image: https://www.wnd.com/files/2013/03/pat_boone.jpg
Legendary entertainer Pat Boone, in an interview with WND, reflects on his acting career, his part in the launch of contemporary Christian music and his role in “God’s Not Dead 2,” which has been released in a box set of the entire three-film series.
WND: Not everybody realizes that in addition to being a music superstar, you were also an accomplished actor. How did you balance acting and singing?
Pat Boone: Well, I actually did acting and singing at the same time, so I don’t see it as separate things as much as all being a part of my career as an entertainer. And my career was never about me anyways, so movies were just another outlet through which I was able to use some God-given talents. I was as much amazed as anybody at the doors God opened for me!
WND: You are widely credited with being one of the founders of contemporary Christian music not only because you started a record label, Lamb & Lion Records, which released DeGarmo & Key’s first record, but you lent some money and strongly encouraged the early careers of people like Larry Norman and Randy Stonehill and other significant performers. Why was that important to you?
Pat Boone: I was so excited to see the Jesus Movement happen in the late ’60s, early ’70s, and I wanted to be a part of it in whatever way I could. The expressions of faith at that time were so genuine, so real, that when I met these young men and women I supported them in every way I could. Sometimes it meant signing them to my label and at other times it meant helping them with what they needed. Larry and Randy came and sat in my backyard and told me what they wanted to do, and I wrote them a check for $5,000 on the spot!
image: https://www.wnd.com/files/2014/03/140324godsnotdeadz.jpg

Scene from “God’s Not Dead”
WND: Before there was ever Pureflix or “God’s Not Dead,” or “The Passion” or “The Chronicles of Narnia” there was you starring in “The Cross & The Switchblade.” How did that come about?
Pat Boone: Yes I was. First, I saw a pocket book by that title on a news stand at the airport, while I was waiting to catch my plane to Mexico City for 10 days of performances. I was puzzled how they could mix those two words, “The Cross and the Switchblade.” I read the whole book on the way to Mexico City and was shaken by it. It described a minister named David Wilkerson experiencing miracles and supernatural things today – and I had been taught in my church background that were no longer possible. When I got back to L.A., I called David Wilkerson, who I hadn’t met, and convinced him that some Christians and I could make a worthy film of his story and help a lot of other young people which was his sole purpose in ministry. (I didn’t realize I was talking to someone who grew up thinking that going to the movies was a sin in itself). But I knew that as our society was getting more coarse and violent that this true story that could be substantiated in our day could make a difference and perhaps head a lot of other young people out of gangs and into more meaningful lives. It wasn’t meant to be an “overt Christian film,” but you couldn’t tell the story without demonstrating the changes in the lives of people who met Jesus and gave their lives to him. Of course, Erik Estrada played Nicky Cruz while I played David Wilkerson himself, and Erik will tell you, that that experience, knowing that we were telling something that was true and real, changed his life as well as mine. And I will say that the success of that film, independently produced and distributed, convinced a lot of people in the movie business that Christian entertainment could be marketed – if it was well done and real.
image: https://www.wnd.com/files/2012/04/Hollywood32.jpg
WND: What was the most important takeaway you had from being involved with “The Cross and the Switchblade?”
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oT1ObYRcMaoo7Du07S0H7PfmiZDqYA5FGXgLF4eY8ffXcdt/7XMzy/tpvpHXne/1en8eo3LOaEk1rIBAYii23YGuNxIm2Y4AUeJy1t4cRFp3Pl1Qt4YOUmVv5gAzf9y++5764NvP26U7n27UtwteHLVIPcsr2oi/CtphS3dYoczeBQJesJTcHxSw7uzHssaQ54dF+Nw0K2CiJKd2RJNJ0UJd8EQZC2mjFgE+zuzWlnZfPHTc8RajmH27kJdYqYUdomjtBapdH+AdBII1ALnmHdmoMcPFDnXe89lWv/dAmzTyym9l/isGEyKZ1slEAEvm84cVGJ996wgte+YSEr79zAj+7ayJrV+7hWFiPoSFNCAVsHreOrQqypkYkexYdtpFYmVsn4U0XfNR7dwOWWcsyje0OaPG90fVRIhhN0XiP/Uxszhx/gnv8DduMq/GXnT6mOY3bE2sexW54dnawSUhAk0bAvZDBW4yox7/vzZbztnSfRMaeEb0ATi3M6JUFlFzskAd8I8+Y18WcfehFv/tPFZDMertrgTw7tCBIgSZltDzBogwwZW4aCNVMrivLkwZB7tpZ5cEeF3ZWYJi81jofXJQ0dvOHTmxtYu9MlRXJNuD1biR++G++kM9ME4uMpNiF66A704C4kO8p2AIVGQGPYdwniEsRYRKB5Wobmjmz6Lq6R6zzlk3PKYwQCnfPyjRlCUetQp8PS8xxgEBV8T4SiL0gjinokplZV0WPIBBtLBGFhKcP6npDVXSHtGTM6cyrgrNKckUFPTMMaxFHKc0C6tOQKRA9+D2/OYjJXvWdkx0ylJDHh/V8j/vW9aQa7GSOLK8ggucb2AI3A1REfyuWY59bsI4kdZhTXUjk8KnC0gTneMs4pfiCcvLSV5vYMLm7YSxqBaUIlmxqkHTmfQASHcGxm5uSlNWt498mt/HhbFR2rCRRA6MwN7XXR/i40iZFMrnGPIpkcWq9Q+86nUOORvfJdUw+QJCb8n29Sv/2zKQWdLYxhLSrkmpDmBlPramjSjwmgWo749I1/YOfOKtmGge9IPbmBQWgabaFCwzZI+ygwQ16lkmbz2wYyRGTQRR0YyoaUQxpwqOqhZfasAjd/9TxaZuegHjey2uKUoDMNcMwq+JR8Q5yA7x0hEOYAd3xS2VTh0T01BBmzDiVdAheUfPzGW7p92xrZWMOIEVUkX0SrZerf+hioJXvVdY2RPUXAeODrhN/5NABSKKXG2BhiWqYjLdNS1WwPanvRJKFzdomFi5o5cCAkyBjChp3RHnh0Zj1mZAPaMoaMgbqD7siyp56wL7SDebiQRsJLvqEj4zMr59GW8cl5kLg0aXtPmLC37uiNLRbImTSmdcKJTcyem4dqjGpjC5oLwZsOAzPHjLzH7ILPut6IvHeEBpzitDsFdpRj1nZHrO4K+cbaXvLe2CnMsVNaAsOiliBd/hTcjg2jG4LOIYUGQL75cUDIvua9U6C0I7z/69Rv/UTKgBaaxwaGcwiCzJyP+I1lLzmIJF04q3gthrPPaed/H9tPOXHMygec3Z7j4mk5lpaytGd8st5Q09edsj+0rOkL+fX+Gk/01rEKZ7bmeOn0HMtKWWbkfHKe4KWprcSqdEWW5/sjfnuwzv92VdlZTfBEeNHyVrJtPq4rSmchVdAQ8echJp+CY06Tz9LmLKv3RxAcIfdyIMNsiiRNOoavPNPDfVurtGSEnGdGZWlFoBLC6R1ZZhYaVH2SYLeuTdf7sTqnUEKr/dRv/RSIIfvq645J5/C+r1L/zqdBvKPOGDiLBgH+guVD38XbwXYDGaiFXHTRNG6/LcMi3+Mt81s4qy1LxhOsU0KnVJKhtvBEmJf3md/kc0lHgd8crJJY5SUdTRQDgzql3thVOCBGhI6Mx6yOAhdOy/NkT4Hvbe1lTT3hgounpfEfmzQGmEsRlV0CkkvB0Zb1OLczx90bK1g7civjCFGm3Fs5sTngnUtb+M2uME0w0gHYHAIOoBY7Lp6Zo70xnOzO53G7NqUeyZiAtukMUqtQv/WTkERkr/7zSelaX3kz4W2fAQRpOgowANRhWjrxl1/Y+H+I1p8DWwMvhytHzF+U429fM5dT1oV0tgbUrNLbILwObQWrStTIuc0a4RUzUiM3dEpvZEct41SJ08IEIpzdnmeB7/H0/IBTlhfR3qgxYwi4MvgzMNlFwDDm9JzOHCcUPSqRTd3aUS4arqU/BUnHw6WWNJ4/Rr2iSpgoxUC4bG5hMJYTP/kLtNx9dL/PudRbUKjf/lnC+746YR3De75M+N3PgpjxAQNFncMsWD6YLKT1jWhlVWpTOZumHcYJl1zdSVuLT2/dEjsdsQt2uMiwK3RKX+zoix11O3aZ4eUSVXpDS6nJ59KrOwk8h4vixo44C0k/UjgDgrkjwbFieo7L5hSoJ4pzgo5yocLBqmV/dXKs3XDZUU7Y0hfz020Vbn6qO7UpdfR6BaG75rh4Zp4V03KDz/BmLUyXlPGYQuqQXB6cpgC550vj1rV+9y3Ub//XFBj54jiAQbpe+gHBpW8c9l0vJF0MkmA4XD1BZ3vY84oQTizBarR/H7VQ3WHPKKALAmwlBmkkTrtaeoxD08VgUmZ5EBx5X3jdwiIz8z6VKCW7Ds0jyYiwtS/hX5/opm6Pzfg4WLf81S/3c93P97KuO07ZuFHqFIV6kk6jb1taoiM/ZDAHL74U/9Tz083N40mlU0WyeSROCL/379RX3nLUIvW7bia88/OIupSOH9fuOUWTCH/pWQRnXDbUN4XToHAGaiuoWlQd6lKKPLi4iHdKDq24I+wmOgYR0JpiFmbJXF7CRglqGzqookk30nQWUnjxYJERalw2r8Ar5xcIE4d1h28XMKJ4Anc8389V9+7kHx45wB3r+nlyf0hPODGwLG3LMK/k0V23aUblGFsUBKWnlvCKeXleNq9pJAayeTLXXJ/mhlo7zpoVsrl0S8P3Pkf9rpvHvDP84U2E3/9CGlDL5MbvrSmIH5B97fuHvBQAU8K0vg68dkj6G2l6FpIEyTqyr23GzPHR8hQbdgPA6PDJXdOMFBSipDFjOLD9IE1I66vBbx0sNoIZynjC+5a38tieOlv6YoqjBNgGSJTV+0Oe2h/ii1AIYFrOZ27R54TmgBObA+aXfOaWfGYWAqblTLpfZdgLZz2hEjsCjzHTEg3QHzlmNnm870WtTM8f7mYHy84jvvzNxD/+Vnpexng7MJNHohrhDz6PCGRf/5cjfq7f9UXCH/4Hgmuwr+Of8rVWIXjZn+Cffsnh/VS8ENPyctyBO0C9QXtJQ5A2Q+bNJeIflrHbEyQ/Dkp0XPooptMnc20RmSFoPR7+KyRlZPpbkObLR+p66F5ZBb69poe/++0BrIPcEUixgWAZmlrSTsGhKIJv0qWgGAitWZ+OvMeMgse8ks+cos/je+r8eEuF2OmoBq7QOOwlUf7+7HY+fPa0MUHk9u+k+pl3Yjc9jRTbxjn1AyJoWAeU3Jv+huy1fwUo9e/fRLjy5rRf/InEZgStVzDzl1L82O1I64zR2y3aid3yIaiuAm/YcRONPF/tdkQ/qZKsiRGPw6PT40IEadZfongnB2Rf1YRMMxCNnJXU9iL5F+Gd+C9Iw0sZExwDcsPD+/jWM73kPMNkj+8aAI/VdBO1dQzuqveMkPdSOnc0BaxCX+h445IiN102g5aj5I8kzzxC7V/eg1b7oFCaGEDqdTBC7q0fARsTfv8m1CYNSn4CxF9UR/JF8h/55lHTFLX/Mey2j0C4G7wmRpzSE6QMVvJERPybCNfr0uz24e7KoXg5dP+SU0yzEJyXJTg3g/qSht+HF7RlCKZh5v8TpvmSw5tmLHBUE8dfPrSPu9eXyXlpjudU8KPD4wFj/Z64dKvDpfPy3Hx5J/Obg3E9O/rV3dS//GE0rKY74MatsDQiokmDo/eHssvGKVqrIPkCuff9K5mXXDOuMq77Pty2T0LSC96w3JPGRjTJCdqtxKsS7NoE10U68nXYfcMbVYAATJtglngEp/uYDoPWNSUvhwPKVsErYeb+A2b6taO3ypGOYCjHjg8+tJ+71veTESEbyHHduD6wMaqaOF4+v4kvXNrB/JbxAWNAoofvova1v0f7uzFNLWknj9uQHLb3ZVwKCziHVvqg1Eb+vf9E5iXXjq/sQJUH7yPZ/imI94JpatggAzEikIxARtCqojsddqdDD4BWND3ViUb+UJPgtQtmriCzBdNk0FjREctIw4W2Fci0Y+Z8BK/jzWO/3tFO9qnGjo//9gC3remnGivNWTPlx14MxMz6I4cnyjVLSnzqounMKk4ukho9/mPCb30St/15KBTT5WGqUS2CRnW02o8372Ry7/74pLdCuJ6fo9v+Ga2tS4978hrL2TCdxSfNRzaSbrNNFE3S2/BBgkZijtPBM+OGCjc+XAiuArmTMPM+gmm/6sivON4zwb6xuodbnuhlbVdE3hOKGTOQXzP59m181GJHNVZOaA64bkUz15/RSm6cB7aMJXbj04Tf/3fi3z0ISZSeI+r5xwiSxrpvY7TcB0GG4OyXk33Lh/CGx08mIVp9BrfjC2jXT9NtC35LiggdMCQYzGnCMJSo0QiJoI2lY4RZIY2Rl0DSByaDtF2OzPkApnjm0d92IqcJ/mFvyDee6uVH68vsKVsKGUMpM3Rw3NFSUAfAIKScfzVWypGjLedxxcIm3rOimZfMm8K8z3qZ8KE7iX5+O27T6pQ3KZSGEoPg6GAZvsTEIVrtBwFv0QqCl72VzOVvRnJFpkRsGd3/feye70D/E+l3fjOYYVn+E9HXRSmfgkNKKzAz3goz/gQZxmUc8VETPYc0dvDQ5gr3rC/ziy1VtvXGWIW8b8j6aRKKMYcb01ZTnqpuHbXEgQqzSh4Xzyvw+pNLvOzEAqXs8UlcttufJ3nsf4gf+wl28zNotYz4AWRzKUllDs3La0zpNj2CQaM6amNMrohZuJzgvCsJzr0SM/ek46KvVp9HD96PHrgPLa9KA2ImSE8l9gKGNmKPKAXYFBC2lhInpgjF5Zhpr0amvwYpLJuQHpM6pBagEjuePRDx+K4aj+6os2Z/xK7+hEqsRPZQ01jxPaHgGTqLhlOmZzl/To5zZuc4bUaWttwLk3/mdm3CblpNsuZR3IansHs2Q7kPjeuoG6mzGJNGe4utmJkLMCedTnDq+XgLlx+26/54idY2QXk1rvfXaN/vob4J4u7UdsAy0vcz6Qzjt0J+IaZ0JtJ6ERRXIPnJgXjS4BguB2uW/VXL3krCzr6EfRVLf+SIHPgGihnD9LyXMqZFn+kFj86mP1ZCImhYRXv2p+ee79+Jdu3BlXsH97tIJocUW5FpMzEdc5HmaUhrxwu21eEwcTU03AvxATTcAeEuNO4CTQk8JI8EbZCdjWTnQNCBZDrBO7bzz6cEHIfKAOk1kNTsi0yaSHtBRDVNeHGpRSfpUTuTPxfj+CuccjIMxJO8xgEyU6vv/wcuA2vi6uy+swAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==
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Pat Boone: I had some misgivings about playing a minister and telling the true story of Christian confrontation with gang violence and immorality seeping into other areas of American life – I thought it might end my movie career. To my amazement and delight, though, the film was successful, I know that countless lives were changed, the movie was translated into 15 foreign languages, including Farsi, because my portrayal of David Wilkerson in that movie was considered by the Iranians “an anti-drug film.” And though they weren’t averse to producing drugs to export them to other countries, they didn’t want their own children to be drug addicts. And that film, complete with its Christian message, played all other the Middle East, with large Arab attendance.
WND: So you went on to make other kinds of films, including family films and musicals, right?
Pat Boone: Yes – but I also experienced the most exciting moment of my whole career, and perhaps of my life. George Stevens, when he was casting “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” chose me, out of all of Hollywood, to play “the angel at the tomb,” when Mary came to the tomb to tend to the dead body of Jesus, she thought she heard the angel pronounce the most important words ever spoken, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not dead; he is risen just as he said!” I’m telling you – nothing I have done or ever will do in this life tops the honor I felt at being able to pronounce those words in that film, voicing that proclamation. I’ll never get over it.
WND: Now you were more recently involved in “God’s Not Dead 2,” which is now being released as a box set with all three in the series. How did your experience compare between one of the first Christian movies (“The Cross and the Switchblade”) and one of the most well-known Christian movies (“God’s Not Dead 2”)?
Pat Boone: Well in one of them I was the star and in the other I wasn’t. Seriously though, both movies were about a character who was persecuted for what he believed in and the impact of a film like that in a culture whose trademark is passivity. “God’s Not Dead” showcased young and old people who were willing to stand up for what they believed in no matter the cost. In popular culture, we are surrounded by people who are passive about what they believe or don’t believe anything. I believe that movies like “God’s Not Dead” will inspire people of this generation, especially the young who are looking for something to believe in and commit to, to not focus on worldly things but keep heaven as their eternal perspective. I’m so proud of David AR White and what the others accomplished and I was glad to be a part of the series. Here’s hoping and praying for more films like it – we need them!