Bobcat is back with new look

March 21, 2013 at 12:05a.m.

After 30 years in show business, Bobcat Goldthwait knows his career now falls into three categories. There are those folks who know him for comedy, there are those folks who know him from his indie-film directing, and, well, those who think he’s dead. In some weird way, the funnyman appears to be OK with all of the above.

“Now I’m starting to tap into a younger crowd because, intentionally, I’ve been making myself a little bit known or available to a lot of the podcasts,” Goldthwait said. “But a lot of the folks who come to my show see me as a nostalgia act. They’re not usually that aware that I make movies or that I’m bald.”

Wait, bald? So what’s more shocking to fans when they see this “Police Academy” actor, the fact that he’s alive or bald?

“I think both,” Goldthwait said with a laugh. “Sometimes I do think it’s funny. I look like a 50-year-old man. For me, wearing hair extensions and spanx would be kind of silly. I’m not clinging to the ’80s. Unfortunately, a lot of my fans are.”

Oh, the ’80s, when a young Goldthwait was ubiquitous, appearing in one “Police Academy” movie after another and living life like a rock star. It wasn’t until the ’90s that he started to settle down and turned his focus to films. His first project was 1991’s “Shakes the Clown.”

That’s where Goldthwait said he found his true calling. In 2009, his fourth film, “World’s Greatest Dad,” starred Robin Williams and was critically acclaimed, as was his latest, “God Bless America.” The latter characterizes a modern-day Bonnie & Clyde. Up next for the auteur is “Willow Creek,” which is set in the Northwest and revolves around believers in Bigfoot.

“Movies are what is very exciting for me,” Goldthwait said. “It’s the driving force of what I like to do right now. I do stand-up to keep me off of reality shows.”

Today, Goldthwait’s comedy is less set-up and punch line and more story-based on his notorious past. After all, this is the guy who once famously set fire to “The Tonight Show” set.

Fans can hear his stories for themselves when he comes to the Mahoning Valley this weekend for four shows at The Funny Farm comedy club in Austintown.

“Last time I was in Youngstown, I remember I went to an Italian fest that was held outside,” Goldthwait said. “It was really fun. I didn’t fit in, but it was awesome. I remember this old Italian singer berating the guy running the PA system from the stage. It was like watching Tony Clifton.”

Invariably, throughout his career — apparently on stage and off — Goldthwait has seen and been a part of some surreal experiences. As for his image, Goldthwait said he couldn’t care less.

“I don’t know if I spend too much time wondering what people think of me, but I do hope people are interested to at least explore the movies that I make,” Goldthwait said. “I’d like to think that when I die, I’d be remembered as a filmmaker, but I know my picture in my obit is going to be me in a police uniform.”

The upside is he won’t be bald in the photo.

“That’s right,” he said, laughing. “I’ll have a mullet.”