Bob Caldwell, Captain Picard look-a-like, passed away Christmas day.
He was a friend of mine, many days we talked Trek over coffee at my near by grocery store. He worked there as a greeter.
He actually got into Trek later in his life, and I have been a life long fan.
My two sons actually were actually sad when they found out he died. I told them, "Remember boys, he is not really gone, as long as we remember him"
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"Jay Leno" interviewing "Jean-Luc Picard" (Bob Caldwell) (Photo/Caldwell)If you are ever just walking down the street, in your favorite grocery store or standing in line for popcorn at the movie theater, and you think you are seeing the handsomely tall and bald actor Patrick Stewart, also known as Star Trek: The Next Generation's Captain Jean-Luc Picard, then you might be right, if not, you might be half right.
At least half, if not more of our population, Trekkies or other-wise, have already made or will make that mistake. Bob Caldwell is the spitting image of Patrick Stewart. They have not met each other yet, but odds are they too will agree that they are pretty much mirror images of each other.
Caldwell agrees, when asked if he thinks he really looks like Stewart, and we know "the Picard fans" can't all be wrong. What would he say if or when he met Stewart?
Where are your roots and what are some of your "real life" work experiences?
Within this article's slideshow one will find more lookalikes. For when you are one, a lookalike, and you attend lookalike and/or sci-fi conventions, it is hard not to make new friends - lookalike friends that is.Bob Caldwell has done just that. He enjoys every minute of it, his life as a lookalike, or should one say both lives!
A lookalike sampling of whom Bob Caldwell has met recently is: Jay Leno, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Robert DeNiro, Dr. Phil, Marilyn Monroes, Elvis', Rodney Dangerfield, Carrie-Anne Moss' Trinity from the MATRIX films, Britney Spears, Anna Nicole Smith, President and Mrs. Obama, Charlie Chaplins, Rod Stewarts, Tina Turners, Angelina Jolies, Brad Pitt, John Waynes, Bing Crosby, Clark Gable, Joan Rivers, Bob Hope, Cher, Sonny Bono, Elton John, Johnny Cash, June Carter, James Bond...
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He was a friend of mine, many days we talked Trek over coffee at my near by grocery store. He worked there as a greeter.
He actually got into Trek later in his life, and I have been a life long fan.
My two sons actually were actually sad when they found out he died. I told them, "Remember boys, he is not really gone, as long as we remember him"
"Jay Leno" interviewing "Jean-Luc Picard" (Bob Caldwell) (Photo/Caldwell)
At least half, if not more of our population, Trekkies or other-wise, have already made or will make that mistake. Bob Caldwell is the spitting image of Patrick Stewart. They have not met each other yet, but odds are they too will agree that they are pretty much mirror images of each other.
Caldwell agrees, when asked if he thinks he really looks like Stewart, and we know "the Picard fans" can't all be wrong. What would he say if or when he met Stewart?
Has anyone told you that you look like Bob Caldwell?"
The following is an interview with Bob Caldwell, aka, Patrick Stewart/Jean-Luc Picard:
Where are your roots and what are some of your "real life" work experiences?
I was raised in the south suburbs of Chicago and worked for Trailer Train Company (TTX) in Chicago’s loop for 30 years, retiring in 2003. While at TTX Company, I managed the boxcar and military flatcar fleets, totally 30,000 cars.
During both Iraqi wars in 1991 and 2003 I interfaced with the Military Traffic Management Command at Fort Eustis, VA and all of the U.S. railroads to ensure that the military bases across the country had ample car supply to move their units to the various ports for deployment to Iraq. When all of the troops were deployed in 2003, I decided that two wars was enough and retired."
When were you first recognized as either Patrick Stewart or Jean-Luc Picard?During both Iraqi wars in 1991 and 2003 I interfaced with the Military Traffic Management Command at Fort Eustis, VA and all of the U.S. railroads to ensure that the military bases across the country had ample car supply to move their units to the various ports for deployment to Iraq. When all of the troops were deployed in 2003, I decided that two wars was enough and retired."
Since Star Trek: The Next Generation series began in 1987 and, subsequently, with the release of the three movies, I have been approached by people at the mall, the grocery store, restaurants, video stores—actually everywhere I go. In 1994, after the release of the first TNG movie, “First Contact”, the manager of the neighborhood Blockbuster presented me with a life-size cardboard cutout of Captain Picard. Several years ago, while vacationing in San Diego, I was lying on the beach and caught a man nearby staring at me. Finally, he approached me with his 10-year-old son and asked for my autograph. I signed my name and the man looked at me with a “what-is-this?” look on his face. I told him that he asked for my autograph and I gave it to him. He apologized and said that he and his son were sure that I was Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
My family has become accustom to the reaction of people to my Patrick Stewart likeness and have actually been a part of it. For Father’s Day in 1994 my youngest son, who was nine years old at the time, gave me a Captain Picard doll, which I still have today."
Are you asked very often about who you look like, and how did you begin in the lookalike business?My family has become accustom to the reaction of people to my Patrick Stewart likeness and have actually been a part of it. For Father’s Day in 1994 my youngest son, who was nine years old at the time, gave me a Captain Picard doll, which I still have today."
Yes often. In 2005 my wife and I moved from Chicago to Surprise, AZ, about 30 northwest of Phoenix. One day last January, while working as a greeter for the Arizona grocery chain owned by Kroger, a man approached me and said “Do you know who you look like?” I told him that I did and that I’ve been asked the same question for 20 years. His response was “Why don’t you do something about it” and I responded “Like what?” He handed me the business card of Jim Speiser, Executive Producer of Crooners Unlimited, an agency for celebrity tribute artists, and suggested that I call him.
The next day I called Jim and he requested that I email some pictures. His response to the pictures was “You need to get a Starfleet captain’s uniform.” As it turned out, Susan Sackett, who was Gene Rodenberry’s personal assistant for 17 years, is a friend of Jim’s. When Susan saw my picture, her response was “That’s not a look-alike. That’s Patrick!” She referred me to a tailor in Las Vegas, who makes Star Trek uniforms and he sent the sewing pattern. My wife is a do-it-yourself seamstress and made the uniform. She made it so and it’s been Engage! ever since."
Would you please share one of your stories about being up in front of an audience as "Jean-Luc Picard?" The next day I called Jim and he requested that I email some pictures. His response to the pictures was “You need to get a Starfleet captain’s uniform.” As it turned out, Susan Sackett, who was Gene Rodenberry’s personal assistant for 17 years, is a friend of Jim’s. When Susan saw my picture, her response was “That’s not a look-alike. That’s Patrick!” She referred me to a tailor in Las Vegas, who makes Star Trek uniforms and he sent the sewing pattern. My wife is a do-it-yourself seamstress and made the uniform. She made it so and it’s been Engage! ever since."
On May 7, 2009 the UltraStar Cinema showed a sneak preview of the new Star Trek movie. I arrived an hour before the show, shook hands with people and posed for pictures. When everyone was seated in the theatre, the manager introduced me and asked me to say a few words. I did the “Space, the final frontier” intro to Star Trek: TNG and ended it with “Engage!” Much to my surprise the audience applauded.
Do you have any acting in your background? If not, it seems that you are developing one now as Stewart/Picard.
I don’t have any acting training or any acting experience, but I am a quick study and if the opportunity arises for an acting part, I am a quick study, and it’s done. Yes, I have to incorporate acting skills into my "act" when I am Picard - after all it is pretend.
[What is not pretend is his accent.] Since March 1, 2009 I have been studying and practicing duplicating Patrick Stewart’s voice and English accent. It’s been a tough endeavor because Patrick Stewart’s voice is very distinctive and his accent isn’t just English—it’s Shakespearean. He is physically very fit, so to maintain his physical appearance I swim a quarter mile per day to counteract the age of gravity. In my studies of Captain Picard I have learned some of his idiosyncrasies: he doesn’t smile, never shows teeth, and walks without moving his arms.
Over the past three months I’ve come to realize that the younger generation is more in tune to X-Men than Star Trek. As a Patrick Stewart lookalike I am listed with Crooners Unlimited as Professor Xavier, the leader of the mutants in X-Men. It’s the same voice but simpler dress code—suit and tie, which comes naturally to me since it was my dress code for 30 years. Some people have told me that they are glad at the thought of having a Star Trek rebirth because, in creating both the series, Gene Roddenberry’s goal was to incorporate life lessons into the episodes. Today’s parents who grew up learning those lessons want their children to learn the same ones.
Have you enjoyed the fact that even though you are not Patrick Stewart that people still enjoy your look and what you might have to say?[What is not pretend is his accent.] Since March 1, 2009 I have been studying and practicing duplicating Patrick Stewart’s voice and English accent. It’s been a tough endeavor because Patrick Stewart’s voice is very distinctive and his accent isn’t just English—it’s Shakespearean. He is physically very fit, so to maintain his physical appearance I swim a quarter mile per day to counteract the age of gravity. In my studies of Captain Picard I have learned some of his idiosyncrasies: he doesn’t smile, never shows teeth, and walks without moving his arms.
Over the past three months I’ve come to realize that the younger generation is more in tune to X-Men than Star Trek. As a Patrick Stewart lookalike I am listed with Crooners Unlimited as Professor Xavier, the leader of the mutants in X-Men. It’s the same voice but simpler dress code—suit and tie, which comes naturally to me since it was my dress code for 30 years. Some people have told me that they are glad at the thought of having a Star Trek rebirth because, in creating both the series, Gene Roddenberry’s goal was to incorporate life lessons into the episodes. Today’s parents who grew up learning those lessons want their children to learn the same ones.
Actually, when I began working at being a Patrick Stewart lookalike, I didn’t understand the attraction that would draw people to just me, as I am not Patrick Stewart. Then I realized that to the person whose husband, son, father, brother, or uncle is a trekker, it makes no difference whether I am really Patrick Stewart or not. It makes them happy to shake the hand and pose for a picture with someone who merely looks like Patrick Stewart. I’ve seen the twinkle in their eyes; and if it makes them happy, it makes me happy to be his lookalike, shake their hand, put my arm around them and pose for a picture.
Obviously Caldwell cannot help looking the way he does. He cannot help that people keep asking him if he is "him." So instead of fighting it, why not join it - it being the hundreds of other lookalikes out there that have that certain similarity to their particular celebrity.
Within this article's slideshow one will find more lookalikes. For when you are one, a lookalike, and you attend lookalike and/or sci-fi conventions, it is hard not to make new friends - lookalike friends that is.Bob Caldwell has done just that. He enjoys every minute of it, his life as a lookalike, or should one say both lives!
A lookalike sampling of whom Bob Caldwell has met recently is: Jay Leno, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Robert DeNiro, Dr. Phil, Marilyn Monroes, Elvis', Rodney Dangerfield, Carrie-Anne Moss' Trinity from the MATRIX films, Britney Spears, Anna Nicole Smith, President and Mrs. Obama, Charlie Chaplins, Rod Stewarts, Tina Turners, Angelina Jolies, Brad Pitt, John Waynes, Bing Crosby, Clark Gable, Joan Rivers, Bob Hope, Cher, Sonny Bono, Elton John, Johnny Cash, June Carter, James Bond...
