Horror Legend Robert Englund
Welcome back to Horror Celebrity Spotlight, my series about the most interesting icons in the horror world! This week, we’re taking a look at one of the most famous performers in all of horror, Robert Englund! Let’s examine his distinguished career, the memorable roles he’s played, and all the Robert Englund movies and tv shows you need to watch!
The Basics
Full Name: Robert Barton Englund
Age: 78
Best Known For: Playing Freddy Krueger in eight Nightmare on Elm Street movies
Official website: RobertEnglund.com
Often Works With: Wes Craven, Heather Langenkamp, Kane Hodder
Arguably the Biggest Horror Icon of the ’80s
Once upon a time, way back in 1984, director Wes Craven chose a relatively obscure actor named Robert Englund to play the villain in his upcoming slasher movie. Unlike most slasher monsters of the day, this character, a fellow named Fred, did not wear a mask, nor did he remain silent throughout the film.
Craven thus needed a real actor, instead of a stuntman, to play the role. His ingenious choice skyrocketed Englund into mainstream stardom, making him the most famous horror actor since the likes of Christopher Lee and Vincent Price.
In terms of widespread name recognition even by people who aren’t horror fans, I’d rank Englund at the top with Cassandra Peterson/Elvira in terms of ’80s horror icons. Nobody else from that era comes close.
His brilliant, charismatic work as Freddy continued through several sequels. The movies varied in quality, but Englund’s performances were always spot on, even as Krueger evolved into a cartoonish caricature of Craven’s initial concept. Freddy became a pop culture icon, with a TV series, Freddy’s Nightmares, costumes, toys, videogames, and merchandise.
Englund received increasingly lucrative contracts to return for each new NOES film. However, the grueling makeup process, which took several hours each day, took a toll. The fight scenes were physically demanding as well. Englund’s last Elm Street movie was Freddy vs. Jason in 2003.
In a 2024 interview, he stated that he is too old to reprise the role. Englund acknowledged the possibility of a brief live action cameo or a voice acting role in an animated production.
Random Tidbits
-He trained to become an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began his career as a stage performer.
-Englund auditioned for the role of Han Solo in Star Wars.
-He has occasionally stepped into the director’s chair, first in 976-Evil (1988) and in a couple episodes of Freddy’s Nightmares.
-Although he hasn’t played Freddy in a movie since 2003, Englund did make a funny cameo as Krueger in an episode of The Goldbergs, “Mr Knifey Hands,” in 2018.
-Englund is one of the few horror actors to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He enjoys distinguished company, including Bela Lugosi, Anthony Perkins, Jamie Lee Curtis, Boris Karloff, and Vincent Price. A campaign is underway to get Tony Todd included.
More Than Just Freddy
Robert Englund’s legacy in horror history is secure. Regardless of the future of the NOES franchise, Freddy will always be a horror icon. Of course, Englund has also appeared in numerous other roles. He’s played many memorable characters in his career.
Here are some of the most significant:
Willie in V television series (1983)
Erik in Phantom of the Opera (1989)
Mayor Buckman in 2001 Maniacs (2005)
The Riddler (voice) in The Batman (2006) animated television series
Doc Halloran in Beyond the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)
Victor Creel in Stranger Things (2022)
Englund remains a working actor. He is slated to appear next in Pinocchio: Unstrung (2025), the latest installment of the Twisted Childhood Universe. Hopefully he has many years left in the industry. I’d love to see him have a cameo as Freddy or portray him in an animated special. The Predator franchise released an animated film recently, so maybe NOES will try this, too!
