Historian, son of legendary actor Yul Brynner to present at WSU
PULLMAN – Rock Brynner, history professor and son of actor Yul Brynner, is scheduled to give two presentations at WSU at 7 p.m. March 1 and 2. His lectures combine an array of personal experiences as well as academic research.
Brynner is a latter-day Renaissance man with a remarkably eclectic career. He is professor of history and political science, and the author of six books, and has worked as an actor in Broadway, musician, stand-up comedian, restaurateur, charter pilot, systems analyst for Bank of America, road manager for Bob Dylan and The Band, and bodyguard to Muhammad Ali.
His first presentation, “Movies and Rock’n’Roll: A Life Formed by Hollywood” will take place at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March ,1 in CUE room 202. Brynner will introduce and show the film “The Magnificent Seven,” starring Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Eli Wallach, Horst Buchholz, James Coburn, Charles Bronson and Robert Vaughn.
The second presentation, “U.S. – Russian Relations Today: A Hopeful Future?” will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 2, in CUE room 202. Brynner’s will talk about the political and cultural developments between Russia and the United States in recent years, with special focus on the Putin-Medvedev reforms, as well as on Presidents Bush and Obama.
An Assistant Professor of political science at Western Connecticut State University and at Marist College where he teaches American History, Brynner has presented on similar themes in Washington D.C. and Moscow, Russia. He is a graduate of Yale, and received a master’s from Trinity College, Dublin, and a doctorate degree from Columbia University.
In addition to his two presentations, Brynner will hold informal gatherings with students and community members interested in film, his family’s background in Vladivostok (the Russian Pacific port) or 20th-century movies and popular music.
For appointments or information, please contact Professor Birgitta Ingemanson at 509-335-8811 or 509-332-3002.
These events are sponsored by Russian Studies, Film Studies and the Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures.
