Sam J. Jones on Flash Gordon, Fear, Fame, and Life Beyond Hollywood

Sam J. Jones on Flash Gordon, Fear, Fame, and Life Beyond Hollywood  In this episode of Reza Rifts, Keith Reza sits down with actor Sam J. Jones for a funny, candid, and surprisingly thoughtful conversation about Flash Gordon, staying grounded in Hollywood, working security outside the movie business, fan conventions, and the mindset it takes to survive a long career in entertainment. Sam reflects on the pressure of carrying a cult classic, why Flash Gordon still connects with audiences decades later, and how discipline, humility, and preparation shaped both his acting career and his life off-screen. The conversation also dives into Sam's work on The Spirit, Under the Gun, and Life After Flash, along with behind-the-scenes stories about conventions, celebrity encounters, comic timing, and one unforgettable Harley-Davidson wrap-party moment. It's a warm, honest episode packed with old-school Hollywood perspective and practical life wisdom.  Guest Bio: Sam J. Jones Sam J. Jones is an American actor best known for playing the title role in Flash Gordon (1980). Over the years, he has also appeared in projects including The Spirit, Under the Gun, and the documentary Life After Flash, which explores the legacy of Flash Gordon and his life beyond the film.  Follow Sam J. Jones Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealsamjjones/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamJJonesOfficial/ IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0429207/ Featured Titles and References Flash Gordon (1980)...https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080745/  The Spirit (1987)...https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094017/   Under the Gun...https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098558/ Life After Flash...https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4917554/  Life After Flash official page: https://www.lifeaftermovies.com/lifeafterflash Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction and opening banter 04:58 The legacy of Flash Gordon 06:28 Fear, pressure, and leading a cult classic 09:54 Why Flash Gordon still resonates with audiences 14:36 Sam's security work and how it parallels filmmaking 21:56 The wild story of being recognized while on a protection job 29:37 Life After Flash and the idea for a future documentary 31:10 Working with Richard O'Brien and the joy of fan conventions 37:29 Under the Gun, Vanessa Williams, and the Harley wrap-party story 41:08 Playing The Spirit and Will Eisner's endorsement 44:20 Early Hollywood memories, Robin Williams, and Paul Mooney 47:20 Where to follow Sam J. Jones online Call to Action If you enjoyed this episode of Reza Rifts, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review the show, and share this episode with a fellow movie fan, comic-con regular, or anyone who still believes in the power of a great cult classic. Support the show on https://patreon.com/rezarifts61  Follow Keith on all social media platforms: FB: https://www.facebook.com/realkeithreza IG:https://www.instagram.com/keithreza  ALT IG:https://www.instagram.com/duhkeithreza  X:https://www.twitter.com/keithreza  TT:https://www.tiktok.com/keithreza  Book Keith on cameo at www.cameo.com/keithreza Check out my website for dates at https://www.keithreza.com/  Subscribe - Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts - Tell a friend :) Be a Rifter!         #RezaRifts #KeithReza #SamJJones #FlashGordon #TheSpirit #UnderTheGun #LifeAfterFlash #MoviePodcast #HollywoodStories #ComicCon #CultClassic #ActorInterview #EntertainmentPodcast