Josh Brolin recently shared some wild stories from his childhood, revealing what it was like to grow up surrounded by animals on his family’s ranch in Paso Robles, California. The actor, known for his roles in The Goonies and Dune, recounted his experiences during a podcast interview with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson on “Where Everybody Knows Your Name.”
Brolin explained that his late mother had a deep love for all kinds of animals, including big cats, wolves, and bears. Her ranch became a sanctuary for animals that had been illegally taken from the wild. She would find the people responsible, have them prosecuted, and then either rehabilitate the animals or place them in appropriate zoos.
“My mother had zero filter, so as crazy as she was, and she was absolutely f—ing nuts,” Brolin said, describing her bold personality and deep voice. He recalled one incident where she instructed a ranch worker, Bud Applehand, to feed a lion that wasn’t eating.
Brolin’s mother suggested that Bud sit next to the lion and demonstrate how to eat by putting his face in the bowl. “He didn’t know any better, poor guy,” Brolin remembered, adding that his dad walked away from the situation, leaving Bud to carry out the bizarre task.
As Bud followed her instructions, Brolin witnessed the lion slowly open its mouth and close it around the worker’s thigh. “You hear the rip of the jeans, and Bud’s going, ‘His teeth are going into my leg.’”
Amid the chaos, Brolin said his mother couldn’t stop laughing, a reaction she often had when nervous. “So, you hear, ‘The teeth are going into my leg,’ and she’s trying to talk, but she can’t because there’s just wheezing with this laugh,” he said.
Eventually, the lion released its grip, and Bud, understandably shaken, shouted, “Get me the f— outta here.”
Brolin also shared that his brother once received 60 stitches from an animal encounter, and that both he and his brother were often tasked with feeding the animals and cleaning cages as young children. Brolin, who was only 8 years old at the time, remembered feeding a wolf as part of his daily chores.
Reflecting on his unconventional upbringing, Brolin said, “It was a different deal, man. Then you go out into life, and you become an actor. It’s all good.”
