Writer rides career's twists and turns
By Mark Dawidziak
Knight-Ridder News Service
June 25, 1989
A funny thing happened to Quinn Redeker on his way to becoming a comedian.
The Illinois native discovered he wasn't very funny and switched to acting.
A funny thing happened to Redeker while he was working on his acting career. He received an Oscar nomination as co-author of the script for The Deer Hunter (1978).
After deciding to be a writer, though . . . well, you guessed it. Another funny thing happened.
Redeker's work as Rex Sterling on the CBS soap opera THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS brought a daytime Emmy nomination.
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"I write," Redeker said during an interview in Cleveland.
"The soap opera supports the writing. The acting also supports my four kids and the four different colleges they're in.
"The soap opera is 20 minutes of work a day so I can spend the rest of the time writing 10 pages a day in my dressing room.
"No, acting isn't very fulfilling, but, gee, it's a great buck. At least acting is fun, and a soap opera gives you something new every day."
If not prompted by a question, Redeker may not mention acting, awards or THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. He'd rather talk about the economy and the ecology.
"The most acute problem by far is the ecology," Redeker said. "The Deer Hunter discussed important issues.
"It's time to move on to other issues. I'm looking at new ground, and I have five scripts in various stages of development.
"After The Deer Hunter, Hollywood bought my next five scripts, then didn't make them. This time, I won't sell one unless I can direct it."
A graduate of Queen Anne High School in Seattle, Redeker became a stand-up comic in the '60s.
Redeker switched to acting when he began studying with renowned drama coach Sandy Meisner.
"With comedy, the gratification is immediate," Redeker said. "It was fun, but I got a part in a film and had children to support."
The acting jobs kept coming.
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS star has appeared in 15 feature films, including Airport, The Andromeda Strain, Ordinary People, The Electric Horseman and The Candidate.
His acting credits also include roles in 125 episodes of such series as THE ROCKFORD FILES and KOJAK.
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