The Bookshelf Conversation: Dwier Brown

Veteran actor Dwier Brown appeared as John Kinsella, the father of Kevin Costner’s character, Ray, in the 1989 classic Field of Dreams. He was only on screen for about five minutes at the end, but for many, those are the most powerful moments, with the ability to turn otherwise composed men and women into misty-eyed sentimentalists.

Brown said he enjoys just about the right degree of fame. While he’s been in dozens of movies and TV shows, he’d be the first to admit he’s not in the same category as his Field of Dreams co-stars Costner or James Earl Jones. Nevertheless, Brown is still approached by fans who wish to share their thoughts about the impact the iconic closing scene has had on them, as they remembers their relationships — good and bad — with their own fathers.

Brown recently published If You Build It…: A Book about Fathers, Fate, and Field of Dreams, a memoir that encompasses some of these experiences as the movie marks its 25th anniversary. But it’s also the story of life as a family man as he recalls his relationship with his dad, who, sadly, passed away just days before Brown was to begin shooting his scenes. We spoke about all those components in a recent conversation.

Brown will be making a number of appearances across the country. You can find out more at his website.