These 10 Actors Went Uncredited In Horror Movies

It has happened more often than most think, but not every movie performance in history was credited, the reasons being many and varied. It could be due to a pre-established contract limitation with the studios or a surprise appearance from a beloved star that the producers want to keep secret. Occasionally, a cameo might be too small to warrant recognition. These appearances can be so well hidden that they need the sharp eye of a particularly observant viewer to be noticed. This phenomenon is common in Horror

movies.

Regardless of the reason behind these creative decisions, in the horror genre, uncredited performances can be used to add an element of shock to the story. The actor might show up as a hidden and shadowy figure or maybe even only lend their voice to a mysterious character. These roles infuse these scary stories with a sense of secrecy that perfectly matches the ominous nature of many horror movies.

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10

Kevin Spacey

Se7en (1995)

Kevin Spacey’s uncredited performance in Se7en is one of the most ingenious twists in cinema history. In David Fincher’s beloved cult, Spacey is John Doe, the brutal serial killer that Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt chase for the entire run of the movie. The man is responsible for the horrifying murders inspired by the seven deadly sins and mostly appears throughout most of the story as an obscured figure.

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Apparently, Spacey was the one who decided to be uncredited, preferring to keep his presence in the film a secret. The actor asked not to be included in any marketing campaign or in the trailer. Furthermore, his name is excluded from the opening credits. This decision helped maintain the secrecy around the identity of the villain, making his final reveal a greater shock than anyone could expect.

9

Sigourney Weaver

The Cabin In The Woods (2011)

With its clever subversions of classical horror tropes and sharp wit, The Cabin in the Woods is an intelligent film. However, Sigourney Weaver’s cameo further elevates it. The actress appears in the final act as the Director of the operation, which has been the cause of the brutal events at the cabin. Despite being brief, her role is a pivotal moment in the film, as it reveals the truth behind the horror tormenting the protagonists.

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The Cabin in the Woods

R

Horror

Comedy

7/10

7.8/10

Release Date

April 13, 2012

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Weaver’s role is a clever twist that serves to uncover an even bigger one. Her appearance also holds a special space in the heart of horror/sci-fi lovers, because of her iconic performance of Ellen Ripley in the cult Alien. Weaver’s work in The Cabin in the Woods was a shocking yet satisfying surprise to the fans of horror and honored her legacy as a heroine of the genre.

8

Gene Hackman

Young Frankenstein (1974)

Gene Hackman’s brief appearance in Young Frankenstein proves that even an uncredited cameo can be legendary. The moment was an amusing surprise in the notorious comedy-horror of Mel Brookes, especially considering that, back then, the actor was known mainly for his dramatic roles. Hackman plays “The Blind Hermit,” a character who comes across Frankenstein’s monster.

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Young Frankenstein

PG

Comedy

7/10

Release Date

December 15, 1974

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Although he is on the screen for only a brief amount of time, the star of Mississippi Burning still strikes a chord. Despite his then-limited repertoire of comedic roles, Hackman proved to be sharply witty and exploited his charisma to make the scene memorable. Recently, as a tribute to his death, Brookes revealed how Hackman landed his uncredited role in the film. Perhaps his work in Young Frankenstein is what led to him joining the cast of 2001 Wes Anderson’s comedy The Royal Tenenbaum.

7

Jamie Lee Curtis

Escape From New York (1981)

Although it has never been confirmed, over the years, many rumors have attributed the voice of the narrator in John Carpenter’s post-apocalyptic Escape from New York to Jamie Lee Curtis. Known for the legendary role of Laurie in the low-budget albeit iconic slasher Halloween franchise, which was also written and directed by Carpenter, Curtis is no stranger to horror movies. Throughout her career, she was labeled a bonafide Scream Queen.

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Escape From New York

R

Sci-Fi

Action

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Adventure

9/10

15

9.4/10

Release Date

July 10, 1981

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Even if the performance has never been officially acknowledged, fans are convinced that the almost identical voice of the narrator is enough to confirm the involvement of the actress in the film as well as in the sequel, Escape From L.A. However, the role was originally credited to the mysterious name of Kathleen Blanchard, who many believe to be a pseudonym for the star of Halloween.

6

David Warner

Straw Dogs (1971)

A profoundly controversial movie, often criticized for the brutal sequences portrayed, Straw Dogs has been deemed by some critics as one of the greatest films of Sam Peckinpah, known in cinema as “Bloody Sam.” However, not many people might remember the appearance of English actor David Warner in it. The star played the role of Henry Niles, a disturbed young man regarded with suspicion by his community.

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Straw Dogs

R

Crime

Drama

Thriller

4/10

Release Date

December 22, 1971

Runtime

116 Minutes

Cast

See All

• 

  Dustin Hoffman

  David Sumner

• 

  Susan George

  Amy

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In this case, however, the reason why Warner was not credited has little to do with the fact that the studios wanted to surprise the audience. The motivations are indeed way less thrilling — the actor broke his leg before production started. And although he could already walk (despite having to carry a cane) when principal photography was set to begin, Warner was purportedly deemed uninsurable.

5

Bradley Cooper

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

A found-footage sci-fi horror, 10 Cloverfield Lane is considered one of the greatest scary movies of the last 10 years. However, not many people may be aware of Bradley Cooper’s involvement in the film, except, perhaps, for his most loyal fans. Despite his fame and widely acknowledged talent, in this case, the actor did not do much more than lend his voice. Cooper plays Ben, Michelle’s ex-fiancé.

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10 Cloverfield Lane

PG-13

Drama

Horror

Mystery

Sci-Fi

Thriller

8/10

9/10

Release Date

March 10, 2016

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The reason why the role has been uncredited, aside from being very small, might be because the producers wanted it to be a surprise cameo for the fans. The moment is, without a doubt, a pleasant Easter egg. 10 Cloverfield Lane is not the first film to which Cooper offered his voice. The actor was, in fact, already known for playing the CGI character of Rocket in The Guardians of the Galaxy.

4

Henry Winkler

Scream (1996)

Wes Craven’s slasher cult Scream has many memorable moments, and the appearance of Henry Winkler is, without a doubt, one of these. Known for his lovable role as Fonzie in the cult TV show Happy Days, Winkler joined Craven’s horror as the school principal. Sadly, the character meets his fate at the hands of Ghostface. In the 1990s, the actor was considered an icon. Therefore, the public was ecstatic about his surprise cameo in the first chapter of what would become one of the most famous scary franchises in cinema history.

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It is understandable why his part was kept a secret during the film’s promotion. The entrance of one of the most legendary faces of comedy television in a horror movie served as a moment of shock to the public. Interestingly enough, despite the character’s short-lived appearance, the principal was not originally supposed to die in Scream. However, the producers changed it later to make the film more violent, and the horror is still one of Henry Winkler’s best movies.

3

Gary Oldman

Hannibal (2001)

Gary Oldman is one of cinema’s most versatile actors. It seems absurd that the same man who portrayed the sinister Count Dracula in Bram Stoker’s Dracula and the noble Sirius Black in the Harry Potter series also delivered a hilarious performance in Friends, appearing in the episode of Monica and Chandler’s wedding. However, his camouflage skills enable him to disappear into any role. An example of this is seen in his work as Mason Verger in Hannibal.

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Hannibal

R

Crime

Horror

Thriller

8.5/10

Release Date

February 9, 2001

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Verger, the antagonist of the movie, has a disfigured look, making it even more complicated than usual to recognize the face of Oldman. Considering that the British actor was left uncredited for his work, the mystery surrounding the character was almost impossible to decipher. According to Oldman, his name was kept uncredited due to a dispute over billing and his placement on the film’s poster.

2

Clint Eastwood

Revenge Of The Creature (1955)

Before becoming one of Hollywood’s most legendary actors and accomplished directors, Clint Eastwood made his uncredited film debut in the horror movie Revenge of the Creature, the sequel to Creature from the Black Lagoon. Eastwood makes a very brief appearance in a minor role: a lab technician who complains about a cat eating one of his experiment rats. The comedic nature of the part contrasts significantly with the dramatic depth of the antiheroes he would later portray in his prolific career.

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Revenge of the Creature

NR

Science Fiction

See more : 26 Best Netflix Movies Based On True Stories

Adventure

Horror

Release Date

May 13, 1955

Runtime

82 minutes

Director

Jack Arnold

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At the time, the future “Man with No Name” was unknown. As a consequence, his work was barely noticed. Nowadays, the role has become an amusing footnote in a legendary career. However, although Revenge of the Creature is the Western star’s lowest-rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes, its significance lies in the fact that it marked the very first on-screen experience of one of Hollywood’s most beloved artists.

1

David Hyde Pierce

Hellboy (2004)

Even if it is not classified as a horror, Guillermo Del Toro’s Hellboy still borrows elements from the genre. David Hyde Pierce, who at the time was already famous for his portrayal of psychiatrist Niles Crane in Cheers‘ spinoff Frasier, took part in the movie as the voice of Abe Sapien, a cerebral amphibian. Strangely enough, the character was physically played by Doug Jones. Pierce was hired for the voice-over as a marketing strategy by Sony.

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Hellboy

PG-13

Action

See more : 26 Best Netflix Movies Based On True Stories

Adventure

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

Release Date

April 2, 2004

Runtime

122 minutes

Director

Guillermo del Toro

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Nevertheless, his horror work as Abe Sapien remained uncredited, and the plan orchestrated by the film production company backfired. According to Pierce, Jones had done such a great job of playing the mild-mannered creature that he felt his presence on the set was unnecessary. The actor also tried his best to imitate Jones’ voice. He later refused to be acknowledged out of respect for his fellow colleague, demonstrating great humility and class.

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