Soldier , Stargate  or The 13th Floor , or did you just hear about them and go to the auditions?
Leon Rippy:	I had to win each job, with the exception of THE 13th FLOOR...
JAG!:	I unfortunately, wasn't able to attend the "gathering" while The Patriot  was filming.. but I heard many good things about you from my friends here.. I hope one day, I'll have the honor to meet you and at least say "Hello".
Tweety:	If you could design your own role, what would that be?
Leon Rippy:	It would be my honor... How fortunate I am to make a living by doing something that has an effect on people... I am very thankful for that...
Will:	At what age did you start your film career?
Leon Rippy:	I did my first play in high school, and my first film didn't come until I was 31...
Moderator:	Thank you Leon for joining us in a wonderful chat. The chat transcript will be available on the Electric BBS shortly after this chat ends.
Leon Rippy:	Thanks for having me, it's been fun, and fun is a good thing...
JAG!:	Thanks, Leon! Take care
Auric:	Thanks for the chat and for great movies Leon! :)
Will:	Looking forward to more of your great talent!
Leon Rippy left the stage.
Grin:	Hey Leon! I guess the chat's over, but I wanted you to know I dropped in... :)
Sher:	My computer hates me tonite...keep getting bumped of
Will:	Happy B-Day Jag!
Leon Rippy:	Thank you, bye, bye..
Sher:	Happy BDay Jaggy!
The PalacePresents event "Chat with Leon Rippy" is over.
Thank you for attending.