Stanley Kubrick already had a strong position in the industry and had many high-profile productions under his belt, including “Lolita”, “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “A Clockwork Orange“, when “The Shining” hit the big screens in 1980. Based on the novel by Stephen King, the horror film, now considered a classic of horror cinema, immediately delighted viewers and critics, leaving its mark on the history of cinematography forever. One of the factors that contributed to its success was the star cast. It featured Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall as the main characters, alongside the debuting Danny Lloyd.
He was 6 years old when he starred in “The Shining”. He had no idea this movie was a horror movie
When he auditioned for “The Shining”, he was only 6 years old and had zero experience in front of the camera. However, this was no obstacle for Kubrick, because he noticed his acting potential and talent from the very beginning. Danny did a great job playing the son of the main characters, even though he didn’t even know he was playing in a horror movie during the entire shoot. The dates for filming scenes with his participation were set in such a way that he would not witness the blood-curdling shots. In the breaks between recordings, he wasn’t bored either – he ate peanut butter sandwiches and rode a bike, often spoiling elements of the carefully prepared set.
“They let me ride these big corridors all over the building,” he told the Daily News, admitting that “it was a great” experience. This does not mean, however, that the creators always managed to keep an eye on him, because like every child, he had his moods and could play pranks on them. Once, he unexpectedly appeared on the set during a shot during which Nicholson’s character was breaking down the bathroom door with an axe. – He was in a trance – Lloyd recalled this memory, adding that when the actor saw him, “he started jumping like an Indian with a tomahawk.” – He probably tried to defuse the situation – he said.
What happened to the actor who played Danny in “The Shining”? That’s why he didn’t make a career
The long-awaited premiere of “The Shining” took place in May 1980 in the United States and turned out to be a huge success also for the 6-year-old, although he saw his debut film only a decade later. Previously, both the creators and his parents agreed that the plot was too scary for a child. He had a slightly different opinion on this matter. – The film didn’t seem scary to me, maybe because I knew everything behind the scenes – he later argued.
Although many predicted him a spectacular career and success on screen, the role with Kubrick was the first and last he played. It turns out that initially he tried to use his proverbial “five minutes”, but he was rejected from each subsequent casting. When he entered high school at the age of 14, he realized that his chance was gone and he completely buried his dreams of acting. Today he works as a biology teacher and has also started a family. – I lead a completely normal life. People on the street don’t recognize me, he said in the previously mentioned interview for the Daily News.
