12 Famous Actors Who Began Their Careers in Horror Films

      These A-list actors began their careers in horror films, many of which had modest budgets.

      The situation has changed significantly since then.

      Let’s dive in.

      Jamie Lee Curtis

      Credit: Compass International Pictures

      Jamie Lee Curtis is often seen as the epitome of actors who successfully transitioned from horror to prosperous film careers. She portrayed Laurie Strode in the 1978 classic Halloween and returned to the character for several sequels, including the recent reboot trilogy. She even made two brief appearances in Halloween 3: The Season of the Witch, which strayed considerably from the Michael Myers narrative.

      In addition to her horror roles, Curtis starred in popular films like Trading Places, A Fish Called Wanda, and True Lies, ultimately winning an Oscar last year for Everything Everywhere All at Once. She remains connected to the genre, appearing in Halloween Ends last year.

      Tom Hanks

      Credit: MGM

      In 1980, the same year he featured in the sitcom Bosom Buddies, Tom Hanks took on a role in the eerie horror film He Knows You’re Alone. He played Elliott, a young man who doubts a woman named Amy (Caitlin O’Heaney), who claims a mysterious man is stalking her.

      The film includes a bachelor party sequence, which may hint at Hanks' breakout role. Unfortunately, the two-time Oscar winner has not ventured into many horror films lately.

      Drew Barrymore

      Credit: Warner Bros.

      Drew Barrymore first gained recognition as Gertie in E.T., but her actual filming debut was in Ken Russell’s unsettling Altered States, which also introduced William Hurt. Barrymore was barely five years old at the time.

      She built on her childhood horror connection with leading parts in the 1984 adaptation of Stephen King’s Firestarter and the 1985 film Cat’s Eye, which included segments based on King’s Night Shift. Additionally, she became iconic in horror history with the unforgettable opening of Scream.

      A star for five decades, she now hosts The Drew Barrymore Show.

      Johnny Depp

      Credit: New Line Cinema

      The 1984 film Nightmare on Elm Street features the phrase “Introducing Johnny Depp” in its opening credits. The young actor portrayed Nancy Thompson's (Heather Langenkamp) disbelieving boyfriend, Elliott, who doesn’t believe in the existence of Freddie Krueger.

      Unfortunately for Glen, the character played by Depp, Freddie is very real (spoiler alert on a movie nearly 40 years old) and meets a tragic end.

      Depp eventually transitioned from the innocent Glen to portray a diverse array of intriguing and bizarre characters, often found in comedies rather than horror films.

      Julia Louis-Dreyfus

      Credit: Empire Pictures

      Julia Louis-Dreyfus was part of Saturday Night Live from 1982 to 1985, but her cinematic debut came in the quirky 1986 horror movie Troll. In one scene, her character’s boyfriend (Brad Hall, who would become her husband) arrives to find that a troll has turned her into a nymph.

      Louis-Dreyfus would later become one of the most acclaimed TV actors, starring in Seinfeld, The New Adventures of Old Christine, and Veep. With 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, she holds more than any other actor. However, in 2013, Jay Leno made her laugh uncontrollably by showing a clip from Troll.

      “We never discussed it, and there’s a reason,” Louis-Dreyfus told Leno, calling him an a–hole. She humorously stated that the opportunity to film Troll appealed to her because it included a free trip to Rome, calling it “the best moment of my life.”

      Patricia Arquette

      Credit: New Line Cinema

      Patricia Arquette portrayed the troubled teenager Kristen Parker in 1987’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, where she nearly becomes a victim of Freddie Krueger, receiving aid from the series' original final girl, Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp, seen with Arquette above).

      In the movie, Nancy works as a psychiatric intern at the facility where Kristen and other young dreamers seek protection from their nightmares.

      The film finishes with Nancy’s remarkable heroism, symbolizing a passing of the torch, but unfortunately for Arquette, it was short-lived; another actress, Tuesday Knight, portrayed Kristen in A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master.

      Arquette has since enjoyed remarkable success, winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for 2014’s Boyhood.

      Hillary Swank

      Credit: 20th Century Fox

      Hillary Swank made her film debut in the 1992 horror-comedy Buffy the Vampire Slayer, featuring Kristy Swanson, which later inspired the Sarah Michelle Gellar TV series. She played the supporting character Kimberly Hannah.

      Soon after, she starred in 1994’s The Next Karate Kid and demonstrated her immense talent with Oscar-winning leading roles in