Many actors would love to play just one iconic character in their career, but doing so can have some fairly odd consequences. Such is the case for Dante Basco. In 1991, at the age of 16, the actor played the role of Rufio in Steven Spielberg's Hook, and today, at the age of 43, he says that people still shout the Lost Boys catchphrase "Bagarang" at him on the street. According to Basco...
A lot. It's kind of weird because I've been Rufio in my life now longer than I haven't been Rufio, you know? Hearing 'Bangarang' or people shouting out 'Rufio', it could be a daily occurrence sometimes which is crazy. And, I don't really think about it too much because again it's like, you just kind of walk around the world. I notice it more when I'm hanging out with newer friends and they point it out a lot. I'm like, 'Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. That happens a lot.' But yeah, It's weird. People walking by or driving by even, like how does that happen? You're just walking down the street. So it happens. It could be at least a weekly occurrence depending on where I'm at in time, it could be a daily occurrence. Which is pretty crazy because that was such a long time ago.
As Dante Basco says, it's been a long time. It's been almost 30 years and people still make reference to the movie he was in. It certainly goes to show just what a profound impact Hook had on at least one generation, and possibly those that have come after it.
Basco tells ComicBook.com that Hook became one of those movies that was seemingly inescapable for a time. It was the kind of movie that babysitters, grandparents, and substitute teachers would sit you down in front of to keep you occupied. As such, it became a movie that a lot of kids saw a lot. Moments in the movie were memorized and repeated over and over again. When that generation thinks of childhood, they think of Hook.
All in all, it seems like Dante Basco has taken it all in stride. He seems at peace with his minor, but perpetual, celebrity as Rufio, the leader of the Lost Boys. At least he was until Peter Pan came back to town. He was even recently involved in a short film, not coincidently, titled Bangarang, which acted as a prequel to Hook which told Rufio's origin story.
Now, both old and new generations can check out Hook in all new way as a brand new 4K Blu-ray print of the film is being released. This will undoubtedly expose an entirely new generation to Hook as their parents make them watch the movie they remember so fondly. Then they'll be even more people shouting "Bagarang" at Dante Basco.
