You know him as Jim Hopper. The gruff, cigarette-smoking, dad-bod-sporting Chief of Police from Stranger Things who eventually became a dimension-hopping hero. But before David Harbour was fighting Demogorgons or suiting up as the Red Guardian in the MCU, he was just another working actor in New York trying to find a footing.
It’s easy to forget. Most people do.
In 2005, Ang Lee released a movie that didn't just win Oscars—it shifted the tectonic plates of pop culture. Brokeback Mountain was a juggernaut. It was the "gay cowboy movie" that everyone had an opinion on, whether they’d seen it or not. And right there, nestled in the Texas-set second half of the film, is a young, clean-shaven David Harbour.
He isn't on screen for long. But his character, Randall Malone, holds the key to one of the most heartbreaking and debated subplots in the entire story.
Who Exactly Was Randall Malone?
If you haven’t watched the film in a while, you might remember Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) getting increasingly desperate as the years pass. He’s trapped in a hollow marriage in Texas, yearning for a life with Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) that Ennis is too terrified to build.
Enter the Malones.
Randall and his wife LaShawn (played by a pre-superstardom Anna Faris) meet Jack and Lureen (Anne Hathaway) at a benefit dance. It starts as a typical double date scenario. They’re "Texas socialites" in a sense—flashy, loud, and seemingly traditional.
But watch Harbour’s performance closely.
While the wives are chatting about hair and local gossip, Randall and Jack share a look. It’s subtle. It’s that "grass shooting through a sidewalk" feeling Harbour once described when talking about the role. In a world where being yourself was a death sentence, these men had a shorthand.
The "Fishing Trip" Proposition
There is a specific scene on a park bench that remains the focal point of David Harbour’s contribution to the film. Randall leans in and mentions a ranch he’s got access to.
"We oughta go down there some weekend. Drink a little whiskey, fish some, get away. You know?"
That "You know?" is doing a lot of heavy lifting.
In the context of the 1960s and 70s, "fishing trip" was the universal code for Jack and Ennis. For Randall to use it was a massive risk. It was an invitation to a secret world. In that moment, Harbour plays Randall with a mix of terrifying boldness and deep-seated loneliness.
Honestly, it’s a tiny masterclass in subtext. Most viewers in 2005 might have missed it, thinking it was just a guy being friendly. But by the time we get to the end of the movie, the weight of that interaction becomes crushing.
The Theory: Did Randall Lead to Jack’s Death?
This is where the Brokeback Mountain David Harbour connection gets dark.
Later in the film, Ennis receives a postcard returned with a "DECEASED" stamp. He calls Lureen, who tells him a sanitized story about a tire exploding and a rim hitting Jack in the face. But Ennis—and the audience—visualizes the truth: Jack being beaten to death by a group of men in a field.
For years, fans have speculated: Was Randall the "other rancher" Jack started seeing?
In Jack’s final blowout fight with Ennis, he screams that he has "a rancher neighbor" who's willing to help him out. Most assume this is Randall Malone. The tragedy lies in the ambiguity. Did Randall and Jack actually have an affair? Or was Randall a "honeytrap" who lured Jack into a situation that led to his murder?
There is no definitive answer. Ang Lee leaves it purposefully blurry. But the presence of David Harbour’s character proves that Jack was looking for connection anywhere he could find it because Ennis wouldn't give him what he needed.
Why David Harbour Almost Didn't Get the Part
Harbour has shared some pretty hilarious stories about the production. Apparently, Ang Lee wasn't immediately sold.
During the audition process, Lee reportedly told Harbour he wasn't "handsome" enough for the part. Imagine telling Jim Hopper he isn't handsome! Harbour took it in stride, though. He’s joked in interviews with Out Magazine and on talk shows that he was "the third gay cowboy in a two gay cowboy movie."
He eventually won Lee over by leaning into the "secret" of the character—the idea of a man whose nature was so repressed it was practically vibrating off his skin.
The 20-Year Legacy
It’s wild to think that Brokeback Mountain is hitting its 20th anniversary soon.
Looking back, the cast was an absolute powerhouse of "before they were famous" talent.
- David Harbour (Randall Malone)
- Anna Faris (LaShawn Malone)
- Linda Cardellini (Cassie Cartwright)
- Kate Mara (Alma Jr.)
At the time, Harbour was primarily a theater actor. He had a Tony nomination for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? but the film world hadn't quite figured out what to do with him yet. He spent the next decade playing "guy in a suit" or "corrupt cop" before Stranger Things finally let him be the leading man he was always meant to be.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re planning a rewatch to spot Harbour, don't blink. He appears around the midway point when the story shifts more heavily into Jack’s life in Texas.
Key Scenes to Watch:
- The Benefit Dance: Watch the eye contact between Harbour and Gyllenhaal while Anna Faris is talking.
- The Park Bench: This is the big one. Listen to the cadence of the "fishing trip" offer.
- The Final Confrontation: While Harbour isn't in the scene where Jack and Ennis fight, his "ghost" is there. When Jack mentions the "rancher," think back to Randall’s face on that bench.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If this dive into Harbour's early career has you curious, don't stop here.
- Watch the 2023 Stage Play: While David Harbour didn't star in it, a new West End adaptation featuring Lucas Hedges and Mike Faist recently made waves. It treats the "Randall" character and the theme of outside affairs with even more weight.
- Check out "Revolutionary Road": If you want to see Harbour in another mid-century period piece where he plays a neighbor with complex secrets, this 2008 film (starring Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) is his next best early performance.
- Read the Short Story: Annie Proulx’s original text is only about 30 pages. It's devastatingly sparse and gives even more context to why characters like Randall existed in that world.
David Harbour’s role in Brokeback Mountain might be small, but it’s a vital piece of the puzzle. It reminds us that for every Ennis and Jack, there were dozens of Randalls—men living parallel lives, forever looking for a "fishing trip" that would never actually happen.
Next time someone mentions Stranger Things, ask them if they remember the Texas cowboy who almost changed Jack Twist's life. It's the ultimate "did you know" for any film buff.