From Haddonfield to hellish hotels and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills… as Halloween looms, can YOU take a stab in the dark and guess these former horror film child stars?
As I delve into the lives of these child actors who graced our screens with chilling performances, I can’t help but marvel at their journeys. Alex Vincent, the young prodigy from Child’s Play, had an incredible experience at six, working with a “super cool electrical puppet” in Chicago and LA! Now, imagine if Chucky had been real, how different his life would have been!
The scene repeats year after year – streets lined with stores selling spooky outfits, parents frantically buying bulk candy, and television programs jam-packed with old horror movies late at night.
Almost Halloween is here, bringing with it the approach of the witching hour, which signals the arrival of trick-or-treaters and for many, a nostalgic evening watching classic horror movies.
For numerous individuals, movies like Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, William Friedkin’s The Exorcist, and John Carpenter’s famous Halloween have significantly shaped the horror film genre.
However, while focusing on violence, gore, and spectacle on screen, these movies have given a career launchpad to several previously unrecognized young actors.
topMob has journeyed extensively, ranging from Haddonfield to the Overview Hotel, passing through ancient burial sites, the domain of the undead, as well as the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, in pursuit of individuals who left a significant mark on the horror genre early on.
But who are they? Grab some popcorn and and take a peek. We’ll be right back…
1. Linda Blair (The Exorcist – 1973)
As an over-the-moon devotee, I can tell you that when Warner Bros. took on William Friedkin’s The Exorcist with a hefty budget and no big names attached, they were bracing themselves for disaster – little did they know the masterpiece that was about to unfold!
However, the early apprehensions within the studio quickly vanished when the movie, based on William Peter Blatty’s terrifying 1971 novel, earned $1.9 million in its initial week at American cinemas.
1974 saw the astounding rise of that figure to a staggering $66.3 million (equivalent to approximately $319 million in 2024). By this time, The Exorcist was already making its mark as one of the most terrifying horror movies ever made.
The young actress Linda Blair played a significant role in the uncontested triumph, contributing notably to its overall success at just 14 years old.
Picked from a list of 600 applicants, Blair became an overnight success thanks to her role as Reagan MacNeil, a young girl possessed by the devil who becomes the subject of a prolonged exorcism.
The young acting prodigy received both an Academy Award nomination and a nod for the Golden Globes in recognition of her role, and much later, she confessed that this movie significantly influenced her personal journey.
1977 saw Blair returning to her character in the sequel titled “Exorcist II: The Heretic.” However, the year ended up being marred by controversy as she was apprehended for drug-related offenses and was subsequently given three years of probation.
At the age of 65, the actress continues to make occasional appearances in films and television, yet it’s her role in “The Exorcist” that stands as her most memorable and significant accomplishment.
2. Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense – 1999)
He can see dead people, or at least he could, back when he was making a name for himself in M. Night Shyamalan’s 1999 classic The Sixth Sense.
Sharing screen time with the renowned Bruce Willis, young actor Haley Joel Osment garnered well-deserved acclaim for his portrayal of Cole Sear, a nine-year-old child burdened with the gift (or curse) of seeing spirits.
At the age of 10, Osment had already gained prominence in the industry and landed a significant role that earned him an Academy Award nomination. However, this wasn’t his debut in mainstream films.
5 years ago, the young actor first appeared on the silver screen in the role of Tom Hanks’ son, Forrest Jr., in the hit movie Forrest Gump, which was directed by Robert Zemeckis.
It was an auspicious start for Osment, but the extreme high that culminated in The Sixth Sense led to extreme lows such as film flops The World Made Me Straight, Yoga Hosers and Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town.
In addition to these roles, Osment has contributed his vocal talents to several well-known animated films, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame II, Country Bears, and The Jungle Book II, where he gave voice to the character Mowgli.
In the year 2006, he was given a probation sentence following his admission that he was operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and in possession of marijuana.
He recently shared with E! News that his parents often advised him at the beginning of his career, “If it stops being enjoyable, you can leave anytime tomorrow.
As I reached college age, it became time for me to depart and focus on studying theater, pondering deeply if I wished to pursue this as a lifelong profession.
‘The answer has always been yes at all these junctures. It’s still a job that I really enjoy, despite all the uncertainty and the difficulty of being able to plan your life three to six months out.’
At the ripe age of 36, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be gracing the big screen in Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut, Blink Twice. Joining me on this exciting journey are talented actors such as Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Alia Shawkat, and Christian Slater. This project promises to be a unique and captivating experience for all involved!
3. Heather O’Rourke (Poltergeist – 1982)
In the 1982 horror story directed by Tobe Hooper, Heather O’Rourke stood out with her golden-blonde hair and ethereal appearance as the central character, a suburban family member who encountered a haunting spirit.
At only seven years of age, the actress portrayed schoolgirl Carol Anne Freeling in the movie. She later took on this same character in the sequels titled Poltergeist II: The Other Side and Poltergeist III.
Apart from that, she appeared in a dozen episodes of the legendary American sitcom “Happy Days,” and was featured on hit series like “Fantasy Island” and “CHiPs” too.
Unfortunately, O’Rourke’s promising career came to an abrupt end when she passed away at the age of 12 in 1988 due to a sudden cardiac incident.
Last year, when she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, this talented young actress faced the challenge. Unfortunately, she lost her life during a surgical procedure aimed at resolving an urgent bowel blockage.
Eventually, she was interred at the Pierce Brothers’ Westwood Village Memorial Park and Funeral Home in Los Angeles.
4. Kyle Richards (Halloween – 1978)
Kyle Richards, who frequently appears on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, didn’t reside in the upscale LA neighborhood during the filming of Halloween.
A popular figure on reality TV portrayed nine-year-old Lindsey Wallace in John Carpenter’s iconic slasher movie, one of the two kids who gained fame as they were being watched by Jamie Lee Curtis during Michael Myers’ violent spree in the fictional town of Haddonfield.
Apart from her role in “Little House On The Prairie,” the movie also played a significant part in launching Richard’s acting career as a young artist. Later, she appeared in “The Watcher In The Woods” and the television show called “Down To Earth.
After finding success as a child, she also got married early on.
In 1988, I found myself walking down the aisle with Guraish Aldjufrie, having conceived a child at the tender age of 19.
That particular year saw the joyous arrival of their daughter, Farrah Aldjufrie, into their family. Regrettably, their marriage didn’t sustain its course for too long and they parted ways in 1992 through a divorce.
Soon after she met her next husband, real estate mogul Mauricio Umansky, in a nightclub.
In 1994, they got engaged and tied the knot two years afterwards. Their first child, Alexia, was born in the same year (1996), and Sophia joined their family in 2000, four years later.
All the while, she continued to act with a recurring role in the TV series ER from 1998 to 2006.
In the year 2010, Richard transitioned into reality television by landing a role on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
She is the only founding member of the series who is still on it to this day.
Following numerous rumors concerning her marital status on the program, it was eventually revealed that she parted ways with her spouse, who she had been married to for over 26 years, in the year 2023.
5. Lisa and Louise Burns (The Shining – 1980)
“Honey, I’m home!”
Without a doubt, the chilling line delivered by Jack Nicholson brandishing an axe in Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic novel leaves a lasting impression on me as an ardent fan.
As an ardent admirer, let me add that the show didn’t skimp on surprises! One such delight was the captivating appearance of little-known British twins, Lisa and Louise Burns, portraying the tragic Grady sisters.
In one of the movie scenes, it’s Danny Torrance (portrayed by Danny Lloyd), another notable young cast member, who comes across the girls as he rides his tricycle along the vibrantly-carpeted corridors of the abandoned Overlook Hotel.
From birth, Danny possessed psychic abilities and could summon premonitions of both past and future occurrences. He was already aware that the same hotel had witnessed the gruesome murders of girls, committed by their caretaker father, over a year ago.
In a chilling manner, their repeated call, “Join us, Danny, for all eternity,” in their distinct English tones, instills fear in young Danny whenever they utter it, followed by a flashback to their gory, lifeless forms in the movie.
The meeting stands out as one of the movie’s most memorable scenes, and it turned out to be the pinnacle of their careers for the Burns siblings.
The two siblings enjoyed their assigned parts, yet their aspirations to become accomplished actresses were shattered when they were denied admission at the renowned acting institution, RADA (The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) in London.
In 2015, when talking with TopMob, the sisters disclosed that although Jack Nicholson portrayed a maniac in his performances and was known as a playboy, he served as a paternal role model for them.
Lisa, currently practicing law, along with Louise, a renowned scientist, expressed astonishment that their screen time was limited to just 30 seconds in the final version of the film, given how much time they had spent filming during production.
As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to share an interesting tidbit about a scene that didn’t make it into the final cut of the movie. It was a subtle nod to a classic nursery rhyme, reminiscent of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” This is one of those intriguing behind-the-scenes details that I find fascinating when exploring the creative process.
‘Spending a significant amount of time on the film set allowed us to observe closely the intricate process of filmmaking.’
6. Harvey Spencer Stephens (The Omen – 1976)
It’s one of the best known roles in British horror, but playing Satan’s spawn was as good as it got for Harvey Spencer Stephens.
At the age of five, Stephen took on a role as the mischievous Damian Thorn, acting alongside established Hollywood stars Gregory Peck and Lee Remick.
Initially having blonde hair, he had to color his locks to match the ominous tone of Damian’s character as per the director, Richard Donner’s casting decision.
The role won him a Golden Globe nomination, but it would be the London-born actor’s only screen credit of note.
At 53 years old and a father of two, Stephen nearly faced imprisonment due to his actions in a road rage incident back in 2017 where he struck two cyclists with punches.
In a heated moment, while behind the wheel of an Audi RS6, he found himself angered, exited his vehicle, and physically struck the two bicyclists, causing damage to one of their helmets in the process.
It turns out that on an unlucky day associated with superstition, namely Friday the 13th, Stephen faced the consequences for his actions. He confessed to committing two offenses of assault causing bodily harm and one of criminal damage.
He received a 12-month jail term suspended for two years.
7. Alex Vincent (Child’s Play – 1988)
It spawned a hugely successful franchise and made malevolent doll Chucky a household name, but it also launched the career of young actor Alex Stewart.
The American star was six-years old when he won the role of Andy Barclay, a character he would revisit in Child’s Play 2 and the less successful spin-offs Curse of Chucky and Cult Of Chucky.
Now 43, New Jersey born Stewart is still best known for his pivotal role in the franchise.
At the age of six, it was absolutely thrilling and enjoyable for him, as he shared with Indie Mac User.
As an over-the-moon fan, I found myself granted a priceless opportunity to step away from school for a few exhilarating months and dive headfirst into the electrifying world of a supremely awesome electric puppeteer, right in the heart of Chicago and Los Angeles!
The content didn’t have a significant impact on frightening me. As a bright child, I wasn’t afraid of anything related to being on that set.
Behind the scenes, the actor is versatile too; boasting a range of roles such as sound designer, composer, scriptwriter, and sound editor on multiple independent movies.
8. Danny Lloyd (The Shining – 1980)
Speaking in reverse, “Redrum” translates to “murder.” This chilling phrase became widely recognized due to the character of Danny Torrance and his extraordinary abilities in Stephen King’s novel, The Shining.
Although the movie quickly gained iconic status, the child actor who portrayed the character later distanced himself from the acting profession.
Previously, the individual pursued farming to cover his college expenses, then later became a biology instructor at a community college in Kentucky.
At present, Lloyd is 52 years old and a father to four children. He cherishes the moments he spent working alongside Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, and legendary director Stanley Kubrick on set.
In 2017, Stanley was praised as fantastic when he shared memories of our games involving a ball, catching, and similar activities with The Guardian.
He was quite large and had a beard, yet I never felt fearful or intimated by him in any way.
However, he acknowledges feeling let down when a crew member promised to deliver Danny’s renowned tricycle to him, stating they would mail it instead.
‘I was waiting and waiting for it,’ he recalled. ‘But it never came.’
For the 2019 movie Doctor Sleep, Torrance was brought back to life, and Ewan McGregor took on the role of the grown-up version of the character.
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2024-10-30 17:37