Halloween legend Nick Castle was recently spotted in LA, looking nothing like his notorious character Michael Myers. Castle, who is now 77 years old, first put on the iconic mask in the 1978 film directed by John Carpenter. He later reprised his role in the 2018 sequel alongside Jamie Lee Curtis. Castle was seen in Burbank just days before Halloween, sporting a casual outfit of a green top, jeans, neon sneakers, a baseball cap, and shades.
In the original Halloween movie, Michael Myers escapes from prison after murdering his sister at the age of six. He is pursued by psychiatrist Dr. Samuel Loomis, played by Donald Pleasence, who describes Michael as ‘pure evil.’ Michael returns to the town where the brutal crime took place, targeting Laurie, played by Curtis, along with her friends Annie and Lynda. The success of the first Halloween film led to a franchise of 13 movies, with various directors offering their interpretations of Michael Myers’ story.
Castle, who was the first actor to embody Michael Myers, disclosed that he was paid only $25 a day for his role. Despite the low pay, Castle’s interest was in being on set and experiencing the filmmaking process. He revealed that his movements as Michael Myers were inspired by director John Carpenter’s vision of a realistic character rather than a robotic one.
After his iconic role in Halloween, Castle transitioned to directing and writing, collaborating with Carpenter on projects like Escape From New York. Castle also directed films like Tag: The Assassination Game and The Last Starfighter. Although he lost track of the original Michael Myers mask, Castle’s Hollywood experience from Halloween opened doors for his successful career behind the camera.
In a touching moment, Castle reunited with Jamie Lee Curtis on the set of the recent Halloween trilogy. He made a cameo appearance in Halloween Ends, where he portrayed a partygoer and recorded Michael Myers’ chilling breathing sounds. Despite feeling conflicted about being forever associated with the character, Castle acknowledged that being a horror icon was not a bad legacy to have.
Castle’s journey from portraying Michael Myers to directing and making cameos in the franchise highlights his enduring connection to the Halloween series. His contributions to the iconic horror films have left a lasting impact on the genre and solidified his place in cinematic history.