Good actor. I always confused him with Harry Dean Stanton and tried to remember which one was still alive. That’s not a problem anymore. RIP, Al.
There is a backstory to his role as Ben in Blue Velvet. Lynch told him to go nuts. He gave him nothing about the character. Zero. Just the script.
The costume, makeup, everything was Stockwell. Lynch hired him knowing whatever he came up with was going to work.
Arguably, without Ben in the movie, it fails.
Here’s the link.
https://www.sheilaomalley.com/?p=6857
Amazing how talented some people can be.