Bring On 'The Expendables': Sly, Why No Chuck Norris?

Like any other red-blooded, rock ribbed, slightly overweight and out of shape movie loving American man, I am waiting to see “The Expendables.” I am waiting for the body count of the summer to begin with all of my favorite 80’s and 90’s actions stars! I heard they were in there. I went over to IMBD to take a look at any early information about the movie and sure enough there were Stallone and Lundgren. One can only hope that there is some homage to Rocky IV in the movie.

The new tough guys Li and Statham are in the movie along with extreme fighter Randy Couture and fake fighter Steve Austin. There are cameos by Willis and the Democrat Governor of California Schwarzenegger. All the action heroes are there…except my favorite, Chuck Norris!

My favorite Chuck Norris movie is the 1985 cop drama “Code of Silence.” “Delta Force” and “Missing in Action” have better action and more blowing up of stuff, but they lack something that “Code” had: me! I got my first chance to be in a major film when they shot “Code of Silence” in Chicago. I was cast as an extra and later got to be an uncredited cop in a scene with Mr. Norris. It was an awesome experience for a young comic. He was friendly and personable and chatted between takes with everybody.

The movie is a “Who’s Who” of Chicago actors some of whom have since hit the big time. Dennis Farina, John Mahoney, Lou Damiani and my occasional drinking buddy from back then, character actor tough guy Ron Dean. The movie also features one of the great all time movie bad guys, Henry Silva. The plot is simple, a good cop fights the Mafia, Colombian drug runners and the rest of the Chicago police force. Of course, Chuck wins. I hope that didn’t ruin the movie for anyone!

The thing I have always liked about Mr. Norris both then and now was his complete disregard for what “Hollywood” thought of his work. He wasn’t making movies for them he was making movies for me. Since he has “come out” politically I find he has the same attitude about his political detractors.

So what’s up with that, Sly? Why no cameo for Chuck? As a right-wing nut job my first impulse is to think Chuck’s conservatism and support of Mike Huckabee in the 2008 election might have kept him off the cast list. I don’t have any evidence of that, but that never stops the Hollywood lefties from saying those kinds of things!