Wes Craven (1939–2015)

Writer | Producer | Director

Wes Craven has become synonymous with genre bending and innovative horror, challenging audiences ...

Born: August 2, 1939
Died: August 30, 2015 (age 76)

Photos

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Filmography

Known For

A Nightmare on Elm Street Writer (1984)
Scream Director (1996)
New Nightmare Writer (1994)
Known For

The People Under the Stairs Writer (1991)
Writer

The Scream Fan Film (2022)
ExSIDren: The SCREAM Headache Medicine (2020)
Scream: The TV Series (2015-2019)
New Tale: The Demon of Elm Street (2019)
Krueger: Tales from Elm Street (2017)
Krueger: The Legend of Elm Street (2016)
The Confession of Fred Krueger (2015)
Freddy Krueger: Nightmare on Vape Street (2015)
Krueger: The Slasher from Elm Street (2014)
Krueger: A Walk Through Elm Street (2014)
Krueger: Another Tale from Elm Street (2013)
Krueger: A Tale from Elm Street (2011)
My Soul to Take (2010)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
Freddy's Return: A Nightmare Reborn (2009)
The Last House on the Left (2009)
The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007)
Pulse (2006)
Paris, je t'aime (2006)
The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
Freddy vs Ghostbusters (2004)
Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
New Nightmare (1994)
The Nightmare Begins Again (1993)
Nightmare Cafe (1992)
Goo Goo Dolls: I'm Awake Now (1991)
The People Under the Stairs (1991)
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: Freddy Krueger lebt! (1990)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Die traum-falle (1990)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Freddy's rache (1990)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 1: Nächte der angst (1990)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: Party des schreckens (1990)
Night Visions (1990)
Freddy's Nightmares (1988-1990)
The People Next Door (1989)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1989)
Shocker (1989)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)
Fat Boys: Are You Ready for Freddy (1988)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
The Hills Have Eyes Part II (1984)
Swamp Thing (1982)
Deadly Blessing (1981)
The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
The Fireworks Woman (1975)
Writer

The Last House on the Left (1972)
Director

Scream 4: Gag Reel (2011)
Scream 4: Extended Ending (2011)
Scream 4: Alternate Opening (2011)
Scream 4: Deleted and Extended Scenes (2011)
Scream 4 (2011)
My Soul to Take (2010)
Paris, je t'aime (2006)
Red Eye (2005)
Cursed (2005)
Scream 3 (2000)
Music of the Heart (1999)
Scream 2 (1997)
Scream (1996)
Vampire in Brooklyn (1995)
New Nightmare (1994)
Nightmare Cafe (1992)
The People Under the Stairs (1991)
Night Visions (1990)
Shocker (1989)
The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
The Twilight Zone (1985-1986)
Deadly Friend (1986)
The Magical World of Disney (1986)
Chiller (1985)
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Alternate Endings - Freddy Ending (1984)
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Alternate Endings - Happy Ending (1984)
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Alternate Endings - Scary Ending (1984)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
The Hills Have Eyes Part II (1984)
Invitation to Hell (1984)
Swamp Thing (1982)
Deadly Blessing (1981)
Summer of Fear (1978)
The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
The Fireworks Woman (1975)
Director

The Last House on the Left (1972)
Producer

Scream: The TV Series (2015-2019)
The Girl in the Photographs (2015)
Scream 4 (2011)
My Soul to Take (2010)
The Last House on the Left (2009)
The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007)
The Breed (2006)
The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
Feast (2005)
They Shoot Divas, Don't They? (2002)
Dracula 2000 (2000)
Hollyweird (1998)
Don't Look Down (1998)
Carnival of Souls (1998)
Wishmaster (1997)
Mind Ripper (1995)
New Nightmare (1994)
Laurel Canyon (1993)
Nightmare Cafe (1992)
The People Under the Stairs (1991)
Night Visions (1990)
The People Next Door (1989)
Shocker (1989)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
Kent State (1981)
Producer

Together (1971)
Actor

Castle Wes Craven (2013)
Scream 4 Coroner (2011)
Diary of the Dead Newsreader (2007)
Paris, je t'aime La victime de la vampire (segment "Quartier de la Madeleine") (2006)
Boston Legal Wes Craven (2006)
Red Eye Airline Passenger (2005)
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Wes Craven (2001)
Stark Raving Mad Terrance Sterling (2000)
Scream 3 Man with Video Camera on Studio Tour (2000)
Welcome to Hollywood Wes Craven (1998)
Scream 2 Doctor (1997)
Scream Fred the Janitor (1996)
Shadow Zone: The Undead Express Counsellor (1996)
The Fear Dr. Arnold (1995)
New Nightmare Wes Craven (1994)
Body Bags Pasty Faced Man (segment "The Gas Station") (1993)
Shocker Man Neighbor (1989)
The Twilight Zone Caged Man #1 (segment "Children's Zoo") (1985)
Sweet Cakes Photographer (1976)
The Fireworks Woman Nicholas Burns (1975)
Actor

It Happened in Hollywood King's Litter Bearer (1973)
Soundtrack

Nightmare Cafe (1992)
Archive footage

Minty Comedic Arts (2018-2022)
Entertainment Tonight (2016-2021)
The Movies That Made Us (2021)
The Last Word on the Last House on the Left: The Legacy of Horror's Most Controversial Classic (2020)
Movies with Mikey (2019)
Demented Pictures (2017-2018)
Unknown Movies (2017)
The Oscars (2016)
Everything Wrong with... (2015)
The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards (2015)
Cinemassacre's Monster Madness (2011-2013)
Archive footage

E! True Hollywood Story (2007)
20 to 1 (2006)
Additional Crew

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010)
Dracula III: Legacy (2005)
Looking Back at 'the Hills Have Eyes' (2003)
Dracula II: Ascension (2003)
They (2002)
Dracula 2000 (2000)
The American Nightmare (2000)
Additional Crew

Bloodfist II (1990)
Deep Throat (1972)
Editor

The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
The Fireworks Woman (1975)
Kitty Can't Help It (1975)
It Happened in Hollywood (1973)
Editor

The Last House on the Left (1972)
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

It Happened in Hollywood (1973)
Camera and Electrical Department

Here Come the Tigers (1978)
Cinematographer

The Evolution of Snuff (1978)

All Filmography

Videos

Awards

12 wins & 12 nominations.

Did You Know

Trivia

He had an undergraduate degree in English and psychology from Wheaton College in Illinois and a master's degree in philosophy and writing from Johns Hopkins University.

Quotes

Horror movies have to show us something that hasn't been shown before so that the audience is completely taken aback. You see, it's not just that people want to be scared; people are scared.