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Nick Castle

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Nick Castle
Castle in 2015
Born
Nicholas Charles Castle

(1947-09-21) September 21, 1947 (age 77)
Kingsport, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupations
Years active1969–present

Nicholas Charles Castle (born September 21, 1947) is an American screenwriter, film director and actor. He is known for playing Michael Myers in John Carpenter's horror film Halloween (1978).[1][2] Castle also co-wrote Escape from New York (1981) with Carpenter.[3] After Halloween, Castle became a director, taking the helm of films such as The Last Starfighter (1984), The Boy Who Could Fly (1986), Dennis the Menace (1993), and Major Payne (1995).[4] He reprised the role of Michael Myers in Halloween (2018).

Early life

Castle was born in Kingsport, Tennessee, the son of Millie and Nick Castle Sr., a top choreographer for motion pictures, television, and the stage, and was nominated for an Emmy. As a child, Nick Castle often appeared as an extra or in bit roles in his father's films. He studied film at the University of Southern California, where he served as cinematographer for the Academy Award-winning live-action short film The Resurrection of Broncho Billy.

Career

Castle's film credits include Dark Star where he played the beach ball alien, Major Payne, Dennis the Menace, The Last Starfighter, and Connors' War as a director. He wrote the screenplays for the films Escape from New York and Hook. He was the writer and director of the film Tap.

In 1978, he played the iconic starring role of Michael Myers in the classic horror film Halloween, directed by former USC classmate John Carpenter,[5] and was paid $25 a day.[6] Castle's subsequent collaborations with Carpenter included his name being used as one of the main characters' names in The Fog, co-writing the script of Escape From New York, and performing the title song of Big Trouble in Little China as part of the band The Coup De Villes, alongside Carpenter and another friend, Tommy Lee Wallace. After Halloween, Castle became a director, taking the helm of films such as The Last Starfighter, The Boy Who Could Fly, Dennis the Menace, and Major Payne.[7]

Castle wrote August Rush, a musical-drama directed by Kirsten Sheridan and starring Freddie Highmore, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Robin Williams, and Keri Russell, which was released in 2007. He also stars as himself in the 2010 documentary Halloween: The Inside Story by Filipino filmmaker Nick Noble.[8]

In 2018, Castle reprised his role as Michael Myers in the direct sequel, Halloween, directed by David Gordon Green, becoming the third actor to play Michael Myers more than once.[9][10] The announcement of Nick Castle's participation was widely reported as his retaking the role of Michael Myers he originated,[11] with stunt performer James Jude Courtney only doing additional work as the character. However, an interview with Courtney revealed that Castle's screentime was minimal and that the great majority of the work under the mask was done by Courtney himself, which led to the question of whether the return of Castle had been misrepresented by the production.[12] While Courtney was involved in every scene featuring Myers, including those of Castle, who was only involved for a minimal amount of filming, which Castle described to the journalists on set as a cameo appearance,[13] Castle reprises his role in one scene with Jamie Lee Curtis and did all of Michael Myers' breathing sounds in post-production.[9][10] Courtney referred to collaborating with Castle as an "honor", while Castle described it as a "passing of the torch".[14] On July 26, 2019, it was confirmed that Castle will return for the sequels to the 2018 film, Halloween Kills (2020) and Halloween Ends (2021) for some scenes as Michael Myers with James Jude Courtney again playing Myers for a majority of the films.[15]

Castle won a Saturn Award for Best Writing for The Boy Who Could Fly, a Silver Raven (for Delivering Milo), a Grand Prize (for The Last Starfighter), a Bronze Gryphon, and a Gold Medal of the Regional Council.

Filmography

Film

Year Film Director Writer Notes
1970 The Resurrection of Broncho Billy No Yes Also cinematographer, short
1979 Skatetown, U.S.A. No Yes
1980 Pray TV No Yes
1981 Escape from New York No Yes
1982 Tag: The Assassination Game Yes Yes Directorial Debut
1984 The Last Starfighter Yes No
1986 The Boy Who Could Fly Yes Yes
1989 Tap Yes Yes
1991 Hook No Story
1993 Dennis the Menace Yes No
1995 Major Payne Yes No
1996 Mr. Wrong Yes No
2001 Delivering Milo Yes No
2004 The Seat Filler Yes No
2006 Connors' War Yes No Direct-to-video
2007 August Rush No Yes
Acting roles
Year Film Role Notes
1974 Dark Star Beach Ball Alien Also camera assistant
1978 Halloween Michael Myers / The Shape
1981 Escape from New York Pianist
1986 The Boy Who Could Fly The Coupe De Villes
2018 Halloween Michael Myers / The Shape Cameo and breathing sounds
2019 In Search of Darkness Himself Documentary film
2020 Halloween Kills Michael Myers / The Shape Post-Production

Television

Year Title Director Writer Executive
Producer 		Notes
1987 Amazing Stories Yes No No Episode "The 21-Inch Sun"
1988 Mama's Family No Concept No Episode "Mama's Girls"
1990 Shangri-La Plaza Yes Yes Yes Also composer, TV Pilot
2001 'Twas the Night Yes No No TV Movie

References

  1. ^ JimmyO (October 25, 2013). "Where In The Horror Are The Now? Nick Castle!". JoBlo.com.
  2. ^ "Nick Castle". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 8, 2008. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 18, 2008 suggested (help)
  3. ^ Canby, Vincent (1981-07-10). "'Escape From New York'". The New York Times.
  4. ^ Nick Castle casting information at HalloweenMovies.com; last accessed April 19, 2006.
  5. ^ Prometheus Entertainment, Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest, 2003
  6. ^ "Behind the Scenes". HalloweenMovies.com. Trancas International Films, Inc. 2001. Archived from the original on December 20, 2006. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  7. ^ Nick Castle casting information at HalloweenMovies.com; last accessed April 19, 2006.
  8. ^ Barton, Steve (September 7, 2012). "Go Inside The House at the End of the Street and Find a New Featurette". Dread Central.
  9. ^ a b Keene, Allison (December 20, 2017). "The 'Halloween' Reboot Will Bring Back the Original Michael Myers Actor". Collider.
  10. ^ a b Miska, Brad (2017-12-20). "Original Shape Actor Playing Michael Myers in 'Halloween' 2018! [Exclusive]". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  11. ^ Verhoeven, Beatrice (December 20, 2017). "Original Michael Myers Actor to Return to 'Halloween' Franchise". TheWrap. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  12. ^ Millican, Joshua (March 28, 2018). "Nick Castle is NOT Michael Myers in Blumhouse's "Halloween"? Cameo Only". horrorfreaknews.com. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  13. ^ Artz, Matt. "[Interview] Nick Castle Talks Reprising Michael Myers in 'Halloween' 2018". HalloweenDailyNews. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  14. ^ Evanson, Landon (September 24, 2018). "BIG GAME JAMES: A 'HALLOWEEN' INTERVIEW WITH JAMES JUDE COURTNEY". Horror Geek Life. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  15. ^ Sprague, Mike (July 26, 2019). "NICK CASTLE RETURNING FOR HALLOWEEN KILLS & HALLOWEEN ENDS!". joblo.com. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
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