Cigar Aficionado

Michael Cudlitz doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously—not as an actor, or as a cigar smoker. But he’s passionate about both. That, he doesn’t deny. And his passion was conveyed at the Big Smoke Las Vegas weekend seminars, where he made an appearance to talk about his roles in Hollywood and his love of cigars. 

The Garcia family of My Father Cigars had just stepped off the stage to a standing ovation. They talked about the Cigar of the Year, which everyone had the opportunity to smoke, and delivered heartfelt thanks to all their fans in the room. Shortly after, executive editor and Big Smoke emcee David Savona stepped up to the podium and introduced the 60-year-old actor, inviting him to come up into the spotlight while rock music played on the speakers. As the electric guitars got louder, so did Savona, until finally, Cudlitz materialized from the noise and appeared in the lights. 

If you’re familiar with the actor’s work, it’s probably from the HBO World War II miniseries “Band of Brothers” or AMC’s zombie apocalypse horror television show “The Walking Dead.” Or both. The series have since concluded but they continue to resonate with new fans looking for good content or older fans who want to retread the familiar. Cudlitz’s role as the cigar-chomping Staff Sergeant Denver “Bull” Randleman of Easy Company’s airborne division was based on a true story and a real person. Research meant that he had to talk to those who knew him, but he was always careful to be respectful of Bull’s memory.

“They told me one of the things you had to remember about Bull is that he always had a cigar in his mouth. I thought, ‘nobody always ever has a cigar in his mouth.’ No, no. He always had a cigar in his mouth. That was my first thing to anchor onto Bull.”

The 10-episode miniseries focused on Easy Company’s involvement in the Second World War from the Normandy landings on D-Day to the occupation of Berchtesgaden in Germany. One particularly impactful moment during the “Band of Brothers” era came when Cudlitz and the movie crew went to France to go to Normandy during the premiere of the show.

“What was it like being on sacred ground?” asked Savona. 

Cudlitz paused for a moment. Then said: “The whole premier was surreal. They flew us to Paris and we took a train to Normandy. When it pulled in, the current residents were all waiting at the station waving American flags as if the men were coming home. This was not for the cast. We had vets on the train with us. Not just Easy Company—vets who wanted to travel. This was for them. Words can’t describe that train pulling in. It was as if it was Liberation Day. These people know that they would be speaking German today had these Americans not fought for their freedom. Something I’ll never forget.”

Though a show about the zombie apocalypse might seem frivolous by comparison, Cudlitz approached his role on “The Walking Dead” just as intensely. When it reached its peak during his time on the program, it had a peak, live audience of 17 million people. He eventually agreed that his character, Abraham Ford, should smoke a cigar, but he was hesitant at first. 

“Was that your idea?” Savona asked of the cigar. 

“That was them,” conceded Cudlitz, referring to the production crew. “I was sort of hesitant. They wanted it to be an homage to “Band of Brothers,” but we were all very protective of those men and their legacy. I had to think about it. Does it cheapen him, pulling him into a zombie apocalypse? I decided it was an homage and that Bull would think it was hilarious.”

Cudlitz shared many stories revolving around cigars: how his cigar taste was refined by a retailer in London; how he saved an absurdly expensive cigar gifted to him by his wife for a special occasion; and how he came to appreciate the value of a solitary, contemplative cigar as much as the social aspect. This deep appreciation brought him to the cigar business. Cudlitz is co-owner of the Red Phone Booth cigar lounge in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as other locations throughout the country—Nashville, Dallas and franchise lounges in Brickell, Florida, with another location opening in Tampa. 

Despite being a lounge owner and cigar lover, Cudlitz considers himself more a student than expert.

“I’m always learning,” he said. “People come up to me and say ‘you’re an expert on cigars.’ And I’m not. I know what I like. I love what I like and I’m learning constantly. I’m learning things that I never knew at these events. So, thank you for having me.” 

As soon as Cudlitz stepped off the stage, fans began to approach, wanting to have a word and take a photo. The fan-friendly actor obliged. Meanwhile, servers started to pour rum in the glasses at every place setting. The spirits seminar was about to begin and it was time to start drinking. 

The Big Smoke will return to Las Vegas next fall, November 6 and 7, 2026. Save the date.

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