Tony Moran (actor)

Last updated
Tony Moran
TonyMoranCCJuly09.jpg
Moran at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Anthony Moran

(1957-08-14) August 14, 1957 (age 67)
Occupation(s)Actor, producer
Years active19781981, 2008present
Relatives Erin Moran (sister)

Anthony Moran (born August 14, 1957) is an American actor and producer. He is known for briefly playing the unmasked Michael Myers in the 1978 horror classic Halloween . Since then, he has gone on to make guest appearances in television series The Waltons and CHiPs . He is the elder brother of fellow actors Erin Moran (of Happy Days fame) and John Moran.

Contents

Career

Halloween

Tony Moran was a struggling actor before he got the role of the unmasked Michael Myers in Halloween. [1] At the time he had a job on Hollywood and Vine dressed up as Frankenstein. [2] Moran had the same agent as his sister, Erin, who played Joanie Cunningham on Happy Days. When Moran went to audition for the role of Michael Myers in 1978, he met for an interview with director John Carpenter and producer Irwin Yablans. He has since stated that he originally did not want to do the movie, only changing his mind when he got confirmation that Donald Pleasence would be in it. He later got a call back and was told he had got the part. [3]

Moran was paid $250 for his appearance in Halloween and did not return for any of the sequels, although he was paid for his appearance at the beginning of Halloween II , which was a recap of the first film.

Other work

Halloween was Moran's only film for 30 years. Through the late seventies and early eighties, he has made guest appearances in several television series including CHiPs , The Waltons , James at 15 , and California Fever .

In 2008, Moran returned to acting with the short film The Lucky Break. In 2010, he produced and starred in the horror film Beg, which also stars his Halloween co-star P.J. Soles. In 2014 he starred in Dead Bounty. [4] In 2014 he appeared in the documentary film Horror Icon: Inside Michael’s Mask with Tony Moran, which premiered in October 2015. [5]

Controversy

In April 2021, Moran became the subject of controversy after numerous comments he made regarding various Halloween cast members resurfaced online. Moran made unsubstantiated allegations about director John Carpenter's relationship with producer Debra Hill, and insinuated that Jamie Lee Curtis was sexually active with the crew of the film. He was also heard using homophobic slurs towards later Michael Myers actors Tyler Mane and James Jude Courtney during podcast appearances. [6]

Prior to the release of Halloween Kills , Moran made comments at various appearances suggesting he would be appearing in the film in a cameo role. However, Moran does not appear in the final film beyond brief archive footage, leading to speculation that his cameo appearance was cut due to backlash from his then-recent controversy. [7]

Due to his previous conduct, Moran was banned from attending the 2023 Halloween: 45 Years of Terror convention by its organizer, Sean Clark. [8]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978 Halloween Michael Myers (age 21)
1981 Halloween II Archive footage
2008The Lucky BreakMark AshbyShort film
2011Emerging PastBlind Man
2011BegJack FoxAlso producer
2015The Ungovernable ForceDon Ruggero Corbucci
2016American PoltergeistDoug
2018 Death House Miguel
2020The Trees Have EyesBossk
2021 Halloween Kills Michael Myers (age 21)Archive footage

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978 James at 15 Tom2 episodes
1979 The Waltons TinkerEpisode: The Burden
1979 California Fever BrianEpisode: The Girl from Somewhere
1981 CHiPs AndersonEpisode: Dead Man's Riddle

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald Pleasence</span> English actor (1919–1995)

Donald Henry Pleasence was an English actor. He began his career on stage in the West End before having a screen career, which included starring in a 1954 BBC adaptation of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, before playing numerous supporting and character roles in films including RAF Flight Lieutenant Colin Blythe in The Great Escape (1963), the villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film You Only Live Twice (1967), SEN 5241 in THX 1138 (1971), and the deranged Clarence "Doc" Tydon in Wake in Fright (1971).

<i>Halloween III: Season of the Witch</i> 1982 film by Tommy Lee Wallace

Halloween III: Season of the Witch is a 1982 American science fiction horror film and the third installment in the Halloween film series. It is the first film to be written and directed by Tommy Lee Wallace. John Carpenter and Debra Hill, the creators of Halloween and Halloween II, return as producers. Halloween III is the only entry in the series that does not feature the series antagonist, Michael Myers. After the film's disappointing reception and box office performance, Michael Myers was brought back six years later in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988).

<i>Halloween H20: 20 Years Later</i> 1998 film by Steve Miner

Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later is a 1998 American slasher film directed by Steve Miner, and starring Jamie Lee Curtis, LL Cool J, Adam Arkin, Michelle Williams, Janet Leigh, and Josh Hartnett in his film debut. It is the seventh installment in the Halloween franchise. H20 is a direct sequel to 1978's Halloween and 1981's Halloween II, ignoring the Jamie Lloyd story arc of the previous three installments. It follows a post-traumatic Laurie Strode, who has faked her death in order to go into hiding from her murderous brother, Michael Myers, who finds her working at a private boarding school in California.

Michael Myers (<i>Halloween</i>) Fictional character in the Halloween franchise

Michael Myers is a character from the slasher film series Halloween. He first appears in 1978 in John Carpenter's Halloween as a young boy who murders his elder sister, Judith Myers. Fifteen years later, he returns home to Haddonfield, Illinois, to murder more teenagers. In the original Halloween, the adult Michael Myers, referred to as The Shape in the closing credits, was portrayed by Nick Castle for most of the film and substituted by Tony Moran in the final scene where Michael's face is revealed. The character was created by John Carpenter and has been featured in twelve films, as well as novels, video games, and comic books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erin Moran</span> American actress (1960–2017)

Erin Marie Moran-Fleischmann was an American actress, best known for playing Joanie Cunningham on the television sitcom Happy Days and its spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi.

<i>Halloween II</i> (1981 film) Film by Rick Rosenthal

Halloween II is a 1981 American slasher film directed by Rick Rosenthal, in his directorial debut, written and produced by John Carpenter and Debra Hill, and starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence, who reprise their respective roles as Laurie Strode and Dr. Sam Loomis. It is the second installment in the Halloween film series and is a continuation sequel to Halloween (1978). The plot picks up directly after the cliffhanger ending of the first film, with Michael Myers following survivor Laurie Strode to the local hospital, while his psychiatrist Dr. Loomis continues his pursuit of him.

<i>Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers</i> 1988 film by Dwight H. Little

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers is a 1988 American slasher film directed by Dwight H. Little, written by Alan B. McElroy, and starring Donald Pleasence, Ellie Cornell, and Danielle Harris in her film debut. It is the fourth entry in the Halloween franchise and marks the return of Michael Myers, as the primary antagonist, after his absence in Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982), a standalone film.

<i>Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers</i> 1995 film by Joe Chappelle

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers is a 1995 American supernatural slasher film directed by Joe Chappelle, written by Daniel Farrands, and starring Donald Pleasence, Paul Rudd, Marianne Hagan, and Mitch Ryan. The sixth installment in the Halloween film series, the plot depicts Michael Myers hunting down the infant son of his niece, Jamie Lloyd. The film marks the final appearance of Donald Pleasence as Dr. Sam Loomis before his death, as well as the feature film debut of Paul Rudd, who portrays a now adult Tommy Doyle from the original Halloween (1978).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. J. Soles</span> American film and television actress

Pamela Jayne Soles is an American actress. She made her film debut in 1976 as Norma Watson in Brian De Palma's Carrie (1976) before portraying Lynda van der Klok in John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) and Riff Randell in Allan Arkush's Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy Stephens</span> American actress

Nancy Stephens is a former American actress who has starred in many films and television shows. Stephens is perhaps best known for her role as Nurse Marion Chambers in John Carpenter's horror film Halloween (1978). She reprised this role in Halloween II (1981), Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) and Halloween Kills (2021).

<i>Halloween</i> (2007 film) Slasher film by Rob Zombie

Halloween is a 2007 American slasher film written, directed, and produced by Rob Zombie. It is a remake of John Carpenter's 1978 horror film of the same name and the ninth installment in the Halloween franchise. The film stars Malcolm McDowell, Sheri Moon Zombie, Tyler Mane, Scout Taylor-Compton, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris, and William Forsythe. The "reimagining" follows Michael Myers who murdered his family as a child and becomes institutionalized at an asylum, before breaking out and stalking Laurie Strode and her friends on Halloween night.

Halloween is an American slasher media franchise that consists of thirteen films, as well as novels, comic books, a video game and other merchandise. The films primarily focus on Michael Myers, who was committed to a sanitarium as a child for the murder of his sister, Judith Myers. Fifteen years later, he escapes to stalk and kill the people of the fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois. Michael's killings occur on the holiday of Halloween, on which all of the films primarily take place. Throughout the series various protagonists try to stop Myers including, most notably, babysitter Laurie Strode and psychiatrist Dr. Samuel Loomis. The original Halloween, released in 1978, was written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill—the film's director and producer respectively. The film, itself inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and Bob Clark's Black Christmas, is known to have inspired a long line of slasher films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Castle</span> American film director, actor and screenwriter

Nicholas Castle is an American screenwriter, film director, and actor. He is known for playing Michael Myers in John Carpenter's horror film Halloween (1978). He also had a cameo as Myers in Halloween (2018). Castle also co-wrote Escape from New York (1981) with Carpenter. 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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Dugan (actor)</span> American actor

John Dugan is an American actor. He is best known for his role in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013) as Grandpa Sawyer. He also had a cameo appearance in the fourth installment of that series, The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel Loomis</span> Fictional character

Dr. Samuel "Sam" J. Loomis is a fictional character in the Halloween franchise. A main protagonist of the overall series, Loomis appears on-screen in eight of the thirteen Halloween films, first appearing in John Carpenter's original 1978 film. Donald Pleasence portrayed the character in five films, with Malcolm McDowell taking on the role in the 2007 reimagining and its sequel. In both portrayals, Loomis is introduced as the psychiatrist of series antagonist Michael Myers, driven to pursue and restrain his murderous former patient. He also appears in a flashback in Halloween Kills.

Dean Raymond Cundey, A.S.C. is an American cinematographer and film director. He is known for his collaborations with John Carpenter, Steven Spielberg, and Robert Zemeckis, as well as his extensive work in the horror genre, in addition to numerous family and comedy films. His filmography as a cinematographer includes Halloween (1978), The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981), The Thing (1982), the Back to the Future trilogy (1985–1990), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Jurassic Park (1993), Apollo 13 (1995), and Garfield: The Movie (2004).

<i>Halloween</i> (1978 film) 1978 film by John Carpenter

Halloween is a 1978 American independent slasher film directed and scored by John Carpenter, who co-wrote it with its producer Debra Hill. It stars Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, P. J. Soles, and Nancy Loomis. Set mostly in the fictional Illinois town of Haddonfield, the film follows mental patient Michael Myers, who was committed to a sanitarium for murdering his teenage sister one Halloween night during his childhood; he escapes 15 years later and returns to Haddonfield, where he stalks teenage babysitter Laurie Strode and her friends while his psychiatrist Dr. Samuel Loomis pursues him.

<i>Halloween</i> (2018 film) American slasher film

Halloween is a 2018 American slasher film directed by David Gordon Green and co-written by Green, Jeff Fradley and Danny McBride. It is the eleventh installment in the Halloween film series and a sequel to the 1978 film of the same name, while disregarding all previous sequels. The film stars Jamie Lee Curtis who reprises her role as Laurie Strode. James Jude Courtney portrays Michael Myers, with Nick Castle returning to the role for a cameo. Halloween also stars Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, Haluk Bilginer, and Virginia Gardner. Its plot follows a post-traumatic Laurie Strode who prepares to face Michael Myers in a final showdown on Halloween night, forty years after she survived his killing spree.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Jude Courtney</span> American actor and stunt performer

James Jude Courtney is an American actor, stunt double, and stunt performer. He is best known for playing fictional mass murderer Michael Myers in the 2018 film Halloween and its two sequels, Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends. He also played Der Kindestod in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Killed by Death".

<i>Halloween Ends</i> 2022 American slasher film

Halloween Ends is a 2022 American slasher film directed by David Gordon Green and co-written by Green, Danny McBride, Paul Brad Logan and Chris Bernier. It is the sequel to Halloween Kills (2021), the thirteenth installment in the Halloween franchise, and the final film in the trilogy of sequels that started with the 2018 film, which directly follows the 1978 film. The film stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Andi Matichak, Rohan Campbell, Will Patton, Kyle Richards, and James Jude Courtney. The plot follows the outcast Corey Cunningham who falls in love with Laurie Strode's granddaughter while a series of events, including crossing paths with Michael Myers, drives him to become a serial killer.

References

  1. Barton, Steve (7 October 2010). "First Look at Horror Icon: Inside Michael's Mask with Tony Moran". DreadCentral.com. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  2. "Michael Myers vs. Pumpkinhead". girlsandcorpsed.com.
  3. Broaddus, Will (23 March 2009). "'Halloween' villain Michael Myers at Salem gallery". salemnews.com. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  4. Moore, Debi (26 March 2015). "Exclusive: Dead Bounty Lobby Cards Debut" . Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  5. De Leon, Victor (7 March 2015). "Horror Icon Doc: "Inside Michael's Mask" with Tony Moran" . Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  6. Gallagher, Brian (2021-04-16). "Actor Tony Moran Bad Mouths Halloween, Makes Outrageous Claims About Carpenter & Crew in New Video". MovieWeb. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  7. Dick, Jeremy (2021-10-05). "Did Halloween Kills Cut Tony Moran's Cameo Because of Fan Backlash?". MovieWeb. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  8. https://www.youtube.com/live/hdiYkZOU6PU?feature=share [ bare URL ]