4 Theta Pond. The caper involved a plan, a truck and a chain. “It was a great feat, and we were all so happy until we learned the (Stillwater) detectives were investigating it.” In 1980, Linn earned a bachelor’s in radio-television-film. His dad hung the diploma in his law office. Linn recalls his dad’s words: “I thought this would never happen, but I don’t want to know all the particulars.” From 1980 to 1990, Linn worked as a loan officer for two banks in Oklahoma City and later oversaw oil field operations in western Oklahoma. At the same time, Linn auditioned for acting roles. He recalls shooting some very bad commercials. “The first time I was in front of a camera I did a commercial for Safeway,” Linn ruefully tells of shilling beef brisket in a firefighter’s uniform. “Beef brisket for only 88 cents a pound. Now that’s a hot deal.” In 1986, he worked with Oklahoma Publishing Company president E.K. Gaylord II on a film called Shadows on the Wall. “My acting career started behind the camera thanks to Ed Gaylord,” he says. “I was a nervous wreck, but I hung in there.” At his dad’s urging, Linn sold his home, packed up a U-Haul and finally made the move to Hollywood at the age of 32. THE 88-CENT LEAN YEARS Linn graduated from Casady School in Oklahoma City. At OSU, he roomed with Tom Taggart, now a successful veterinarian in Minnesota. There was always a pack of dogs at their house on Fourth Street in Stillwater. Despite Linn’s love of animals, vet school was not in the cards. “To be a vet, you have to hit the books hard, and you can’t go to Pokes or The Attic and stay out until 2 in the morning,” he says. Again, the mischievous side had a way of coming out, and Linn participated in his share of college pranks. He might know something about how a 1,800pound plastic cow “borrowed” from Sirloin Stockade restaurant on Sixth Street found its way into I RIDE INTO TOMBSTONE IN LATE AFTERNOON WITH PURPLE SKIES AHEAD OF ME. I’M ON MY KICK-ASS HORSE NAMED DALLAS, HAVE ON THE COOLEST WARDROBE, A SIX-GUN AND A SCAR ON MY FACE, AND THINK TO MYSELF, ‘I DREAMED ABOUT THIS AS A KID. HELL, I’D PAY THEM TO DO THIS. THANK YOU, LORD. I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS MOMENT. NEVER.’ PHOTO / COURTESY
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