James Jude Courtney

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For the racing driver, see James Courtney.
James Jude Courtney
Courtney in 2020
Born (1957-01-31) January 31, 1957 (age 67)
Garfield Heights, Ohio, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of South Carolina
Occupations
Years active1987–present

James Jude Courtney (born January 31, 1957) 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".

Life and career[edit]

Courtney was born on January 31, 1957,[1] in Garfield Heights, Ohio, and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, as the eldest of seven brothers.[2] From an early age, Courtney was determined to become an actor and made short films from fifth grade through college. He majored in journalism at the University of South Carolina in 1981 and subsequently moved to California to pursue acting.[3]

He started working at Universal Studios Hollywood as a tour guide before he was cast as Conan in the park's Conan the Barbarian live show. Courtney applied his martial arts skills to the role, which demanded high falls and sword fights; he sustained multiple injuries during performances.[4] At Universal Studios, Courtney met actor Brian Thompson and stunt coordinator Alex Daniels, who helped him to branch out as a stunt performer.[5] He also pursued acting studies at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and was coached by Stella Adler.[5][6]

Courtney made his film acting debut in 1989 in The Freeway Maniac and continued acting through 2002. In 1997, he gained wider recognition in the role Der Kindestod in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Killed by Death".[7][8][9]

Halloween films[edit]

Courtney played Michael Myers in David Gordon Green's horror film Halloween, the 2018 sequel to John Carpenter's 1978 film of the same name.[5][10][11] Green asked the film's stunt coordinator Ron Hutchinson whether he knew an experienced stunt actor that was "6-feet-3, 200 pounds, and in his 60s," upon which Hutchinson recommended Courtney.[12] Green explained to Courtney his vision for Myers's mannerisms, an amalgamation of the performance of Nick Castle, who originally played the character in 1978, and the addition of a feline style of movement, which Courtney tailored his portrayal to by observing the movement of his pet cat.[5] He used Carpenter and Castle's work on the original film to inform how the forty years that transpired between the events of the films would affect the character.[4][13][14][15]

The December 2017 announcement of Castle's participation in the film was widely reported as his retaking the role of Myers,[16] with Courtney only doing additional work as the character. However, in a 2018 interview, Courtney stated that Castle's screentime only amounted to a single cameo and that every scene under the mask was done by himself, including the scene which he shares with Castle, leading to the question of why Castle's return had been misrepresented by the production.[17]

Courtney returned to the role for the film's 2021 sequel, Halloween Kills,[18] with Nick Castle once again sharing the acting credit, although Castle's only scene in the film was excluded from the final cut.[19] Courtney stated that his stunt work for the film, especially for scenes including fire, was among the most challenging of his career.[20] He portrayed the character for a third and last time in 2022's Halloween Ends,[21][22] thus earning him the accolade of being the actor to portray Myers the most times.[23] For Halloween Ends, director David Gordon Green made the decision to have Courtney physically portray the character for the entirety of the film for the first time, citing his "extraordinary work" in the previous films.[24]

Honoring his portrayal of Michael Myers in 2018's Halloween, October 19, the film's United States opening day, was officially proclaimed James Jude Courtney Day in Warren County, Kentucky.[25] Courtney was nominated for Best Actor at the 2019 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards alongside Castle for his work in Halloween.[26][27] For his performance in Halloween Kills, Courtney was nominated for Best Villain at the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards.[28]

Selected filmography[edit]

Title Year TV or Film Role Notes
Tour of Duty 1987–1990 TV Stunts
Knots Landing 1989 Peter Christopher / R. Peter Christopher 3 episodes
We're Talking Serious Money 1991 Film Biker #2
Unsolved Mysteries 1992 TV Peter Byrne
Far and Away Film Boxer
Danger Theatre 1993 TV Man in Bar 1 episode
Philadelphia Experiment II Film Vortex Technician
When a Man Loves a Woman 1994 Earl
Girl in the Cadillac 1995 Stunts
Babylon 5 1994–1996 TV Narn #1 / Gyor 2 episodes; stunts
Devil in the Flesh 1997 Mr. Roberts
Buffy the Vampire Slayer 1998 Der Kindestod 1 episode; stunts
Level 9 2000–2001 Stunts; stunt driver
Halloween 2018 Film Michael Myers / The Shape credit shared with Nick Castle
Halloween Kills 2021
Halloween Ends 2022

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wax, Alyse (January 31, 2020). "This Day in Horror: Happy Birthday James Jude Courtney". Dread Central. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  2. ^ Friedman, Rebekah (November 6, 2018). "A killer career". SC.edu. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  3. ^ Ablon, Matthew (November 1, 2018). "USC alum is the man behind the Michael Myers mask". Fox Carolina. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Squires, John (June 8, 2018). "[Set Visit] 'Halloween' Star James Jude Courtney on Why You Should Be Terrified of His Michael Myers". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d Arzt, Matt (March 27, 2018). "[Interview] Meet James Jude Courtney, Your New Michael Myers in 'Halloween' 2018". Halloween Daily News. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  6. ^ Abrams, Simon (October 11, 2018). "Michael Myers, Unmasked". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  7. ^ Tracy, Kathleen (2014). The Girl's Got Bite: The Original Unauthorized Guide to Buffy's World – 30. "Killed by Death". St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0-31298-886-9.
  8. ^ Jones, Steven (2000). The Essential Monster Movie Guide: A Century of Creature Features on Film, TV, and Video. Billboard Books. p. 67. ISBN 978-0823079360.
  9. ^ Clarke, F. S. (2000). "Cinefantastique, Vol 31-32". p. 31. ASIN B003ZVQU9Q. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  10. ^ Dressler, Jacob (December 20, 2017). "Original Shape Actor Playing Michael Myers In Upcoming Halloween Movie". ScreenGeek.net. Archived from the original on October 30, 2018. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  11. ^ Keene, Allison (December 20, 2017). "The 'Halloween' Reboot Will Bring Back the Original Michael Myers Actor". Collider. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  12. ^ Krug, Kurt Anthony (October 11, 2021). "Michael Myers Speaks: Actor talks 'Halloween Kills,' Comic Con, gathering of fans". Morning Sun. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  13. ^ Evanson, Landon (September 24, 2018). "Big Game James: A 'Halloween' Interview With James Jude Courtney". Horror Geek Life. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  14. ^ DiLauro, Rob (November 6, 2018). "Exclusive Interview: James Jude Courtney Talks Halloween And Playing Michael Myers". We Got This Covered. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  15. ^ Golianopoulos, Thomas (October 22, 2018). "Michael Myers Is a Terrifying Acting Challenge, Too". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  16. ^ Verhoeven, Beatrice (December 20, 2017). "Original Michael Myers Actor to Return to 'Halloween' Franchise". TheWrap. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  17. ^ Millican, Joshua (March 28, 2018). "Nick Castle is NOT Michael Myers in Blumhouse's "Halloween"? Cameo Only". Horror Freak News. Archived from the original on April 30, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  18. ^ Sandwell, Ian (July 29, 2019). "Halloween Kills: Release date, cast, plot and everything you need to know". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  19. ^ Beasley, Tom (October 12, 2021). "'Halloween Kills': Michael Myers freaked out Anthony Michael Hall for real on set (exclusive)". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  20. ^ Pevos, Edward (October 17, 2021). "Michael Myers himself is in Michigan as 'Halloween Kills' opens in theaters". MLive. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  21. ^ Sherlock, Ben (October 2, 2022). "Every Character Confirmed To Return In Halloween Ends". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  22. ^ Zinski, Dan (October 19, 2022). "Halloween Ends' Michael Myers Actor Addresses Possible Franchise Return". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  23. ^ Philippe-Auguste, Dominick (October 12, 2022). "The man behind the mask: James Jude Courtney tells all ahead of Halloween Ends". WMAR-2 News. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  24. ^ Pleines, Miyako (October 17, 2022). "You Probably Didn't Recognize The Original Halloween's Michael Myers Making A Cameo In Halloween Ends". /Film. Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  25. ^ Medina, Ana (October 19, 2018). "Michael Myers actor speaks on preparing for Halloween role". WBKO. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  26. ^ Orange, B. Alan (January 22, 2019). "Fangoria Resurrects the Chainsaw Awards Celebrating the Horror Movies Oscar Missed". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  27. ^ Rife, Katie (January 22, 2019). "Screw the Oscars, let's see who got nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  28. ^ Dick, Jeremy (June 5, 2022). "Daniel Radcliffe Wins Best Villain for The Lost City at MTV Movie & TV Awards". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.

External links[edit]

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