AceShowbiz - Josh Brolin, known for his roles in movies like "The Goonies" and "Dune," recently took a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about his unique and often unpredictable childhood. During a recent episode of Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson's SiriusXM podcast "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," Brolin recounted his experiences growing up on his family's ranch in Paso Robles, California, which was far from ordinary.

Brolin's late mother was described as being "absolutely f***ing nuts" and "animal-obsessed." She worked for the California Department of Fish and Game and ran a way station for animals that had been illegally taken from the wild. These animals included big cats, wolves, and bears, among others.

According to Brolin, his mother was a formidable figure, with a deep and severe voice that belied her five-foot-two stature. He recounted one particularly memorable story involving a lion that wasn't eating normally. The lion had a full mane and was staying temporarily with the Brolins as part of the animal rehabilitation program.

In an attempt to get the lion to eat, Brolin's mother instructed a man named Bud Applehand, who worked on the family ranch, to "show him how to eat." Despite his initial hesitation and lack of knowledge, Bud followed her unusual advice.

"Bud goes, 'You just want me to get in the thing and just sit down?' I mean, he didn't know any better, poor guy. And so he goes in there, and she goes, 'Well, sit next to him,' " Brolin recalled.

The situation grew tense as the lion opened its mouth and slowly closed it around Bud's thigh. Brolin vividly described the scene, "You hear the rip of the jeans and Bud's going, 'His teeth are going into my leg. His teeth are going into my leg!' "

Compounding the chaos, Brolin's mother had a nervous condition that caused her to laugh hysterically when scared. "So, you hear, 'The teeth are going into my leg, the teeth are going into my leg,' and she's trying to talk, but she can't because there's just wheezing with this laugh," said Brolin.

Eventually, the lion released Bud, who quickly yelled, "Get me the f*** outta here." Despite the dangers, Brolin and his siblings were deeply involved in caring for the animals from a young age. "I had to clean animal cages at age 8 and fed a wolf," he shared.

Brolin's childhood experiences were undeniably unique and shaped the man he is today. Reflecting on his unconventional upbringing, he quipped, "It was a different deal, man. Then you go out into life, and you become an actor. It's all good."