Michael Nouri Explains Why His Career Stalled After “Flashdance”: 'I Have to Put My Ego Aside'

When Michael Nouri starred in 1983’s Flashdance, he thought his career was set. The truth ended up being more complicated.

On the Dec. 9 episode of Steve Kmetko’s Still Here podcast, Nouri, 79, opened up about how Flashdance did and didn’t change his career. The movie, which also starred Jennifer Beals and had music from Irene Cara, grossed over $200 million at the box office. It was Nouri’s third-ever film, after 1969’s Goodbye, Columbus (which he appeared in uncredited) and 1981’s Gangster Wars.

“After Flashdance, that was the time to strike while the iron was hot,” Nouri explained of his career trajectory. “Billy Friedkin got in touch with me and told me he wanted me to be in his new movie with Barbara Hershey. It was called Sea Trial, and it was going to be done at 20th Century Fox, and Fox wanted to turn around and that movie was shelved, so the momentum from Flashdance was, dissipated.”

But he had another shot at landing a major part, he said. “While I was in Tokyo promoting Flashdance I got a call from my agent who said that Steven Bochco was interested in having me be in a series of his called Bay City Blues, and Bay City Blues lasted for 13 episodes,” he said. The cast of the short-lived series included Sharon Stone.

Related: Jennifer Beals Says Life at Yale After Filming 'Flashdance' Was 'Completely Normal'

“So my point is that the huge momentum that Flashdance created, just you want to keep the momentum going,” Nouri explained. “Hopefully, when you have one big hit, you want to follow it up with something else, something equally good or better, just to keep you out there. And that did not happen.”

“So I went from Bay City Blues to a succession of TV shows, independent movies, and so on, but nothing of the magnitude of Flashdance,” he said. He called it a “psychological and emotional adjustment,” but noted that as a man, he still has more opportunities than “women of a certain age,” which he was “grateful” for.

“I went through a period of playing dads, now granddads, senators, statesmen, and so on, which I am very grateful for,” he said. “The phone is still ringing. I have wonderful agents who are keeping me out there.”

He noted that he recently auditioned for “Bradley Cooper’s new movie.” “People say, ‘You have to audition?’ And the answer is, yes, Yes I do, and I'm willing to do that. I have to put my ego aside and just be grateful for what comes my way. And hopefully your nerves aside.”

In the 2000s, Nouri had recurring roles on series like The O.C., Damages and NCIS, and recently, he’s appeared on Yellowstone. Nouri’s career also included stints on Broadway, including in the 1995 production of Victor/Victoria starring Julie Andrews.

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