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‘Goonies‘ Cast Reveals On-Set Dialog Challenges with John Matuszak
Members of The Goonies cast recently shared that communicating with John Matuszak, who famously played the character Sloth, on set proved difficult due to his frequently enough-inaudible speech. The revelation came during a reunion discussion ahead of the film’s 40th anniversary, as the cast reminisced about their experiences making the 1985 adventure classic.
While beloved by audiences, Matuszak’s portrayal of Sloth presented unique challenges for his co-stars. Ke Huy Quan, Martha Plimpton, adn Kerri Green recounted numerous instances where they struggled to understand what Matuszak was saying, frequently enough requiring repeated attempts or assistance from director Richard Donner. This difficulty stemmed from the extensive prosthetics Matuszak wore,which significantly muffled his voice. The cast’s anecdotes highlight the dedication and adaptability required to bring the iconic film to life, and offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of a cherished 80s staple. A sequel to the Goonies is currently in development, produced by Steven Spielberg and Chris Columbus, though casting for the new installment remains unannounced.
“It was almost unfeasible to understand him,” Plimpton admitted during the Lovett or Leave It podcast episode.”He had this whole apparatus on his face, and he was yelling, but you couldn’t understand a word.”
Quan echoed this sentiment,recalling,”I remember a lot of times,we would just be looking at each other like,’What did he say?’ And then Richard [Donner] would have to come in and translate.”
Green added that Matuszak was a “sweetheart” despite the communication barrier, and that the cast learned to rely on nonverbal cues and context to understand his intentions.
The Goonies cast reunited this year to discuss the film, and the announcement of a sequel came in February. Josh Brolin, who played Brandon Walsh, has expressed some trepidation about a second movie, fearing it could diminish the original’s legacy.
