Warning: This article contains potential spoilers for A Complete Unknown.Woody Guthrie was a prominent American folk singer-songwriter and a big inspiration for Bob Dylan throughout his journey to become a star inA Complete Unknown. Directed by James Mangold, the movie explores the music career of Bob Dylan, who travels to New York City in 1961, with dreams of becoming a popular musician. Starring Timothée Chalamet as Dylan, the movie shows the highs and lows of the early stages of his career before eventually becoming known worldwide as a legendary music performer.A Complete Unknown’scastalso includes Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, and Boyd Holbrook.
A Complete Unknownis regarded by many critics as a compelling biopic, with Chalamet as Dylan consideredone of the best performances of 2024. The movie also received praise for its soundtrack, screenplay, and depiction of Dylan’s early career in the 1960s; it has already won several awards and has been nominated for three Critics' Choice Awards and three Golden Globes.Many real people depicted inA Complete Unknownhave a strong connection to Dylan’s eventual success, including the folk singer Woody Guthrie, who was Dylan’s musical idol.
Woody Guthrie Remained Hospitalized Due To Huntington’s Disease
Scoot McNairy Portrayed Woody Guthrie In A Complete Unknown
Woody Guthrie began his career working at the KFVD radio station in California during the 1930s before he rose to international fame in the 1940s as a singer-songwriter, whose songs reflected the lives of working-class people. Guthrie composed and performed many songs that protested against racial and political injustice in America, including “Tear the Fascists Down,” “Union Maid,” and “This Land Is Your Land.” Guthrie’s protest songs inspired many musicians, including Bob Dylan;A Complete Unknowndepicts Dylan traveling to New York to meet Guthrie.
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At the time of his first meeting with Dylan, Guthrie was in hospital after being diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease,an incurable, genetic condition that causes nerve cells in the brain to slowly deteriorate. The movie depicts Guthrie being cared for by Pete Seeger when Dylan visits him. During their meeting, Dylan performs “Song to Woody” for Guthrie and Seeger. Dylan’s performance impressed Guthrie and led to a friendship between Dylan and his idol. As depicted in the movie, Dylan frequently returned to visit Guthrie and perform songs for him.
Woody Guthrie Died In 1967
Guthrie Died From Complications of Huntington’s Disease At Aged 55
Guthrie’s condition continued to deteriorate throughout the 1960s; he eventually lost control of his muscles and speech and was transferred to different medical facilities, before settling at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in New York. According toPBS News, Guthrie inherited Huntington’s Disease from his mother, who died of the illness in 1930. His two eldest daughters from his first marriage, Gwendolyn and Sue, also inherited Huntington’s and died in 1976 and 1978 respectively, aged 41 (viaWoody Guthrie Center).Guthrie died from complications of Huntington’s Disease on June 19, 2025,aged 55.
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After Guthrie’s death, his second wife, Marjorie, retired from her career as a dancer and worked as an advocate for further research into Huntington’s Disease.In 1967, Marjorie Guthrie established the Committee to Combat Huntington’s Disease,later renamed the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. The committee provides support to those diagnosed and their families and has created many referrals and resources that assist in understanding the disease (viaHDSA). Meanwhile, Woody Guthrie’s songs and compositions remain popular in the music industry and, as seen inA Complete Unknown, played a large part in Bob Dylan’s rise to become an acclaimed performer.
A Complete Unknown
Cast
A Complete Unknown is a biographical movie that follows a young Bob Dylan as he integrates with New York and catches the eye of the folk singers in the area, eventually propelling him into stardom.
