[Video] Sam Rockwell Fakes Sciatica to Fool Jimmy Fallon, Then Returns in Bejeweled Sunglasses With Rubber-Chicken Nunchucks and Dances Into a Split
Oscar-winning actor Sam Rockwell limped to the guest chair when he appeared on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on the night of November 2, saying he had a little sciatica thing going on and briefly worrying host Jimmy Fallon. After Fallon reintroduced him, Rockwell returned wearing bejeweled sunglasses and wielding rubber-chicken nunchucks, dancing his way in and dropping into a split. The show's official clip spread on Instagram and other social platforms the next day, and NBC called the moment a viral Tonight Show moment.
Rockwell has made a tradition of dancing onto the Tonight Show set since 2009. According to NBC, Fallon reminded him that he always does a dance when he comes out. Rockwell first said he did not think anybody wanted to see that. Over the audience's cheers, Fallon insisted on a do-over: "You come in! Sam Rockwell in the house! You want me to reintroduce? Let me reintroduce you."
On the second entrance, to The Roots' intro music, Rockwell reappeared in bejeweled sunglasses with a pair of rubber-chicken nunchucks, and all signs of the alleged sciatica disappeared. According to Parade, he launched into a lively routine, dropped down into the splits and popped back up, before limping back to his chair. Fallon cheered, "That's what I'm talking about!" Rockwell then fanned himself and joked, "I'm a little shaky."
After the clip was shared to Instagram on November 3, fans praised the moves. Comments quoted by Parade included "Its giving James Brown and I am here for it," "He's 57 and still smash it with the dancing," and "Who knew he could do a split." The Tonight Show's official YouTube channel also posted the full segment under a title calling it another iconic entrance.
Rockwell was on the show to promote his new film Wild Horse Nine. According to Parade, the film is set to hit theaters on Friday. Set shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup, it follows two CIA agents, played by Rockwell and John Malkovich, who are sent from Santiago to Easter Island by their bureau chief, played by Steve Buscemi. Rockwell won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the 2017 film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
Source: NBC
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Sam Rockwell本人2026年2月柏林电影节资料图（Harald Krichel摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经Wikimedia Commons；非本次节目现场图）
