"Uncle Sam's favorite son" as the lyrics to the theme of Jack of All Trades go, was born June 22, 1958 (the youngest of 3 brothers) in Royal Oak, Michigan. As a child, Bruce watched Lost in Space on TV, and ran around dressed as Zorro. He got the acting bug at age 8; his dad was performing in local community theater. At 14, Bruce got to play the young prince in "The King and I" and even got to sing. He went on to appear in several community theater productions, including "South Pacific". However, he was also interested in directing, and shot super-8 flicks with a neighborhood pal. Perhaps through fate, he met future director Sam Raimi in a high school drama class in 1975. Soon, along with Sam, and now a bunch of other high school pals, Bruce filmed about 50 super-8 movies. During the summer of 1976, he was an apprentice in northern Michigan at Traverse City's Cherry County Playhouse, a summer-stock company. Bruce worked 18-hour days putting up sets, being assistant stage manager, doing errands, etc. No money, but it was a learning experience (it was show biz). He attended Western Michigan University and took theater courses. Bruce became a production assistant for a company that made commercials in Detroit. In the early part of 1979, with buddy Sam Raimi, he decided to become a pro filmmaker. Armed with a super-8 horror film Within the Woods which they showed potential investors, they raised $350,000 to make The Evil Dead which Bruce co-produced and starred in as "Ash". Four years later, the completed film became the best-selling video of 1983 in England, and New Line Cinema got it a US release. Around this time, he married his first wife, and they had 2 kids. They raised 10 times as much cash for the sequel Evil Dead II again co-produced by Bruce and starring him as "Ash". He moved to L.A. In 1990, while filming Mindwarp, he met his future second wife (costume designer Ida Gearon) on the set. In 1992, he rejoined Sam, and Bruce co-produced and starred as "Ash" in the 3rd of the Evil Dead trilogy, _Army of Darkness (1993)_ for Universal Studios. On TV, Bruce directed many episodes of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Bruce also acted as the recurring character "Autolycus", the King of Thieves; he portrayed this villain with zest in both Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess. Bruce's latest television venture was starring as the title rogue of Jack of All Trades. Everybody loves Jack. And everybody's heard of him -- "There ain't a French or pirate rogue who don't know Jack!".


The L-shaped scar on his chin came from fighting with his brother, Don Campbell. He baby-sat Ted Raimi, the younger brother of Sam Raimi and Ivan Raimi. Thought by Sam Raimi and other directors to take "the best head shot in the business." Attended Western Michigan University for six months before leaving to continue his already budding acting career. [1976] Screen-tested for the lead role in The Phantom (1996). Considered to be the best "Reverse Actor" in Hollywood. In Fargo (1996) and Intolerable Cruelty (2003), he is uncredited for playing soap actors. He won the audition for the lead role in "The Adventures of Brisco County Jr." (1993) by grabbing the back of his shirt collar and flipping himself. He then had to repeat the trick at every callback, totaling about 5 or 6 flips!. Has been used several times by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen (including twice as an uncredited soap opera actor). #22 on Tropopkin's Top 25 Most Intriguing People [Issue #100] He appeared in every project of Sam Raimi's (including both TV shows) until the mid-'90s, when his scenes were cut from The Quick and the Dead (1995). Has expressed an interest in working with Kevin Smith. Attended high school and remains close friends with director Sam Raimi and producer John Cameron. Second cousin of actor, Bill Campbell. Once worked as a security guard at a beer brewery until a co-worker realized he was in The Evil Dead (1981).