Bob Dylan: Center of the pop-culture universe
Iconic singer-songwriter has connections to rival Kevin Bacon’s
Among celebrities coming to Indianapolis as part of Saturday’s “cosmic convergence,” one man seemingly has seen and done it all.
Bob Dylan, scheduled to perform at the Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park, sang at the Lincoln Memorial during 1963’s March on Washington. The singer-songwriter known for “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Tangled Up in Blue” won an Academy Award in 2001 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.
Dylan, 75, also dabbles in acting from decade to decade, ranging from 1973’s “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid” to 2003’s “Masked and Anonymous.” His work has touched so many fellow artists that “Six Degrees of Bob Dylan” could have caught on as easily as “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.”
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For our cosmic convergence, it’s possible to quickly bridge Dylan to seven of Saturday’s visitors: the Dalai Lama, Justin Bieber, Darius Rucker, Kristy Swanson, Jon Heder, Hunter Hayes and Brian Posehn:
Bob Dylan and the Dalai Lama
Actor Richard Gere supplies the link between Dylan and the Dalai Lama, who will speak Saturday at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
Gere portrayed Dylan in 2007 film “I’m Not There.”
Gere is a high-profile Buddhist and describes the Dalai Lama as his “root guru.”
Bob Dylan and Justin Bieber
Lingerie company Victoria's Secret supplies the link between Dylan and Bieber, who will perform Saturday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Victoria’s Secret hired Dylan to appear in a 2004 TV ad.
Former Victoria’s Secret model Xenia Deli stars in Bieber’s “What Do You Mean?” video.
Bob Dylan and Darius Rucker
The song "Wagon Wheel" supplies the link between Dylan and Rucker, who will perform Saturday at Klipsch Music Center.
“Wagon Wheel” is based on an unfinished fragment known as “Rock Me Mama,” written by Dylan in 1973.
A rendition of “Wagon Wheel” took Rucker to No. 1 on Billboard magazine’s country chart in 2013.
Bob Dylan and Kristy Swanson
Actor Charlie Sheen supplies the link between Dylan and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" film star Swanson, who will appear Saturday at the Days of the Dead convention at Wyndham Indianapolis West.
Sheen and Dylan appeared in “Catchfire” (also known as “Backtrack”), a 1990 film directed by Dennis Hopper.
Sheen appeared in three films that included Swanson as a cast member: “The Chase,” “Hot Shots” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
Bob Dylan and Jon Heder
Actor Jeff Bridges supplies the link between Dylan and "Napoleon Dynamite" star Jon Heder, who will appear Saturday at the Days of the Dead convention at Wyndham Indianapolis West.
Bridges narrated “From the Village to the Basement,” a 2014 short film made to promote Dylan’s “The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 11.”
Bridges and Heder supplied voices to 2007 animated film “Surf’s Up.”
Bob Dylan and Hunter Hayes
Actor Luke Wilson supplies the link between Dylan and country music star Hunter Hayes, who will perform Saturday on Monument Circle as part of the "Road to Rio" pre-Summer Olympics event.
Wilson and Dylan acted together in 2003 film “Masked and Anonymous.”
Wilson and Hayes appeared in 2000 film “My Dog Skip.”
Bob Dylan and Brian Posehn
Actor David Cross supplies the link between Dylan and comedian Posehn, who will perform Saturday at the Emerson Theater.
David Cross portrayed poet Allen Ginsberg in “I’m Not There,” a 2007 film that features six actors portraying Dylan.
Cross starred in “Mr. Show with Bob and David,” the HBO comedy series that featured Posehn in the cast from 1995 to 1998.
Call Star reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: @317Lindquist.