Eric Bruno Borgman

Being a student of history and wanting to drum, Eric joined a local Revolutionary War battle re-enactment group portraying a British regiment from 1775. He participated as a drummer in this group for 10 years.

Eric Bruno Borgman was born at the Chelsea Naval Hospital in Chelsea, Massachusetts. His father, George A. Borgman, was in the army and stationed in Vietnam at the time of his birth. His mother, Janet Borgman was living at her mother's house in Westwood, Massachusetts, where Eric lived almost a year. When his father's term was up in Vietnam, Eric's family moved to Carbondale, Illinois. It was during this period when Eric discovered the comedy of Laurel & Hardy, by whom he became influenced. The family next moved to Lawton, Oklahoma where they lived until moving to Germany. Rather than living on a military base, the Borgman family lived in a small village outside of Wurzburg. Eric and his older brother were bussed to school on the army base. While in Germany, Eric learned to speak German and played with the village children. It was while in Germany, that Eric first saw Buster Keaton in a truncated version of Seven Chances (1925) on television. It was also while in Germany that Eric performed in a talent show at school using his Bert and Ernie hand puppets and won first prize. After two years in Germany the family moved back to the States for good.

It was in 1984, while living in Norwood, Massachusetts that Eric discovered the old 8mm movie camera at his grandmother's house that led him to begin filming his first film, 'Mad Maxxy', a spoof on Mad Max (1979), using his guinea pig Maxxy as the star of the movie playing opposite the neighborhood cats. He began refilming the movie in super 8mm when he was given a new camera for as a gift. In his spare time he wrote and shot the film in the construction rubble across the street from his apartment.

He began filming his next movie in April of 1985 in Westwood, starring himself as a tree surgeon. His mother and grandmother filled out the cast of this silent comedy. This film was finished about a year later, and he continued to write and direct films and act in them for the next few years.

It was while with the regiment that Eric first performed as an extra in Spenser: For Hire (1985) and April Morning (1988).

He finished the movie in 1986, after moving into his grandmother's house in Westwood in 1985.

In 1987, Eric began writing a script for a silent comedy to take place during the American Revolution.

It was also in this year that Eric viewed Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow (1987) which reintroduced him to Buster Keaton who also influenced him in his comedy and filmmaking.

Audtioned for the role of Aaron Stampler for the film Primal Fear (1996); Edward Norton got the role instead.

Put on over 30 pounds of weight, for his bit role in _Amistad (1997)_ so he'd look the part of an 1839 businessman. He weighed in at 230 pounds.

As of 2016, has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar:The Cider House Rules (1999), Mystic River (2003) and The Departed (2006), with the latter winning in the category.