Nick Castle

Nicholas John Castle Jr. (born September 21, 1947) is an American filmmaker and actor. He is known for playing Michael Myers in John Carpenter's horror film Halloween. He also had a cameo as Myers in Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills (2021), and Halloween Ends (2022). Castle also co-wrote Escape from New York (1981) with Carpenter. After Halloween, Castle became a director, taking the helm of films such as The Last Starfighter (1984), The Boy Who Could Fly (1986), Dennis the Menace (1993), and Major Payne (1995).

Career Castle's film credits include Dark Star where he assisted with the production, and played the beach ball alien, Major Payne, Dennis the Menace, The Last Starfighter, and Connors' War as a director. He wrote the screenplays for the films Escape from New York and Hook. He was the writer and director of the film Tap.

In 1978, he played the iconic starring role of Michael Myers in the classic horror film Halloween, directed by former USC classmate John Carpenter, and was paid 25 dollars a day. Castle's subsequent collaborations with Carpenter included his name being used as one of the main characters' names in The Fog, co-writing the script of Escape from New York, and performing the 1986 title song of Big Trouble in Little China as part of the band The Coup De Villes, alongside Carpenter and another friend, writer/director Tommy Lee Wallace.

After Halloween, Castle had his directorial debut in Tag: The Assassination Game, followed by taking the helm of films such as The Last Starfighter, The Boy Who Could Fly, Dennis the Menace, and Major Payne.

In 2018, Castle had a cameo as Michael Myers in the direct sequel, Halloween, directed by David Gordon Green, becoming the third actor to play Michael Myers more than once. The announcement of Nick Castle's participation was widely reported as his retaking the role of Michael Myers he originated, with stunt performer James Jude Courtney only doing additional work as the character. However, an interview with Courtney revealed that Castle's screentime was minimal and that the great majority of the work under the mask was done by Courtney himself, which led to the question of whether the return of Castle had been misrepresented by the production. While Courtney was involved in every scene featuring Myers, including those of Castle, who was only involved for a minimal amount of filming, which Castle described to the journalists on set as a cameo appearance, Castle reprises his role in one scene with Jamie Lee Curtis and did all of Michael Myers' breathing sounds in post-production.

Castle won a Saturn Award for Best Writing for The Boy Who Could Fly, a Silver Raven (for Delivering Milo), a Grand Prize (for The Last Starfighter), a Bronze Gryphon, and a Gold Medal of the Regional Council.

Filmography Film Year Film Director Writer Notes1970 The Resurrection of Broncho BillyAlso cinematographer, short 1979 Skatetown, U.S.A. 1980 Pray TV 1981 Escape from New York 1982 Tag: The Assassination GameDirectorial debut 1984 The Last Starfighter 1986 The Boy Who Could Fly 1989 Tap 1991 Hook Replaced as director by Steven Spielberg 1993 Dennis the Menace 1995 Major Payne 1996 Mr. Wrong 2001 Delivering Milo 'Twas the Night 2004 The Seat Filler 2006 Connors' WarDirect-to-video 2007 August Rush

Television Year Title Director Writer Notes 1987 Amazing StoriesEpisode: "The 21-Inch Sun"1988Mama's FamilyEpisode: "Mama's Girls"1990 Shangri-La PlazaAlso executive producer & composer, TV Pilot

Video games Year Film Role Notes 2026 Halloween: The Game Michael Myers Motion capture