by Jess Christian

If you’ve never heard of “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” let me give you a quick run down.   I haven’t heard much talk about the game in a long time so I thought why not give the game a little mouth-to-mouth.  I know it’s sooo 10-years-ago but if you’ve ever played it’s hard to resist hearing an actors name without trying to make the connection to Bacon (at least when first trying to overcome the addiction).  If you don’t want to be Bacontized in the church of Kevin Bacon you might want to stop reading now. 

How Do You Play?

I wouldn’t call it easy but it’s a simple game to learn. “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” is a game where your goal is to connect Kevin Bacon and any other actor through film or television shows where they’ve appeared and doing this in no more than six steps.  The game is based on a theory that Kevin Bacon is the hub of the film and TV industry so as a result you should be able to connect any actor or actress to Kevin Bacon in 6 steps or less.

How Does Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark) Rate?

Robert Downey Jr. was in “Heart and Souls” (1993) with Kyra Sedgwick.  Kyra Sedgwick was in “Loverboy” (2005) with Kevin Bacon.  Robert Downey Jr. has a Bacon number of 2  (this is because you connected Downey and Bacon in 2 steps)

Other Cast Members?  (all have a Bacon score of 2)

Gwyneth Paltrow was in “Shakespeare in Love” with Colin Firth.  Colin Firth was in “Where the Truth Lies” with Kevin Bacon.  Gwyneth has a Bacon score of 2.

Jeff Bridges was in “Blown Away” with Michael J. Reynolds.  Michael J. Reynolds was in “Where the Truth Lies” with Kevin Bacon.  Jeff Bridges has a Bacon number of 2.

Samuel Jackson was in “Snakes on a Plane” with Rachel Blanchard.  Rachel Blanchard was in “Where the Truth Lies” with Kevin Bacon.  Jackson’s Bacon score is 2. 

Terrence Howard was in “Crash” with Sandra Bullock.  Sandra Bullock was in “Loverboy” with Kevin Bacon.  Howard’s Bacon score is 2. 

Shaun Toub was in “Crash” with Sandra Bullock.  Sandra Bullock was in “Loverboy” with Kevin Bacon.  Toub’s Bacon score is 2.

Stan Lee was in “Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer” with Laurence Fishburne.  Laurence Fishburne was in “Mystic River” with Kevin Bacon.  Lee’s Bacon score is 2.

Oh, and let’s not forget the director himself - Jon Favreau

Jon Favreau was in “Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle” with Campbell Scott.  Campbell Scott was in “Loverboy” with Kevin Bacon.  Favreau also has a score of 2. 

Did I say 6 steps?  Piece of cake.