Like most people his age, Kevin grew up watching the classic Disney movies of the 1960's and 1970's. So he was thrilled when he was offered a role in a new Disney movie, using innovative animation techniques. What actor of his generation could turn down the chance to be a hero for children everywhere? 

But Kevin  would not have the chance. He was to be the biggest, baddest, meanest desperado to ever fly across the silver screen. Hopper, the leader of the outlaw grasshopper gang. 

He loved it! So did his fans. Kevin will be known as the bad bug Hopper for as long as Disney keeps re-releasing those videos. Forever. I'm going to share my pitifully few, but very nice, pieces of Bug's Life memorabilia with you. 

Plus, I'm going to add some press reviews, fan reviews, quotes and links. Let's start with my most cherished Hopper item:

My personally autographed Hopper video cover! Signed by Kevin himself on June 7, 1999 outside the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in New York City, where Kevin was appearing in The Iceman Cometh.  I wish the iceman had really been around, it was sooo hot that day. 

My little friend Chris waited next to the infamous (among Spacey fans anyway) trash dumpster with my mother while my sister and I were seeing the play.  For the small blackmail fee of a trip to F.A.O. Schwartz, he had generously agreed to try to get my Hopper cover autographed by Kevin. In case I couldn't get close enough to the barrier after the play let out. I saw Kevin sign the cover but was too far away to hear what they were saying to each other. According to my mother and my friend Chris, Kevin came out the door and started to walk past them when he noticed the little boy waiting with the Bug's Life video.

He stopped and talked with them for a second while he signed the cover. He was going to put Chris's name on it, but Chris told him not to because it wasn't his video. My mother told me that Kevin had looked pleased to see a little kid there with a Hopper cover, but a bit taken aback by that kid telling him he wasn't there as a fan himself. But she said he pulled himself together very quickly and that he was very nice and gracious the whole time. Chris agreed even though he didn't know who Kevin was. I had to explain about Kevin and Hopper and that Kevin had been in The Negotiator, which he'd seen. 

Ohh! That guy. Chris got Tony Danza's autograph for himself on my sister's PLAYBILL. He was so excited to meet Tony Danza! I'll save the rest of the story for my TIC page. This was the only Hopper related part.

Here's a sampling of the fan reviews coming up: Fan reviews

 

"Let's ride." 
Hopper, A Bug's Life 1998
     

 

© 2001 Driving Mr. Spacey!