John Hinckley Jr., who 45 years ago attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in a bid to impress actress Jodie Foster, has shared his current sentiments toward the actress. In a preview clip for an upcoming interview on “The Mark Joseph Show,” Hinckley Jr., now 71, stated, “I just wish Jodie Foster well, you know.”
He added that while he no longer watches her films, he wishes her well and hopes she “has a good life.” Foster’s representative has been contacted for comment.
The assassination attempt occurred on March 30, 1981, as Reagan was leaving the Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C. Hinckley Jr. had developed an obsession with Foster after watching her in the film “Taxi Driver” and believed his actions would lead to a union with her.
Reagan sustained serious injuries, including a punctured lung and a broken rib, from a bullet that narrowly missed his heart. Three other individuals were injured in the attack, most notably White House Press Secretary James Brady, who suffered permanent paralysis and died in 2014.
Hinckley Jr. was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1982 and spent over three decades committed to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital before his release in 2022.
During the interview with Mark Joseph, director of the film “Reagan,” Hinckley Jr. elaborated on his motivations at the time. "I wanted to have a union with Jodie Foster and live the rest of my life with her and all these things that, of course, were delusional," he explained. He admitted to believing these thoughts at the time, stating, "the best outcome would have been a union with Jodie Foster."
Hinckley Jr. also reflected on his expectation of imprisonment following the event. "I thought she would, you know, after things settled down, join me wherever I was," he shared, recalling his belief that Foster might join him whether he was in jail or a hospital.
In 2024, Foster, now 63, spoke to People magazine about the profound impact the assassination attempt had on her life. She described a chaotic scene with Secret Service agents and being taken to a safe house. Foster also recounted an incident shortly after the shooting where a man brought a gun to a play she was performing in, calling it a "traumatic moment" that may have influenced her decision to avoid theater work thereafter.