Veteran Hollywood actor Gary Busey has left his social media followers utterly bewildered this week with a peculiar new Instagram post. The 81-year-old star shared a video in which he loudly imitated the sound of a goose, but it was a single, eerie detail that truly captured viewers' attention.
The Unblinking Goose Impression
In the 31-second clip, filmed from inside a car, Busey addresses the camera directly. "Hey, it's Gary Busey, and I have got a great Christmas present for you: listen to this," he announces, before launching into a series of loud, realistic goose honks. He explains the noise is what geese sound like when flying, adding, "You get a bunch of geese together, they're honking in the air," before laughing.
However, fans quickly flooded the comments section not to discuss the animal impressions, but to point out a startling fact. Throughout the entire video, Gary Busey did not blink a single time. Former 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Claudia Jordan commented, "Not one blink. Impressive," while another viewer quipped, "The dead don't blink." Others echoed the sentiment, expressing disbelief at the actor's sustained, unblinking stare.
A Shadow of Recent Legal Troubles
This bizarre online moment arrives just three months after Busey faced significant legal consequences. In September, Camden County Judge Gwendolyn Blue sentenced him to two years' probation. This followed his guilty plea to one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact for inappropriately touching a woman.
The incident occurred in August 2022 at the Monster-Mania Con, a horror-themed fan convention in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Prosecutors alleged that Busey, then 78, groped several women during a photo shoot, including grabbing the buttocks of two women and attempting to unhook another woman's bra.
A Contested Court Case
Busey's legal journey to this sentence was not straightforward. Initially, he denied all wrongdoing, telling TMZ that "nothing happened" and pleading not guilty in March 2023. However, in a July hearing conducted via Zoom from his California home, he reversed his plea to guilty.
The court hearing itself contained surreal moments. When asked by Judge Blue if he wished to plead guilty, Busey looked off-camera and asked, "Am I pleading guilty? No." He was immediately corrected by his attorney, Blair Zwillman, who called out "yes!" Busey then acquiesced, stating, "I am? Ok I am." Judge Blue had to clarify that he had discussed the charge with his lawyers before he confirmed his guilty plea.
His attorney had urged the court to impose only fines, citing Busey's age, health issues, and residence in California. Judge Blue rejected this, referencing the seriousness of the offense and Busey's prior history with the justice system. As part of his sentence, Busey is barred from contacting the victim and was given 45 days to appeal. His attorney stated Busey was "pleased that the case has been resolved."
A Career of Highs and Lows
The recent conviction marks a serious fall from grace for an actor with a decades-long career. Busey earned an Academy Award nomination for his iconic portrayal of musician Buddy Holly in the 1978 film 'The Buddy Holly Story'. He later starred in major films like 'Lethal Weapon' and 'Predator 2'.
His life has also been marked by public challenges. In 1988, he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a motorcycle accident and has been open about struggles with substance abuse, appearing on 'Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew' in 2008. More recently, he took on the role of God in the 2019 Off-Broadway musical 'Only Human'.
The juxtaposition of his strange, light-hearted Instagram video against the backdrop of his recent legal probation has created a complex and puzzling public image for the veteran actor, leaving fans to ponder the man behind the unblinking eyes.
