These 13 Actors Have Earned the Right to be Called Scream Kings – Dread Central

These fellas are bona fide genre film royalty.

Although the term scream queen rolls off the tongue a little easier, there are plenty of talented fellas working in the genre space. Some of them are so prolific and so talented as to bear the distinction of being called a scream king.

What is a scream king, you ask? A scream king is an actor that doesnt merely work in genre cinema on occasion or by chance but a fella that does so deliberately and proudly embraces his horror credentials. Scream kings may branch out and work in other areas but gentlemen of this ilk always find their way back to the horror space when the right project comes along.

Now that were all on the same page regarding the terminology, I invite you to read on for 13 actors that have earned the right to call themselves scream kings.

To open the gates to departed thespians would have more than doubled the entries on this already lengthy list. So, please know I didnt forget Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Bela Lugosi, or any of their contemporaries. There simply wasnt room to give credit to all the greats in a single list.

Not only did Bruce Campbell famously star inThe Evil Deadtrilogy (even emerging as a final fella in all three chapters) he has also made a number of memorable turns in a multitude of genre pictures over the years. A few especially noteworthy outings include Campbell playing a fictionalized version of himself inMy Name is Bruce, portraying an elderly Elvis Presley inBubba Ho-Tep,and who could forget aboutManiac Cop? I could keep going. But the beloved actor is well known enough that I dont really need to sell you on his distinction as a scream king.

Tony Todd made such an impact on horror fans via the Candyman series that many genre film enthusiasts didnt think they could bear to see anyone else tackle the role when Nia DaCosta resurrected the franchise. But Todd is notjustthe Candyman. He has also recurred as William Bludworth in theFinal Destinationfilms. Oh, and did I mention Todd also features in more than one installment of theHatchet franchise? And there was his turn as Ben in Tom Savinis Night of the Living Dead remake. And the list goes on. Very impressive, indeed.

Although his name may not be all that well known, Lochlyn Munros face certainly is.This character actor has been appearing in the genre space for decades and his horror credentials are quite impressive. Munros film appearances includeFreddy vs. Jason,Margaux, Dracula 2000, Scary Movie, Needful Things, Trancers 4: Jack of Swords,and more.And thats to say nothing of his TV credits, which include seven episodes of the originalCharmedseries, a guest appearance on the USA NetworksThe Dead Zone,and two guest spots onThe Outer Limits.

Thanks to my friend Will for making sure I didnt leave this prolific scream king off this list!

Brad Dourif is an Oscar-nominated actor with the ability to slip into different roles like a chameleon. But he is gracious enough to keep returning to the horror space time and again. His genre efforts includeEyes of Laura Mars,The Exorcist III,Chain Letter,Urban Legend, and, of course, theChilds Playfranchise. What a guy and what an impressive CV he has.

Aside from appearing in everyPhantasmfilm to date, Reggie Bannister also starred inBloody Bloody Bible Camp,Wishmaster,Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation,andThe Mangler Reborn.The Reg-Man is a down-to-earth dude and has a real knack for playing an everyman type that rises to the occasion and turns heroic.

Bill Moseley has featured in a number of memorable horror roles. Among his most noteworthy turns are Chop-Top inThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2and Otis Driftwood in Rob Zombies Firefly trilogy. Additionally, Moseley appeared inSilent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out,Tom SavinisNight of the Living Dead remake, andArmy of Darkness.And thats barely scratching the surface of this scream kings horror credentials.

Jeffrey Combs is a brilliant character actor with a versatility that allows him to step into each role in such a way that he is unrecognizable from one to the next. Combs impressiveresume includesRe-Animator,Dark House,Would You Rather,The Frighteners and so many more!

Lance Henriksen hasnt just made a handful of horror features. This dude has made a career out of starring in violent and fantastical genre fare. To date, this scream king has appeared inPumpkinhead,Near Dark, Aliens,Alien3,Alien vs. Predator, Scream 3, Mom & Dad,Mans Best Friend, The Pit and the Pendulum,and more. Henriksen has entered the living legend phase of his career and we are here for it.

In addition to being a funny, self-deprecating good time on social media, Devon Sawa also has an impressive amount of genre credits to his name. This scream king has starred inCasper, Idle Hands, Final Destination, Hunter Hunter, Black Friday, The Exorcism of Molly Hartley,andtheChuckyseries on SyFy. Whats more, Sawa made it to the end of bothIdle HandsandFinal Destination, making him not only a scream king but also a two-time final boy. Thats pretty impressive.

Robert Englund has portrayed Freddy Krueger in sevenNightmare on Elm Streetfilms, plusFreddy vs. Jason. That, in and of itself, qualifies this masterful thespian for inclusion on this list. But his genre cred doesnt stop there. He has also famously featured inWishmaster, Urban Legend, Strangeland,Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon,and many, many others.

Kane Hodder is in several of the least lovedFriday the 13thfilms of the franchise. Yet everyone holds him up as the gold standard for playing the Jason character. To break out as a fan favorite from four films that all have their fair share of detractors is really a testament to what an iconic talent Hodder is. Moreover, his impressive genre cred extends far beyond theFridayseries. Hodder has made a name for himself as a scream king by way of appearances in films likeWishmaster,theHatchetfranchise,Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, Chillerama,and so many more!

Frequent John Carpenter collaborator Kurt Russell has dazzled genre film enthusiasts with many iconic turns in the horror genre and many more horror-adjacent projects. Amongst his most memorable appearances areEscape from New York, Escape from L.A., The Thing, Death Proof,Bone Tomahawk,andThe Hateful Eight.He brings a certain swagger and charisma to the roles he plays. And he is an undisputed scream king.

Tom Atkins is a bona fide badass with an unbelievable amount of killer turns in genre projects under his belt. Among his most noteworthy appearances areNight of the Creeps, Halloween III,Trick, Maniac Cop, The Fog, My Bloody Valentine 3D, Drive Angry,and Creepshow. I am content to keep watching Atkins kick onscreen ass for as long as hes willing to continue doing so.

If youd like to chat more about scream kings, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @FunWithHorror

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These 13 Actors Have Earned the Right to be Called Scream Kings - Dread Central

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero