In a recent candid interview, veteran actor Stephen Lang shared some colorful behind-the-scenes stories from his time working with action star Steven Seagal, including his personal “six-foot rule” that he implemented during filming.
Lang, known for his roles in “Avatar” and “Don’t Breathe,” recalled his first meeting with Seagal at the action star’s Staten Island residence, which Lang compared to “Don Corleone’s compound in The Godfather,” complete with pit bulls and security personnel.
“I was directed to sit on a flagstone terrace out in the middle of nowhere, far from the house,” Lang recounted in the interview. After waiting for some time, he witnessed Seagal approaching him dressed in what Lang described as a “muumuu” and wearing distinctive pointed slippers reminiscent of those from “Aladdin.”
The initial encounter set the tone for their professional relationship when Seagal entered Lang’s personal space and whispered, “So, you’re the thespian.” Lang’s quick-witted response—”Don’t you ever call me that again”—apparently sealed his casting in the film.
Once production began in Kentucky, Lang established his now-famous boundary. “I said, ‘Steven! I’m afraid. No hugging. I’d prefer if you never came within six feet of me,'” Lang explained. When Seagal questioned why, Lang replied candidly, “Because I never know if you’re gonna hug me or kick me in the balls.”
According to Lang, Seagal responded that he “would never kick [Lang] in the balls,” but when pressed further, amended his statement to “Well, maybe,” which only reinforced Lang’s decision to maintain the distance rule.
Despite the unusual working arrangement, Lang expressed no regrets about the experience, calling it “ridiculous” but “great.” He also mentioned the privilege of working alongside other notable talents like Kris Kristofferson and Harry Dean Stanton during the production.
The film, shot in Kentucky, brought together this eclectic mix of personalities, with Lang’s six-foot rule becoming a memorable footnote in his professional journey through Hollywood.
