James Jude Courtney Explained

James Jude Courtney
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Birth Date:31 January 1957
Birth Place:Garfield Heights, Ohio, U.S.
Alma Mater:University of South Carolina
Years Active:1987–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

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. At Universal Studios, Courtney met actor Brian Thompson and stunt coordinator Alex Daniels, who helped him to branch out as a stunt performer.[4] He also pursued acting studies at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and was coached by Stella Adler.[5]

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".[6] [7] [8]

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.[9] [10] 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.[11] 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.[4] 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.[12] [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

TitleYearTV or FilmRoleNotes
Tour of Duty1987–1990TVStunts
Knots Landing1989Peter Christopher / R. Peter Christopher3 episodes
We're Talking Serious Money1991FilmBiker #2
Unsolved Mysteries1992TVPeter Byrne
Far and AwayFilmBoxer
Danger Theatre1993TVMan in Bar1 episode
Philadelphia Experiment IIFilmVortex Technician
When a Man Loves a Woman1994Earl
Girl in the Cadillac1995Stunts
Babylon 51994–1996TVNarn #1 / Gyor2 episodes; stunts
Devil in the Flesh 1997Mr. Roberts
Buffy the Vampire Slayer1998Der Kindestod1 episode; stunts
Level 92000–2001Stunts; stunt driver
Halloween2018FilmMichael Myers / The Shapecredit shared with Nick Castle
Halloween Kills2021
Halloween Ends2022

Notes and References

  1. Web site: This Day in Horror: Happy Birthday James Jude Courtney. Alyse. Wax. January 31, 2020. Dread Central. July 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210719130939/https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/317665/this-day-in-horror-happy-birthday-james-jude-courtney/. July 19, 2021. live.
  2. Web site: Rebekah. Friedman. A killer career. SC.edu. November 6, 2018. February 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20210517173656/https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/cic/journalism_and_mass_communications/news/2018/a_killer_career.php. May 17, 2021. live.
  3. Web site: Ablon. Matthew. USC alum is the man behind the Michael Myers mask. Fox Carolina. November 1, 2018. January 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190413185731/https://www.foxcarolina.com/news/usc-alum-is-the-man-behind-the-michael-myers-mask/article_d5c95b12-de34-11e8-88b0-0b832195e3d1.html. April 13, 2019. live.
  4. Web site: Arzt. Matt. [Interview] Meet James Jude Courtney, Your New Michael Myers in Halloween 2018]. Halloween Daily News. March 27, 2018 . November 1, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180328212627/http://halloweendailynews.com/2018/03/james-jude-courtney-interview/. March 28, 2018.
  5. Web site: Abrams. Simon. Michael Myers, Unmasked. Vanity Fair. October 11, 2018. February 4, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20201109025632/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/10/michael-myers-unmasked-halloween-movies. November 9, 2020. live.
  6. Book: Tracy, Kathleen. 2014. The Girl's Got Bite: The Original Unauthorized Guide to Buffy's World – 30. "Killed by Death". St. Martin's Press. 978-0-31298-886-9.
  7. Book: Jones, Steven. 2000. The Essential Monster Movie Guide: A Century of Creature Features on Film, TV, and Video. Billboard Books. 67. 978-0823079360.
  8. Clarke. F. S.. 2000. Cinefantastique, Vol 31-32. 31. B003ZVQU9Q.
  9. Web site: Original Shape Actor Playing Michael Myers In Upcoming Halloween Movie. Jacob. Dressler. ScreenGeek.net. December 20, 2017 . October 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181030035451/https://www.screengeek.net/2017/12/20/halloween-movie-original-shape-actor-returning-as-michael-myers/. October 30, 2018. live.
  10. Web site: Allison. Keene. The Halloween Reboot Will Bring Back the Original Michael Myers Actor. Collider. December 20, 2017. October 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20201109032253/https://collider.com/halloween-reboot-michael-myers-nick-castle/. November 9, 2020. live.
  11. Web site: Michael Myers Speaks: Actor talks Halloween Kills,' Comic Con, gathering of fans. October 11, 2021. Krug. Kurt Anthony. Morning Sun. October 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211011141027/https://www.themorningsun.com/2021/10/11/michael-myers-speaks-actor-talks-halloween-kills-comic-con-gathering-of-fans/. October 11, 2021. live.
  12. Web site: Squires. John. [Set Visit] Halloween Star James Jude Courtney on Why You Should Be Terrified of His Michael Myers]. Bloody Disgusting. June 8, 2018. January 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20201106172947/https://bloody-disgusting.com/interviews/3502915/set-visit-halloween-star-james-jude-courtney-terrified-michael-myers/. November 6, 2020. live.
  13. Web site: Evanson. Landon. Big Game James: A 'Halloween' Interview With James Jude Courtney. Horror Geek Life. September 24, 2018. November 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20190322204714/https://www.horrorgeeklife.com/2018/09/24/halloween-interview-james-jude-courtney/. March 22, 2019. live.
  14. Web site: DiLauro. Rob. Exclusive Interview: James Jude Courtney Talks Halloween And Playing Michael Myers. We Got This Covered. November 6, 2018. January 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200927142734/https://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/interview-halloween-james-jude-courtney/. September 27, 2020. live.
  15. Web site: Golianopoulos. Thomas. Michael Myers Is a Terrifying Acting Challenge, Too. The New York Times. October 22, 2018. January 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20201202085513/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/21/movies/michael-myers-halloween.html. December 2, 2020. live.
  16. Web site: Original Michael Myers Actor to Return to Halloween Franchise. TheWrap. Verhoeven. Beatrice. December 13, 2018. December 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20210301192344/https://www.thewrap.com/michael-myers-halloween-nick-castle-the-shape/. March 1, 2021. live.
  17. Web site: Nick Castle is NOT Michael Myers in Blumhouse's "Halloween"? Cameo Only. Horror Freak News. Millican. Joshua. December 13, 2018. March 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20190430191755/https://horrorfreaknews.com/nick-castle-not-michael-myers-blumhouses-halloween-cameo. April 30, 2019. live.
  18. Web site: Halloween Kills: Release date, cast, plot and everything you need to know. July 29, 2019. Sandwell. Ian. Digital Spy. October 14, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20211127141058/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a868289/halloween-2018-sequel-halloween-2-3-release-date-cast-title-trailer-plot/. November 27, 2021. live.
  19. Web site: Halloween Kills: Michael Myers freaked out Anthony Michael Hall for real on set (exclusive). October 12, 2021. Beasley. Tom. Yahoo! Movies. October 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221013010118/https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/halloween-kills-anthony-michael-hall-075356427.html. October 13, 2022. live.
  20. Web site: Michael Myers himself is in Michigan as Halloween Kills opens in theaters. October 17, 2021. Pevos. Edward. MLive. October 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221006200036/https://www.mlive.com/life/2021/10/michael-myers-himself-is-in-michigan-as-halloween-kills-opens-in-theaters.html. October 6, 2022. live.
  21. Web site: Every Character Confirmed To Return In Halloween Ends. October 2, 2022. Sherlock. Ben. Screen Rant. October 14, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221010213303/https://screenrant.com/halloween-ends-returning-characters-confirmed-laurie-michael/. October 10, 2022. live.
  22. Web site: Halloween Ends Michael Myers Actor Addresses Possible Franchise Return. October 19, 2022. Zinski. Dan. Screen Rant. October 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221020091420/https://screenrant.com/halloween-ends-michael-myers-franchise-return-courtney-response/. October 20, 2022. live.
  23. Web site: The man behind the mask: James Jude Courtney tells all ahead of Halloween Ends. October 12, 2022. Philippe-Auguste. Dominick. WMAR-2 News. October 14, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221014171231/https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/the-man-behind-the-mask-james-jude-courtney-tells-all-ahead-of-halloween-ends. October 14, 2022. live.
  24. Web site: You Probably Didn't Recognize The Original Halloweens Michael Myers Making A Cameo In Halloween Ends. October 17, 2022. Pleines. Miyako. /Film. October 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221023040833/https://www.slashfilm.com/1057843/you-probably-didnt-recognize-the-original-halloweens-michael-myers-making-a-cameo-in-halloween-ends/. October 23, 2022. live.
  25. Web site: Medina. Ana. Michael Myers actor speaks on preparing for Halloween role. WBKO. October 19, 2018. February 3, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200920054656/https://www.wbko.com/content/news/Michael-Myers-actor-speaks-on-preparing-for-Halloween-role-498048401.html. September 20, 2020. live.
  26. Web site: Orange. B. Alan. Fangoria Resurrects the Chainsaw Awards Celebrating the Horror Movies Oscar Missed. MovieWeb. January 22, 2019. February 4, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20210410181847/https://movieweb.com/fangoria-chainsaw-awards-2019-nominations-ballot/. April 10, 2021. live.
  27. Web site: Rife. Katie. Screw the Oscars, let's see who got nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award. January 22, 2019. The A.V. Club. February 4, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308160558/https://news.avclub.com/screw-the-oscars-lets-see-who-got-nominated-for-a-fang-1831961481. March 8, 2021. live.
  28. Web site: Daniel Radcliffe Wins Best Villain for The Lost City at MTV Movie & TV Awards. June 5, 2022. Dick. Jeremy. MovieWeb. October 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220707175344/https://movieweb.com/best-villain-mtv-movie-awards-2022/. July 7, 2022. live.

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