For fans of Kevin Smith’s films, August 29 is shaping up to be a pretty special day.
Brian O’Halloran is heading to New Jersey for the Mallrats Reunion at Super Jersey Expo, where he will reunite with several of his former castmates from the 1995 cult classic. O’Halloran joined The BUZZ to talk about the reunion, his history with Kevin Smith’s films and what it is like to step back into a room with the people who helped make Mallrats a fan favorite.
O’Halloran knows a thing or two about returning to the View Askewniverse. Best known for playing Dante Hicks in Clerks, the actor has portrayed multiple characters with the last name Hicks throughout Kevin Smith’s films, including Gil Hicks in Mallrats, Sean Hicks in Chasing Amy and Grant Hicks in Dogma. He even returned as Grant Hicks in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.
Why Are They All Hicks?
That question came up during our conversation, and O’Halloran admitted that the definitive answer is probably better left to Kevin Smith.
Still, he has embraced the running joke.
The actor pointed to the Quick Stops comic series, which includes a Hicks Family Reunion story that dives further into the connection between the characters. O’Halloran joked that he has no problem with the idea of playing multiple Hicks characters, even comparing it to Eddie Murphy playing multiple members of the Klump family.
Dante Hicks’ Death in Clerks III
We also talked about one of the more emotional moments in O’Halloran’s career: Dante Hicks’ death in Clerks III.
O’Halloran embraced the decision, particularly because Kevin Smith had contemplated killing Dante off much earlier. In fact, O’Halloran revealed that the original ending had Dante being shot.
For the actor, Dante and Randall essentially served as the launching point for the larger universe of characters that grew out of Clerks. He also understands the emotional reaction from longtime fans who have told him that Dante’s death made them cry.
As O’Halloran put it, if it was good enough for characters like Tony Stark and Han Solo, it was good enough for Dante Hicks.
From Dante Hicks to Fox’s The Floor
O’Halloran’s career has taken him well beyond the Quick Stop, including a recent appearance on Fox’s game show The Floor.
He explained that the opportunity came through a longtime convention connection who also worked as a casting assistant. After an initial audition process, O’Halloran discovered that the competition series was exactly the kind of challenge he wanted to take on.
There was just one problem: he initially had no idea the show was filmed in Ireland.
After learning that production took place in Dublin, O’Halloran renewed his passport and went through the casting and background-check process before ultimately joining the competition.
And his experience was anything but a typical game-show vacation.
The contestants were filming on an intense schedule, with multiple games being shot throughout the week. O’Halloran said the combination of long production days, standing for hours and the pressure of competing for significant prize money created a genuine pressure-cooker environment.
His Strategy? Get That Money While You Can.
O’Halloran went into The Floor with a simple goal: win one day.
The competition offered $20,000 for a daily win, with a larger $250,000 prize up for grabs. Rather than obsessing over the ultimate prize, O’Halloran wanted to make sure he took advantage of any opportunity to win along the way.
That strategy paid off in a way he never expected. He ultimately lasted six days on the competition.
His acting experience also helped him deal with the pressure. O’Halloran said that performing in front of large audiences, working on stage and doing convention Q&As had already taught him how to remain comfortable in front of cameras and crowds.
But even for an experienced performer, the competition could be mentally exhausting.
He recalled facing a competitor in a film-director category and watching the pressure cause his opponent to freeze, despite having experience that might suggest he would thrive in a high-pressure environment. For O’Halloran, staying calm and focusing on the clues was the key.
What Makes the Mallrats Reunion Special?
While O’Halloran has spent decades working in film and television, Mallrats holds a particularly special place in his memories.
He recalled spending 11 days filming in Minnesota at the Eden Prairie Mall, which provided a very different experience from the low-budget production of Clerks. For Mallrats, he was working as an actor with a hotel room, trailer and a real movie set.
The experience also meant working alongside some major names, including Shannon Doherty, Michael Rooker and a young Ben Affleck, while Jason Lee was making his feature-film debut.
That history is part of what makes reunions like the upcoming Super Jersey Expo appearance so much fun for O’Halloran.
He said he enjoys seeing his former castmates at conventions and reconnecting with fans who continue to love the film decades after its release. He is particularly excited to see Priscilla Barnes again, whom he had not seen in roughly a decade.
And his message to fans is simple: this is going to be fun.
“I love meeting the fans.”
O’Halloran is looking forward to spending the day with the Mallrats cast and fans at Super Jersey Expo, which takes place August 29 at Iron Peak Sports & Events. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Watch/listen to my full conversation with Brian O’Halloran for even more stories about Mallrats, Dante Hicks, Kevin Smith’s films and his experience competing on The Floor.
Super Jersey Expo: Fans attending the August 29 event can visit SuperJerseyExpo.com for tickets and additional information.
