G-Fest 2023 Spotlight: Don Frye !!!
The Legend Don Frye
G-Fest was host to many exciting guests and celebs in the Kaiju community, and the one I was easily most excited to meet was Don Frye, former MMA Champion and the man behind the iconic Captain Gordon from Godzilla: Final Wars. Frye carries on the unique tradition of being an American cast in a Japanese production, like Linda Miller and Nick Adams before him. Frye’s over-the-top performance helps to elevate Godzilla: Final Wars to be one of my favorite Kaiju films, and I had the pleasure of being able to ask him a few questions about his time on the movie:
Joshua Brafman (JB): Great to meet you! So, how did you get to be involved with Godzilla: Final Wars?
Don Frye (DF): Well, the director (Ryuhei Kitamura) was a fan of me from when I did MMA. He actually spent three, maybe four months trying to get in touch with me. It was a trip. [laughs]
JB: What was your favorite part of being in Godzilla: Final Wars
DF: Probably my personal chef. He traveled by moped, would come wherever and whenever I needed! Never had anything like that before.
JB: Was everything your character did scripted, or did you get a chance to improvise?
DF: Oh yeah, I got to improvise. Don’t really remember what I improvised though, to be honest. It was a long time ago.
JB: Were there any difficulties to the shoot? Was it tough being away from family? Any language barriers?
DF: No, no! The shoot went great! All my costars spoke English as well as Japanese, plus we had an interpreter. And actually, I brought my daughters with me to the shoot! They got a real kick outta that. [laughs].
Don Frye's journey into the world of Kaiju cinema sheds light on the unique camaraderie between American talent and Japanese productions. His involvement in the film was a testament, showcasing the global appeal of Kaiju movies and added an extra layer of authenticity to his character, Captain Gordon, making the movie even more enjoyable. Perhaps one of the most heartwarming aspects was the fact that Frye brought his daughters along for the experience. This adds an appealing element to his Kaiju exploits and solidifies my status as a lifelong enthusiast.
Don Frye was a truly down-to-earth individual and a joy to talk to. He’s a perennial staple of G-Fest, so I look forward to seeing him again next year. As a matter of fact, next year marks the 20th anniversary of Godzilla: Final Wars! For more on G-Fest and its guests, keep an eye right here on RGN99.
