Shhh: Dale Dickey ‘might’ be in a Super Bowl ad

Actress Dale Dickey, left, with Mary Pom Claiborne at the Sequoyah Hills home of a Clarence Brown Theatre board member.

Actress Dale Dickey, left, with Mary Pom Claiborne during a cocktail party at the Sequoyah Hills home of a Clarence Brown Theatre board member.

(1/28/17 UPDATE: See bottom of this post for a fun update on this earlier story.)

Knoxville-born actress Dale Dickey was in town from Los Angeles recently to take care of a few issues surrounding the estate of her late mother, Missy Dickey. While she was here, she was guest of honor at a small cocktail party with colleagues and friends of the Clarence Brown Theatre.

Dickey, who is busy working on television shows, films and commercials in California, is a huge supporter of her alma mater, the University of Tennessee, and Clarence Brown Theatre, in particular. She’s starred in Clarence Brown performances of Steel Magnolias and Sweeney Todd, among others. But my favorite role of hers here was a few years ago when she played Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire.

At the cocktail party, Dickey was friendly and approachable, relating stories of parking a car for Jack Nicholson and accidentally setting a garbage can on fire in a hotel conference room while waiting to audition for Sean Penn. She was just trying to be helpful by emptying the overflowing ashtrays that were on the table, not realizing one contained a lit cigarette. “From my years of being a waitress, I just couldn’t stand to see the dirty ashtrays,” she laughed. “I thought I should tidy up the place.”

Dr. Steven Smith, a co-chair of the upcoming Clarence Brown Theatre Gala, welcomed guests with a splash of prosecco. Festive!

Dr. Steven Smith, a co-chair of the upcoming Clarence Brown Theatre Gala to be held May 20, welcomed guests with a splash of prosecco. Festive!

Dickey plays many downtrodden characters: addicts, prostitutes, criminals. She played Patty, the daytime hooker, in My Name is Earl. She’s been in True Blood, Breaking Bad and Justified. She won an award for her role as a matriarch in the independent film Winter’s Bone.

She has made peace with the fact that her appearance lends itself to these types of roles. At the party she related how she’s always been reluctant to give a big, wide open smile because of her “little hillbilly teeth.” But yet, when a dentist friend told her he could give her a beautiful smile, she turned him down. “Are you kidding? I’d never get a role again!” she told him.

If you want to see Dickey in her latest work, you may be able to catch her in a Super Bowl ad. She’s not sure it will run then, but she suspects it will. Interestingly, the “talent” in commercials has to sign a confidentiality agreement saying they won’t disclose info about the ad. So here’s all she would say. The ad features a celebrity (other than her), and it contains motorcycles. So, if you are going to watch the Super Bowl (and who isn’t?), keep your eye out for our hometown girl.

Here’s a great interview with Dickey from Garden & GunHere’s another from The Torchbearer, a University of Tennessee publication.

Jeffrey Stanley, left, and David Byrd posed with the guest of honor. David is managing director of Clarence Brown Theatre.

Jeffrey Stanley, left, and David Byrd posed with the guest of honor. David is managing director of Clarence Brown Theatre.

The living room, still decorated for Christmas, had the feeling of an English lodge.

The living room, still decorated for Christmas, had the feeling of an English lodge.

Christmas foxes.

Christmas foxes.

Dale Dickey, left, chatting with Dawn and Richard Ford.

Dale Dickey, left, chatting with Dawn and Richard Ford.

Ho. Ho. Ho.

Ho. Ho. Ho.

From left, Gary Bentley, John Gill and Ben Pinnell.

From left, Gary Bentley, John Gill and Ben Pinnell.

Dale Dickey with Donald Thorne.

Dale Dickey with Donald Thorne.

Brie bites, anyone?

Brie bites, anyone?

Still in the Christmas spirit.

Still in the Christmas spirit.

Endive with something cheesy and delicious inside.

Endive with something cheesy and delicious inside.

The shrimp had a kick.

The shrimp had a kick.

I believe Jeffrey was excited about it!

I believe Jeffrey was excited about it!

But the deviled eggs with caviar were the best thing ever!

But the deviled eggs with caviar were the best thing ever!

Alan Carmichael and Margie Nichols were discussing the charcuterie.

Alan Carmichael and Margie Nichols were discussing the charcuterie.

David Byrd and Amanda Middleton were discussing something on her phone. Amanda is external relations associate with UT's Department of Theatre.

David Byrd and Amanda Middleton were discussing something on her phone. Amanda is external relations associate with UT’s Department of Theatre.

From left, Dawn Ford, Sara Hedstrom Pinnell and Julia Bentley.

From left, Dawn Ford, Sara Hedstrom Pinnell and Julia Bentley.

This was a beautiful way to serve dessert.

This was a beautiful way to serve dessert.

From left, Donald Thorne, Jeffrey Stanley and David Byrd.

From left, Donald Thorne, Jeffrey Stanley and David Byrd.

Do you see a theme with these statues?

Do you see a theme with these statues?

Margie Nichols with Dale Dickey.

Margie Nichols with Dale Dickey.

John Gill gets a hug.

John Gill gets a hug.

UPDATE: Ad Age magazine reports that Dale Dickey will be in a Mercedes ad starring Peter Fonda to air in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. Here’s link to the story and an early version of the ad: http://adage.com/article/special-report-super-bowl/mercedes-super-bowl-ad-coen-brothers/307705/

 

 

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5 Responses to Shhh: Dale Dickey ‘might’ be in a Super Bowl ad

  1. Deborah Sams, on January 20th, 2017 at 8:14 pm said:

    What a wonderful get-to-gether for one of East Tennessee’s most notable thespians. I always enjoy seeing what Dale Dickey is doing. Thank you for sharing!

  2. Cynthia Moxley, on January 20th, 2017 at 10:17 pm said:

    Hey, Deborah: Isn’t she awesome? I also love following up on what she’s up to. Thanks so much for reading the Blue Streak!

  3. Georgiana Vines, on January 21st, 2017 at 6:11 am said:

    Love the way the home was decorated for the holidays!

  4. Dawn Ford, on January 21st, 2017 at 12:51 pm said:

    This was a lovely evening and Ms. Dickey was extremely personable. Thank you Cynthia and Alan for including us. And thank you to the hosts!

  5. Cynthia Moxley, on January 21st, 2017 at 1:17 pm said:

    Dawn: You and Richard always make an event fun!

    Georgiana: I don’t like the dead animals so much, being an animal lover. But the English lodge feeling was great, otherwise.

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