Police in Normal, Illinois say actor and playwright Sam Shepard has been arrested Saturday at about 2 a.m., on preliminary charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding 15-20 mph above the limit and improper lane usage. "The way he pulled up upon the curb, it appeared he was driving under the influence," Lt. Mark Kotte said. His blood-alcohol level was reportedly twice the 0.085 legal limit for driving.
Shepard told police he had been at a bar, Fat Jack's, in Bloomington, Illinois, and was on his way to a Best Western hotel in Normal when he was pulled over. The owner of the bar, Tyler Holloway, said that Shepard has stopped there several times while driving between his home in Kentucky and Minnesota and Montana.
Shepard was released from the McLean County Jail Saturday after posting a $300 bail. His court date is not known.
Shepard, an accomplished playwright who won the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for drama for his play "Buried Child," has also received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of test pilot Chuck Yeager in the film "The Right Stuff." Moreover, he acted in dozens of films, including "Black Hawk Down" or "The Notebook." His plays include "True West" and "A Lie of the Mind."
His long-time partner is actress Jessica Lange, with whom he has two children.
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