Mikey Campbell
In a talk after the premiere of the Steve Jobs biopic 'jOBS,' Ashton Kutcher said that he suffered a health scare in preparing for the title role as a result of adopting the late Apple cofounder's fruit-only diet.
According to Kutcher, the all-fruit diet lead to pancreatic problems so serious that he was prompted to visit a local hospital for treatment, reports USA Today.
"First of all, the fruitarian diet can lead to like severe issues," Kutcher explained. "I went to the hospital like two days before we started shooting the movie. I was like doubled over in pain."
Those who have seen the film's first screening said it suggests Jobs was a proponent of the diet.
"My pancreas levels were completely out of whack. It was really terrifying ... considering everything," Kutcher added, alluding to the pancreatic cancer that ultimately took Jobs' life on Oct. 5, 2011.
Other than taking on Jobs' diet, Kutcher prepared for the role by studying hours of Steve Jobs footage to replicate the tech guru's mannerisms, including a hunched-over walk and unique speech cadence.
Directed by Joshua Michael Stern, jOBS takes place over the defining 30 years of Jobs' life, including pivotal moments in Apple history such as the launch of the first Mac and the iPod.
The film has garnered mixed reviews with critics, but Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak went on record as being somewhat critical of the characters' authenticity.
After having a well-received premiere at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, jOBS is schedule to open nationwide on April 19.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
60 Comments
[quote name="AppleInsider"]"My pancreas levels were completely out of whack. It was really terrifying ... considering everything," he added, alluding to the pancreatic cancer that ultimately took Jobs' life on Oct. 5, 2011.[/quote] He seems to have some sort of delusions of grandeur as if having facial features like Jobs makes them kindred spirits. "The actor and the entrepreneur had personal similarities, Kutcher said. "We both have a ravenous interest in the tech space." "He's a guy that failed and got back on the horse," said Kutcher. "I think we can all sort of relate to that in some place in our life where we are moving forward with something and we fall down. You have to have the guts to get back up and go again. I think I share that as well." "Kutcher, 34, has said he considers Jobs his most personal film to date." http://www.t3.com/news/ashton-kutcher-believes-he-was-meant-to-play-steve-jobs He said: "He believes the role was meant for him," and will "prove to the world that this is the right part for him.” "The physical resemblance is actually scary, but he himself connects with this man in a very significant way. Of course he’s a big techie. He has a personal affinity to what Steve Jobs accomplished. Ashton is a much more intense individual than a lot of his current roles represent. We are feeling convinced that he’s gonna nail this.” So now with the Pancreas trouble, he's practically Steve reincarnate. He's got that RDF nailed down at least. It seems like this is just an attempt to drum up publicity for the movie but either way, it's in very poor taste. Steve died from cancer, not from eating too much fruit.
Interesting to say the least But didnt Jobs say on record that he ate more than just fruit? I could be wrong.
File under schadenfreude but this is the first time I've been happy about Kutcher taking this role.
But didnt Jobs say on record that he ate more than just fruit? I could be wrong.
Yep. He loved sushi, for example. But for a time in the '70s, that's all he tried to do. Emphasis on 'tried'.
Hopefully Kutcher wasn't stupid enough to emulate Jobs' attempt at not showering, but since he WAS stupid enough to do this…
[quote name="Tallest Skil" url="/t/155683/steve-jobs-fruitarian-diet-put-jobs-actor-ashton-kutcher-in-hospital#post_2266804"] Yep. He loved sushi, for example. But for a time in the '70s, that's all he tried to do. Emphasis on 'tried'. Hopefully Kutcher wasn't stupid enough to emulate Jobs' attempt at not showering, but since he WAS stupid enough to do this… [/quote] Do you know that the Japanese are about 40 years away from running out of fish? I know I know, citation needed. I saw it on a documentary. Can't remember the name of it.