By Richard Coltharp, Las Cruces Sun-News, N.M. Mar. 18—Like Gary Busey, I was born in Texas, grew up in Tulsa, Okla., and went to college at Oklahoma State University. As a kid, I had the great opportunity to watch a young Busey dominate the local late-night airwaves with raw improv sketch comedy that pre-saged “Saturday Night Live” by half a decade. Anyone who lived in Tulsa during the 1970s knows Busey better by his stage name, Teddy Jack Eddy. We saw him catch early breaks, with vibrant roles in TV series, including “Kung Fu.” In one of the final episodes of the long-running “Gunsmoke,” Busey was the last character ever to die on the show, and the first of many, many roles in which Busey died, usually violently. In between, he honed his rock-and-roll skills, on guitar and drums, and even played some with the great rock-and-roll pianist, singer and songwriter Leon Russell, another Tulsan who was such a fan he named his son Teddy Jack after Busey’s persona. So when Busey was tabbed to play the lead role in 1978’s “The Buddy Holly Story,” doing his own singing and guitar, everyone in T-Town knew it was tailor-made for our homeboy. Busey even ad-libs on a Holly classic: “Well, all right; well, all right. You can love Teddy Jack with all your might.” Oh, and you know what happens to Holly at the end, the day the music dies. Like Denzel Washington playing Malcolm X, or Morgan Freeman playing Nelson Mandela, Buddy Holly was the role Busey was born to play. And he earned an Academy Award Best Actor nomination to prove it. Unfortunately, it was more than a 33-year-old Busey, wound tighter than an Oklahoma baitcasting reel, could handle. The success went to his head, directly through his nose, with way too much cocaine. He straightened up periodically to do a movie or two, many of them bad. A bright spot was “Barbarosa” (1982). Busey played a goofy farmhand, carrying an extra 70 pounds or so. Starring alongside Willie Nelson (almost as oaken onscreen as Keanu), Busey breathes life and chemistry in the movie, carrying Willie the way he would one day carry Reeves (in “Point Break,” which was covered in Part I of Slouching Towards Tulsa). It’s one of the best post-John Wayne Westerns, along with “Silverado,” 1985, and “Unforgiven,” 1992. “Barbarosa” is a rarity in that Busey’s character survives. However, he fakes his death so he can carry on the persona of the legendary Barbarosa after Nelson’s title character is killed. Busey’s 1988 motorcycle crash nearly ended his life, but his comments afterward propelled his status as Hollywood nutjob. He initially proclaimed that, despite his near-death experience, no one should have to wear a helmet. He later recanted and is now a big helmet proponent. And, for the most part, he kicked the drugs. But he never stopped saying — and doing — strange, contradictory, bizarre, enlightening and hilarious things. In 1993, in an overlooked movie with lots of strong roles by great character actors, Busey’s star shone brightly in “The Firm.” It’s quite possibly Tom Cruise’s best performance, and by far the best movie of a John Grisham book. Cruise is augmented by excellent support from Wilford Brimley, Gene Hackman, Jean Tripplehorn, Hal Holbrook, David Straithairn, Ed Harris and the always wonderful Holly Hunter. Hunter’s boss and love interest? Busey, naturally. Once again, Busey’s bright star shines all too briefly. And bloodily. So that covers Busey’s Big Four: “The Buddy Holly Story,” “Barbarosa,” “Point Break” and “The Firm.” For many, rounding out Busey’s Top 5 would be his role as the evil Mr. Joshua in “Lethal Weapon,” 1987, in which he, of course, dies a bloody death. But me, I’m waiting for some genius director, screenwriter or casting director to create the role that will become for Busey what “Lost in Translation” was for Bill Murray or “The Wrestler” was for Mickey Rourke. Then I’ll have my Teddy Jack Eddy’s Big Five. A special shout-out goes to “Contact,” the commendable 1997 sci-fi flick starring Jodie Foster, that features a creepy and pivotal performance by, not Gary but his son, Jake Busey. If you’re worried you might not get your Busey fix once Gary is gone and Jake has fizzled out, fret not. We learned last month that Gary Busey, at age 65, has fathered another son. I will prepare my 6-year-old daughter so she can fully appreciate what it means in, say, 2045, when she goes to catch the latest 5D hologram, “The Gary Busey Story,” starring the 35-year-old Luke Busey playing his legendary dad. Despite his being editor of Healthy U magazine, Richard Coltharp’s idolization of Gary Busey likely quite unhealthy. He can be reached at rcoltharp@lcsun-news.com, (575) 541-5464