CT HorrorFest

Nick Castle

Nick Castle was no stranger to Hollywood before his turn as “The Shape” in John Carpenter’s Halloween. Nick’s father was a mainstay in television, theater and film as an actor/dancer/choreographer and after young Nick was born, he was often used in small roles in his dad’s films.

However, it was while studying film at USC that he and his classmate/friend John Carpenter first got a taste of the big time as a short film that they both co-wrote (The Resurrection of Broncho Billy) won the Academy Award for Best Live-Action Short Film in 1970.

Nick then worked on Dark Star with John Carpenter before John asked him to portray the killer Michael Myers in 1978’s Halloween and we look forward to seeing him return to that role for the 2018 sequel.

We are thrilled to announce Nick Castle as a featured guest at CT Horror Fest for the 40^th anniversary of Halloween!

Actor: Halloween (1978 & 2018), Escape from New York, Dark Star

Writer: Skatetown USA, Escape from New York, Hook, August Rush

Director: Tag: The Assassination Game, The Last Starfighter, The Boy Who Could Fly

Pam Grier

Icon. It’s a word that may be tossed around too often these days but it really cannot be used enough when it comes to Pam Grier.

Bursting onto the scene opposite Sid Haig in Jack Hill’s 1971 prison movie The Big Doll House, Pam made her presence known right away but it was 1973’s Coffy and then 1974’s Foxy Brown that solidified her status as “the baddest one-chick hit-squad that ever hit town”.

Then in 1997, Quentin Tarantino made one of the best casting decisions of all-time by changing the character name of Jackie Burke from Elmore Leonard’s novel Rum Punch to Jackie Brown for Pam and the rest is history.

CT HorrroFest is honored to welcome the legendary Pam Grier this September!

Films: Coffy, Scream Blacula Scream, Foxy Brown, Fort Apache the Bronx, Jackie Brown, Mars Attacks!, Above the Law, Ghosts of Mars

Television: Roots: The Next Generations, The Love Boat, Night Court, The Cosby Show, Miami Vice

PJ Soles

Over the years, the 1975 joint-casting session for George Lucas’ Star Wars and Brian De Palma’s Carrie has become the stuff of legend. Tons of people who went on to become Hollywood royalty attended those auditions and lucky for us, one of them brought along her red baseball cap.

Brian De Palma instantly took a liking to P.J. Soles and ended up increasing her role of Norma in Carrie from a one-line role to a much larger part. Another young filmmaker named John Carpenter happened to catch P.J. Soles’ performance in Carrie and “totally” wrote the role of Lynda in 1978’s seminal film Halloween just for her.

Here, in this 40^th anniversary of Halloween, CT HorrorFest is thrilled to welcome P.J. Soles to Danbury!

Films: Carrie, Halloween, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, Stripes, Private Benjamin, Jawbreaker, The Devil’s Rejects.

Television: Cheers, Airwolf, Simon & Simon, Knight Rider.

Nancy Kyes(Loomis)

As we celebrate the 40^th anniversary of John Carpenter’s Halloween, we would be remiss not to include Laurie Strode’s best friend Annie Brackett in the fun. After working with John Carpenter on 1976’s Assault on Precinct 13, Nancy Kyes (Loomis) was chosen by Carpenter to round out the trio of friends that included PJ Soles and Jamie Lee Curtis in 1978’s Halloween.

Having retired from her acting career shortly after it really began, Nancy now spends her time sculpting and teaching acting classes in Los Angeles.

We look forward to welcoming Nancy to CT HorrorFest this year!

Films: Halloween, Halloween II, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, Assault on Precinct 13, The Fog.

Dee Wallace

There aren’t many “Scream Queens” that can boast a resume as robust as Dee Wallace. Dee’s film career started with a small role in the Connecticut thriller The Stepford Wives followed by a much larger role in Wes Craven’s 1977 classic The Hills Have Eyes.

Starring roles in The Howling, Cujo, Critters and more solidified her as a star in horror fans’ eyes but unlike a lot of her female colleagues of that era, Dee was able to step outside of the horror genre with huge roles in major Hollywood productions like 10 and E.T. due mainly to her superb acting and great attitude.

Dee is still very active in the industry with recent roles in Rob Zombie films and the recent Death House.

Please join us in welcoming Dee Wallace to CT HorrorFest!

Films: E.T., 10, The Howling, Cujo, The Hills Have Eyes, Popcorn, The House of the Devil, Halloween (2007), Lords of Salem, The Frighteners

Television: The Office, Supernatural, Starsky and Hutch, Trapper John M.D., Grey’s Anatomy