James Jude Courtney

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For the racing driver, see James Courtney.
James Jude Courtney
Born (1957-01-31) January 31, 1957 (age 64)
Garfield Heights, Ohio, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of South Carolina[1][2]
OccupationActor
Stunt double
Stunt performer
Years active1987–present

James Jude Courtney (born January 31, 1957)[3] is an American actor, stunt double, and stunt performer. He is best known for playing serial killer Michael Myers in the 2018 film Halloween. Courtney will reprise his role as Myers in Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends, scheduled for release in 2021 and 2022, respectively. He also played Der Kindestod in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Killed by Death".

Life and career[]

Courtney was born in Garfield Heights, Ohio, and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, as the eldest of seven brothers.[4] 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.[2] There, 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.[5] At Universal Studios, Courtney met actor Brian Thompson and stunt coordinator Alex Daniels, who helped him to branch out as a stunt performer.[1] He also pursued acting studies at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and was coached by Stella Adler.[1][6]

Courtney made his film acting debut in The Freeway Maniac (1989) 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[]

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.[1][10][11] Green explained to Courtney his vision for Myers' mannerisms, an amalgamation of the performance of Nick Castle, 1978 Myers actor, and the addition of a feline style of movement. Courtney tailored his portrayal to those specifications by observing the movement of his cat: "I think cats are the most perfect hunter-killer machines on the planet. And the beauty of it is we don't judge a cat for what a cat does. So I sort of carried that movement and the non-judgmental approach to the way I moved as The Shape, which I learned from my cat Parcival."[1] Courtney 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.[5][12][13][14]

The December 2017 announcement of Castle's participation in the film was widely reported as his retaking the role of Myers,[15] with Courtney only doing additional work as the character. However, in a 2018 interview, Courtney stated (supported by Nick Castle) that Castle's screentime was a single cameo and that every scene under the mask was done by Courtney, including the window/mirror scene which he shares with Castle, leading to the question of why Castle's return had been misrepresented by the production.[16]

Honoring his portrayal of Michael Myers, October 19, the film's United States opening day, was officially proclaimed James Jude Courtney Day in Warren County, Kentucky, by Warren County Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon.[17] In January 2019, Courtney was nominated for Best Actor at the 2019 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards alongside Castle for his work in Halloween.[18][19]

Courtney is set to return to the role for its two upcoming sequels, Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends, thus earning him the accolade of being the actor to portray Myers the most times.[20][21]

Filmography[]

Title Year TV or Film Role Notes
Tour of Duty 1987–1990 TV Stunts
The Freeway Maniac 1989 Film Arthur Credited as James Courtney
Knots Landing 1989 TV 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 1992 Film Boxer
The Hit List 1993 Film Final Hitman
Danger Theatre 1993 TV Man in Bar 1 episode
Philadelphia Experiment II 1993 Film Vortex Technician
Firearm 1993 Short film Alec Swan a.k.a. Firearm
...And the Earth Did Not Swallow Him 1994 Film Carpenter
When a Man Loves a Woman 1994 Film Earl
Last Detour 1994 Film
Girl in the Cadillac 1995 Film Stunts
Access Denied 1996 Film Bill Robinson
Babylon 5 1994–1996 TV Narn #1 / Gyor 2 episodes; stunts
Executive Power 1997 Film Thug
The Killing Grounds 1997 Film Craig
The Nurse 1997 Film Stunt coordinator
Devil in the Flesh 1997 TV film Mr. Roberts
Buffy the Vampire Slayer 1998 TV Der Kindestod 1 episode; stunts
Soccer Dog: The Movie 1999 Film Mafia Goon
Level 9 2000–2001 TV Stunts; stunt driver
The Gray in Between 2002 Film Huge Goon
Halloween 2018 Film Michael Myers / The Shape
Halloween Kills 2021 Film

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Arzt, Matt. "[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.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Friedman, Rebekah (November 6, 2018). "A killer career". SC.edu. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  5. ^ Jump up to: 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.
  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 requires |magazine= (help)
  10. ^ Dressler, Jacob. "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. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ Sprague, Mike (July 26, 2019). "NICK CASTLE RETURNING FOR HALLOWEEN KILLS & HALLOWEEN ENDS!". JoBlo.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2019. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
  21. ^ Morse, Chris (September 11, 2019). "James Jude Courtney Teases Return as Michael Myers in Upcoming Halloween Sequels". DeadEntertainment.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2019.

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