It would appear, at least according to Wikipedia, that I was there at the beginning.
I photographed Kevin Bacon for Premiere Magazine in late 1994. In the article Kevin Bacon Wants to be the ‘Guy,’ Holly Sorensen made the claim that Bacon was the center of the acting universe. That claim reverberated around the world, and begat the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game.
Of course, my shoot was before the article that launched a thousand parlor games. When I got him he was an affable, professional working actor. I suspect the “affable” derived directly from the “working” part of the description. Nonetheless: great guy, super friendly and unfortunately therefore not really that memorable. I do recall us discussing whether we could sub my black lab Otis (on set that day) for his black lab (absent) and despite my editor having specifically asked, he demurred and I realized he was of course right. Gotta honor your pets as your people, putting my dog in as his would be disrespectful to both.
The real story here is the parlor game that ensued. Millions have proven it is possible to get from any actor to Kevin Bacon in less than six steps. The original inspiration is the concept that one can get from oneself to anyone else in the world in six steps or less. I am sure it is some math mojo or something but I’m also sure I don’t think I believe it. I do believe all of you, my beloved readers, are immediately granted an immediate bye into the final rounds of any edition of The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. You subscribe to my Substack. I met Kevin Bacon (and photographed him for the story that launched a million degrees). Ergo, you get free beers from everyone in the bar with your two degrees of Kevin Bacon.Bam, bam, there you are! Don’t ever say I didn’t do nothin’ for you.