The profession of a Hollywood actor can take plenty of twists and turns. Sometimes you are up, and typically you are down, however one factor is for certain: you must begin someplace. Oftentimes, this implies taking roles that may not have plenty of meat on the bone, however will a minimum of get you in entrance of a digicam for all to see, hopefully main to greater and higher issues.
In the Eighties, horror was all the trend, so it is no shock that lots of at this time’s greatest stars minimize their enamel within the style. Even for established actors, it was a strategy to keep related, as audiences flocked to the theater weekend after weekend to be scared foolish. With that being stated, we current to you 12 Hollywood superstars that appeared in some nice, and a few not-so-great, horror motion pictures.
George Clooney - Return to Horror High (1987)
Before his breakout movie position in Quentin Tarantino’s From Dusk ‘Till Dawn, George Clooney was recognized largely for his position within the tv sequence ER, the place he performed Dr. Doug Ross. Earlier than that, although, he appeared within the 1987 slasher film, Return to Horror High, by which he portrayed Oliver, an up-and-coming actor.
Unceremoniously dispatched by the movies’ antagonist, Clooney was solely on-screen for about 10 minutes, however it was sufficient to land him one other horror movie position within the 1988 cheese-fest, Return of the Killer Tomatoes. The child from Kentucky would do okay for himself after that, happening to be one in every of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors, in addition to an acclaimed director.
Tom Hanks - He Knows You’re Alone (1980)
Long earlier than Tom Hanks ever grew to become Hollywood royalty, he had his characteristic movie debut in He Knows You’re Alone, a slasher flick a few lady who’s stalked by a maniacal killer the weekend earlier than her marriage ceremony. Though he is solely within the film for 2 scenes, his efficiency was so good that director Armand Mastroianni determined to not movie his on-screen dying, although his character of Elliot was initially written to be sliced and diced.
The film earned simply $4.9 million on the field workplace in opposition to a finances of $250,000, however that is okay. Tom Hanks’ motion pictures have since gone on to earn practically $10 billion {dollars} worldwide, making him one of many highest grossing actors in North America.
Jennifer Connelly - Phenomena (1985)
She might have stolen our hearts within the 1986 movie Labyrinth, however only a yr prior, Jennifer Connelly would star within the horror film Phenomena, directed by Italian maestro Dario Argento. Originally launched in Italy, Phenomena was dropped at the United States by New Line Cinema, who renamed the film Creepers, and minimize 20 minutes from it. Panned by critics, it is a few woman who discovers that her psychic powers permit her to speak with bugs.
Though not one in every of Argento’s greatest movies, Connelly’s efficiency at such a younger age was fairly respectable, and the movie does characteristic Donald Pleasence with a chimpanzee, so it is not all dangerous. Connelly has since moved on to grow to be an incredible pressure, incomes an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her position in A Beautiful Mind. More just lately, she appeared in Top Gun: Maverick, and is ready to star within the Apple TV+ unique science fiction sequence, Dark Matter.
Kevin Bacon - Friday the thirteenth (1980)
Named as among the best actors to by no means obtain an Academy Award nomination by the Guardian, Kevin Bacon‘s appearing profession spans 45 years. Before he grew to become a family identify after starring in Footloose, although, he appeared within the 1980 slasher Friday the thirteenth as Jack Burrell, a camp counselor who early on, will get an arrow by the neck whereas smoking a joint. It’s probably the most memorable deaths within the franchise, and although he might not maintain the movie in excessive regard, followers actually do.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Bacon revealed that photos of his dying scene in Friday the thirteenth are the primary merchandise he is at all times requested to signal.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Troll (1986)
In her first look on movie ever, Julia Louis-Dreyfus portrayed Jeanette Cooper, a struggling actress/waitress within the 1986 horror comedy, Troll. Not pivotal to the plot, her character finally will get became a wooden nymph and prances round practically bare. Dreyfus would by no means seem in one other horror movie, and we do not blame her.
She’s since gone on to have a profitable profession in Hollywood, showing in hit tv reveals like Seinfeld, and the HBO sequence Veep, the place she gained six consecutive Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Vice President Selina Meyer. She’s additionally made a cameo within the MCU, enjoying Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Johnny Depp - A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Featuring Johnny Depp‘s first position ever, A Nightmare on Elm Street noticed the beginnings of a horror franchise liked the world over. Depp, a digital unknown on the time, was forged after director Wes Craven’s daughter picked him out of a set of headshots as a result of his attractiveness. He later auditioned along with her for the position, and the remaining is historical past.
Though he hasn’t typically spoken publicly about his portrayal of Glen Lantz over time, Depp did pay tribute to the late Wes Craven on the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival when requested by a fan about his casting. As everyone knows, Johnny Depp would go on to grow to be a Hollywood celebrity, just lately starring as Louis XV within the movie Jeanne du Barry.
Demi Moore - Parasite (1982)
Calling Parasite the worst film she’s ever been in, the movie did characteristic Demi Moore in her first main movie position as feisty Patricia Welles. Just getting her ft moist within the enterprise, there’s little to notice right here, as the general appearing within the movie was sub-par, however a minimum of Moore’s character did survive. She would go on to be featured within the cleaning soap opera General Hospital, earlier than turning into one in every of Hollywood’s Brat Pack for her roles in such movies as St. Elmo’s Fire, About Last Night…, and Blame It on Rio.
Her large break got here when she was forged within the 1990 movie Ghost, which was the highest-grossing movie of the yr. Recently, she appeared in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, and is ready to star within the upcoming physique horror movie, The Substance.
Jason Alexander - The Burning (1981)
Marked because the characteristic movie debut of not solely Jason Alexander, however Holly Hunter and Fisher Stevens as nicely, The Burning was an early slasher film within the horror style that has since gone on to grow to be a cult favourite. Just 20-years-old on the time, Alexander performed camp counselor Dave, offering a lot of the movie’s comedian aid earlier than all hell breaks free.
Though he would not keep in mind a lot from that point, the actor does credit score Tom Savini as a genius for his particular results on the movie. Jason Alexander would later painting George Costanza within the hit sequence Seinfeld, and has completed a ton of voice work throughout his lengthy profession.
Ed Harris - Creepshow (1982)
Before having all the suitable stuff for his portrayal as astronaut John Glenn in 1983, Ed Harris appeared in Creepshow as Hank Blaine within the section titled Father’s Day. While he would in the end be crushed by a headstone, Harris is greatest remembered within the position for his outrageous dance strikes which can be nonetheless GIF materials to at the present time.
Since then, Harris has grow to be an excellent character actor, just lately showing as Rear Admiral Chester “Hammer” Cain in Top Gun: Maverick, The Man in Black within the HBO hit sequence, Westworld, and Atticus Finch on Broadway in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Brad Pitt - Cutting Class (1989)
In his first main movie position, Brad Pitt starred within the direct-to-video slasher movie, Cutting Class, in 1989, portraying Dwight Ingalls. While the ending of the film leaves his destiny to be interpreted, Pitt did have a considerable position within the movie, paving the best way for casting administrators to see his skills. This would result in him being forged within the 1991 film, Thelma and Louise, the place he gained widespread recognition.
While Cutting Class was just about a dud, even by ’80s slasher requirements, Brad Pitt would do exactly fantastic, happening to grow to be probably the most profitable actors in Hollywood and successful an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his position as Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Jack Nicholson - The Shining (1980)
Having already established a profitable profession up thus far, it is no shock that director Stanley Kubrick’s first alternative for the position of Jack Torrance in The Shining was none aside from Hollywood mainstay Jack Nicholson. Though not nicely obtained on the time, there was no denying Nicholson’s tour de pressure portrayal of an unhinged husband and father falling deeper and deeper into the depths of madness.
With an Oscar win already beneath his belt for his position in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, it is sort of shocking that he wasn’t nominated for The Shining, as Nicholson gave what’s arguably the perfect efficiency in a horror film, maybe ever. Though he has since retired from the enterprise, Nicholson nonetheless holds the document for probably the most nominated male actor within the historical past of the Academy Awards, with a complete of 12 nominations for his numerous roles by the years.
Jamie Lee Curtis - Prom Night (1980)
Making her movie debut within the 1978 hit slasher, Halloween, Jamie Lee Curtis would seem in a number of extra horror movies throughout the ’80s, with Prom Night being simply one in every of them. In 1980 alone she not solely appeared in Prom Night, but in addition The Fog, and Terror Train, solidifying her as one in every of Hollywood’s greatest scream queens. The daughter of Janet Leigh (Psycho) and Tony Curtis (The Defiant Ones), she was no stranger to the film enterprise on the time, having grown up ensconced within the tradition. She was even requested to audition for the position of Regan in The Exorcist, however her mom flatly refused.
Though she’s had a protracted and profitable profession, Curtis did not win her first Oscar till 2023, when she took dwelling the award for Best Supporting Actress for her position in Everything Everywhere All at Once. She is now set to look in Disney’s The Haunted Mansion, and the sci-fi motion comedy movie Borderlands, primarily based off of the favored online game sequence.
