The 411 Movies Top 5 10.30.09: Week 189 - Top 5 Most Important Horror Actors

Posted by Trevor Snyder on 10.30.2009

From Max Schreck all the way to Bruce Campbell, the 411 staff takes a look through the history of the horror genre, and which actors left the biggest mark.



Everyone probably has their favorite horror actors (my current faves are Angela Bettis and Bill Mosely, if you wondering), but for the final Halloween-themed Top 5, I thought it might be interesting to ask my fellow writers to join me in wondering which actors were the most important to the genre and its fans. So here is our take on:

THE TOP 5 MOST IMPORTANT HORROR ACTORS

TREVOR SNYDER

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney, Jr. & Boris Karloff - The three men who made the classic Universal Monster era what it was. There was no way I was doing this list without including them



THE TOP 5

5. Bruce Campbell: Some might criticize this pick, given that Campbell has been in far less horror movies than some other names on my list, and that he is known more his hammy acting style than for what you would consider "classical" acting ability. But you know what…I don't care. The fact is that today we don't really have the same sort of horror icons that were around back in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Oh sure, there are actors like Robert Englund and Jeffrey Combs who are worshipped by genre fans, but let's face it – Campbell is pretty much the current king. Although he is finally earning some overdue mainstream success with Burn Notice, for a long time Campbell's name was essentially the ultimate test of whether or not you had encountered another horror fan. If they knew who Bruce Campbell was, chances were they were somebody you wanted to hang out with. In a way, the kind of fandom Bruce inspires is a perfect encapsulation of genre fans in general. So I'm including Bruce here because every generation of horror fans needs an icon to rally around and claim as their own, and Bruce Campbell fulfills that role quite nicely today. Now, about Evil Dead 4…



4. Lon Chaney: Lon Chaney, Sr. was arguably horror's first superstar. Although his son would go on to appear in more horror films than his father (and is probably more associated with the genre in general), he was only following the trail his father had already blazed (heck, he couldn't even really start getting somewhere until he changed his name from Creighton Chaney to Lon Chaney, Jr.). Chaney's contributions to film actually go beyond the horror genre – in fact, many even consider him film's first real method actor. But he will always be best remembered for his incredible revolutions in make-up. Even if the style of make-up he employed is hardly practical by today's standards (mostly due to it actually being physically painful to the actor), he still set the bar for what a horror monster should look like.



3. Jamie Lee Curtis: It's been a while since Curtis has appeared in a horror movie (OK, it hasn't been that long, but I really don't want to think about Halloween: Resurrection), but for my money she is still the reigning queen of the genre. The idea of female heroes certainly existed before Curtis, but she set a standard for what a Final Girl should be that is still followed today. Or, at least, many attempt to follow it today – but the sad truth is that very few actresses have been able to bring the same sort of strength and charisma to their roles that Curtis did (Neve Campbell probably came closest).



2. Peter Cushing/Christopher Lee: Looking down at Shawn's list, I see I'm not the only person who finds it almost impossible to separate these two in my head. While Lee gets the nod in quantity (has anyone appeared in more movies than Lee?? Seriously, go look at the man's IMDB page), Cushing might have arguably been the better actor, seeing as how he could play both hero and villain with equal dignity and class. Still, no matter. Why bother comparing the two, when we can just all agree that these two were both responsible for the horror genre's re-emergence to prominence in the ‘60s?



1. Vincent Price: I'm not gonna lie – this is definitely my personal preference bleeding through. Price has always been my favorite horror actor ever since I first started watching his movies as a kid. But I don't think it's too much of a stretch to place him at #1, in all honesty. After all, is there any actor more commonly associated with horror than Price? I think a lot of people remember Dracula and Frankenstein more than they remember Lugosi and Karloff, per se. But Price is pretty much a name brand. Even those who don't watch or enjoy horror know his face…and certainly know his voice. Heck, even today they still do Vincent Price skits on Saturday Night Live. He's probably the last great horror legend, and I doubt we'll ever see or hear anyone like him again.

SHAWN S. LEALOS

5. Robert Englund: The only current actor on my list is the man I consider the face of eighties horror. Friday the 13th and Halloween both have faceless, soulless killers. When Nightmare on Elm Street debuted, we got something completely different. A maniac with a face, who didn't mind cracking jokes while killing the kids. Robert Englund was perfect as Freddy Krueger and no one has matched his level of evil. Since Nightmare ended, Krueger has loaned his services to a number of up and coming filmmakers to help them get their pictures off the ground, Adam Green's Hatchet being a perfect example.



4. Vincent Price: He is arguably, the "voice" of horror, so much so that Michael Jackson used Price's voice during his song Thriller. He was extremely prolific during his stint as a horror icon starring in films such as House of Wax, The Fly, House on Haunted Hill, The Bat, House of Usher, and The Abominable Dr. Phibes. It is hard to think of the history of horror films without picturing Vincent Price.



3. Lon Chaney Jr.: Born in my home state of Oklahoma to a father whose nickname was "The Man of a Thousand Faces", Lon Chaney Jr. carried on his father's tradition of being a master of disguise. The son of the legend made his name as The Wolf Man, proving to be a master of horror effects, all the while lending his characters a sense of pathos. He is the character best known as The Wolf Man while also portraying Kharis the mummy in three Mummy movies and the offspring of Dracula in Son of Dracula. He is the only actor to portray all four of Universal's iconic monsters and helped usher in the practical makeup effects still used today.



2. Christopher Lee / Peter Cushing: World War II almost single handily killed the horror genre. Universal horror monsters were a thing of the past and a new styled science fiction genre was established with alien invasions and mutated monsters, all based on the fears of the wartime atrocities. The horror genre was reignited thanks in large part to Hammer Films and no actors represented these movies more so than Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Their first film for Hammer was The Curse of Frankenstein, with Lee as The Monster and Cushing as the Baron. In 1958, Lee appeared as Dracula (Horror of Dracula) and Cushing as Van Helsing and the Universal monsters were brought back from the dead. These two actors, and Hammer Films, are directly responsible for the rebirth of horror films.



1. Boris Karloff: I think many people probably are more familiar with the name Bela Lugosi when it comes to classic Universal horror but I rank Karloff ahead of Lugosi in terms of importance. Part of the appeal to me is the fact that when Lugosi refused to portray the Monster in Frankenstein (no lines, too much makeup obscuring face), Karloff stepped into the role with little to no problem. While Lugosi would remain known best for Dracula, Karloff became the more mainstream and popular horror actor. He appeared as Frankenstein's Monster three times and the Mummy Imhotep once. He returned as the villain in House of Frankenstein and the mad scientist in 1958's Frankenstein 1970. Boris Karloff, in my mind, is the face of classic Universal horror.

STEVE GUSTAFSON

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Lon Chaney, Jr. - He howled in The Wolf Man and still sets the bar today. Good luck Benicio Del Toro!



Bruce Campbell - How could you have this list and not have Bruce? Ash is our modern day horror hero and icon. Thanks to Campbell's killer chin.



Bela Lugosi - From Count Dracula to Ed Wood, Lugosi entertained...and scared audiences worldwide. Even after he died, Lugosi was buried wearing one of the Dracula stage play costumes.



THE TOP 5

5.Christopher Walken - I might catch some heat for this one but I'm sticking with Walken. While his horror resume doesn't contain a lot of powerhouses, he was in The Sentinel, The Dead Zone, The Addiction, and Sleepy Hollow. But what gets him on the list is his creepy demeanor that he carried with him in his career. I mean, look at the guy. He was almost like a horror film brought to life and if you ask the average person, they would probably assume he's been in numerous horror films. That says a lot of his presence and shows that even in movies outside the scary genre, Walken can cause chills up your spine. I went back and forth between Walken and Jack Nicholson (For helping horror get increased mainstream attention), but something about Walken gave him the nod. Maybe it's because he could be in a slasher film as the bad guy and not need makeup. Walken said it best, "When they see me in a movie, they expect me to be something nasty ... That's why it's good to defy expectations sometimes."



4. Sigourney Weaver/Jamie Lee Curtis - Let's hear it for the ladies! They share a spot because they showed that women can be more than damsels in distress. Halloween in 1978 and Alien in 1979 were both hugely influential in how female leads were portrayed and we can thank these two for that.



3. Boris Karloff - Mr. Frankenstein. He was so popular after doing Frankenstein that he was billed as "Karloff" or, on some movie posters, "Karloff the Uncanny". Can you see anyone doing that today? Frankenstein not your thing? Then check out The Mummy and pay homage to the man while doing the Karloff Shuffle this Halloween!



2.Christopher Lee - Respect his game! Lee's first film was The Curse of Frankenstein, and he's never looked back. It would be his rendition of Dracula that would terrify moviegoers, but he would make an impression in The Wicker Man and The Hound of Baskersvilles, among others. Of course you can't mention Lee without giving credit to Peter Cushing, who not only appeared in a number of movies with him, but brought thrills and chills to the screen as well.



1. Vincent Price - Where to begin and what to say about Vincent? No matter what he did in his movies, he brought a flair that only he could. Be it House of Wax or the The Tomb of Ligeia. His contributions to the horror genre can't be classified so simply. From his famous voice to his his mustache...He even made Egghead on the Batman television show slightly scary. OK, I'm exaggerating on that one. Still, he relished his reputation as a horror legend. He played each part with a dark humor and fully embraced the adoration that audiences poured on him. Not in a vain way, but as a gentleman. Did you know Price and Christopher Lee were born on the same day (May 27th)? Peter Cushing was born on the 26th, if you were interested. One of my favorite stories about Price was the one he told about when he and Peter Lorre went to view Bela Lugosi's body at Lugosi's funeral, Lorre, upon seeing Lugosi dressed in his Dracula cape, said, "Do you think we should drive a stake through his heart just in case?" Horror men in any situation. Oh, if you're not reading Vincent Price Presents: comic books, pick one up! Entertaining and a worthy homage to the legacy of Price.

LEN ARCHIBALD

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Max Schreck - The man who played Count Orlok in F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu introduced the world to the blood-sucking savant, and was actually the most frightening of all incarnations. And, no – I don't know if he was a REAL vampire. That's how iconic he is to me.



Kane Hodder – Appeared in four Friday films, but defined the nuances, walk and threatening tone that made Jason Vorhees, well…Jason F'n Vorhees.



Vincent Price - The man did the ghoulish rap for Thriller. Game, set, match. The fact he was in a bunch of other great gems was just a bonus.



THE TOP 5

5. Bela Lugosi: "I never drink…wine." "Listen to the children of the niiiiight, what beautiful music they make!" There are three people when I think of (well, four if you count Gary Oldman) when it comes to the blood-sucking prince of darkness, but the fact of the matter is whether it is Vlad the Impaler or The Count of Transylvania, Bela Lugosi created the template for our ingrained idea of Dracula. The European manner, the German-esque accent, the bats, the rats, the squirm over the fear of light – it was all Lugosi first. It's a shame he went out the way he did, because he deserved a lot more respect.



4. Robert Englund: When Robert Englund dies (NEVER!) it will be a sad day for the world. Englund is our generation's version of KARLOFF. He is a horror icon, famous for one role and never looking back. He has completely embraced the love and attention he recieves from being Freddy Krueger and had to give his own personal stamp of approval to Jackie Earl Hayley to play the man he made famous. Seriously, think about it…During the 80's, who were the big names from the movies? Arnold, Eddie, Stallone, Cruise…and that guy who plays Freddy! Actually – that's a lie, because EVERYONE knew it was Robert Englund who played him. He may be the second-to-last (Tobin Bell I think may be the final one) true horror icon known for the movie and singular role he played in it. WELCOME TO PRIME TIME, BITCH! Indeed.



3. Lon Chaney Jr: He would be on this list alone for playing The Wolfman, but the son of "The Man of 1000 Faces" became a man who arguably surpassed his father in his own infamy. He played the Son of Dracula, he played The Mummy, he pretty much could make a face for any monster Universal could have wanted at the time. He was an actor's version of Tom Savini, where he was just a walking barrel of makeup know-how. I love me some Benicio Del Toro, but I don't know how he will do this man any justice in the Wolf Man remake.



2. Jaime Lee Curtis: I was thinking this may be a controversial placement; but the more I thought about it, the more it makes perfect sense (at least in my mind.) Horror is one of the few (or perhaps, the only) genres to have some truly defined "rules" (don't run upstairs, don't have sex, don't trip in the forest, etc) and one of the truly established ones is that of the "final girl" in the slasher sub-genre. Even though Jamie Lee Curtis was not the "first" final girl (I may think that might have been Marilyn Burns in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), she became the most iconic so much to the point that every final girl is basically a take on Curtis' turn as Laurie Strode in the Halloween series of films. We could also count Prom Night and some other, smaller known horror films of hers and there's no denying why she is considered the undisputed "Scream Queen".



1. KARLOFF: Why would I put his name like that – like how people have suddenly decided to call John Morrison – MORRISON? Simply because, KARLOFF IS HORROR. When the original Frankenstein hit the theaters, no one knew they were about to be clobbered over the head with a figure who defined the cultural relevance like the mad scientist's monster would have. It was through the sequel – the superior Bride of Frankenstein that Boris Karloff would become simply KARLOFF. When you think of Frankenstein's monster, who do you see? I doubt you think of Robert DeNiro.