Movie Legend Jeff Daniels Opens Up About Why He Turned His Back on Hollywood To Embrace a
But when the press tour comes to an end and the movie hits theaters across the U.S., Daniels, 71, who stars as former President Ronald Regan in the upcoming drama, will retreat away from the spotlight, heading back, not to Hollywood, but to the idyllic…
Having spent a decade in New York City pursuing his career on stage and the big screen, the actor made the somewhat boundary-breaking decision to settle down far from Manhattan or Los Angeles, choosing to lay down roots in his hometown of Chelsea, MI..
But rather than relocating to the center of the industry as his career continued to grow, Daniels chose the place where his own story had begun. One of the biggest factors in that decision was his family.
What Happened
The return to Michigan marked something of a U-turn in the actor's life—bringing him back to the small town where he first embraced a love of performing. Before finding success as an actor, Daniels had left the state and his family's lumber.
But when the press tour comes to an end and the movie hits theaters across the U.S., Daniels, 71, who stars as former President Ronald Regan in the upcoming drama, will retreat away from.
Daniels, who has three children, the oldest of whom was born in 1984, wanted them to grow up away from the Hollywood environment.
While the exact price the couple paid is not known, Realtor.com estimates that the dwelling is now worth around $2 million.
Key Details
Acting jobs weren't always easy to come by during those early years, and Daniels turned to his guitar as another creative outlet while waiting for opportunities. Eventually, those opportunities came—and continued coming.
Daniels has similarly drawn inspiration from Michigan for his own creative work.
Rather than requiring aspiring performers and writers to follow his path to New York or Los Angeles, the theater has spent 35 years fostering talent closer to home.
He founded the nonprofit Purple Rose Theatre Company, taking its name from the movie that helped accelerate his own career.
Why It Matters
Yet Daniels' success didn't diminish his connection to his home state. "I think that's part of the Michigan thing, right?"
Michigan has also become an important part of Daniels' efforts to create opportunities for other artists.
His collection includes an instrument played and signed by George Harrison, as well as a custom Martin guitar that Daniels doesn't play in order to preserve it.
What Reports Say
Coverage of the story so far points to:
Continued reporting by Yahoo as more details emerge
