Known for his trademark sense of humor, his over-the-top acting style and his roles in numerous B-movies, Bruce Campbell was born on June 22, 1958 in Royal Oak, Michigan. He began acting as a teenager and was later involved in making short Super 8 movies with friends. He continued this as he entered Western Michigan University. After occasional roles in films, he became known for the cult horror film The Evil Dead, which premiered in 1981. A collaboration with good friend Sam Raimi—who he met in high school—Campbell appeared on screen and also worked behind it. Produced on a low budget, the film was rejected by most distributors because of its graphic violence, but after writer Stephen King endorsed it, the film was finally taken seriously.
Campbell was turned down for numerous high-profile roles—The Phantom, Darkman and Congo, among others—but he continued to star in several other films, either in a starring capacity or only as a cameo. He arguably received wider success on television, beginning with the lead role—a Harvard lawyer turned bounty hunter—in the modern Western series The Adventure of Brisco County Jr. This was followed by a role in the fourth season of the comedy Ellen, playing strict and straightforward bookstore manager Ed Billick. After playing the same recurring role in sister shows Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess, he played the lead role in the short-lived syndicated comedy Jack of All Trades. He most recently starred in the drama series Burn Notice, as Navy SEAL-turned-moocher Sam Axe.
Campbell has also written several books, mostly inspired by his experiences as an actor. His autobiography, If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B-Movie Actor, hit bookshelves in 2002 and topped the bestseller list of The New York Times. He later wrote a comical novel, Make Love! The Bruce Campbell Way, which parodied celebrity memoirs and told about his attempts to get roles in bigger, more prominent films.