Nick Castle, the versatile filmmaker, and actor, has left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment with his diverse body of work. Recognized for his contributions to iconic films, Castle has showcased his talents both behind the camera and in front of it. He gained prominence for his portrayal of the iconic masked killer, Michael Myers, in John Carpenter’s horror classic, Halloween (1978).
In the haunting world of Halloween, one figure has stood the test of time: Michael Myers, the silent, masked killer. Portraying this enigmatic character in the original 1978 film was none other than Nick Castle, who brought an eerie presence to the role that continues to send shivers down our spines. But little did anyone know that the Tag: The Assassination Game filmmaker was only paid $25 per day for his iconic portrayal in the 1978 film.
Nick Castle On Being Paid $25 Per Day For His Halloween Role
Halloween, the timeless horror film released in 1978, has become an iconic staple in the genre, thanks in large part to the chilling performance of Nick Castle. Directed by John Carpenter, the movie follows the haunting story of Michael Myers, a deranged masked killer who terrorizes the small town of Haddonfield on Halloween night. Castle’s physicality and deliberate movements brought an unsettling realism to the character, creating a sense of dread that still resonates with horror fans today.
Despite delivering an evergreen performance as Michael Myers, The Boy Who Could Fly filmmaker was only paid $25 a day. But it looks like Castle is not much upset about his pay as he felt that his work was relatively easy on the sets of Halloween as it primarily involved just wearing a plastic mask.
“I was paid $25 per day for Halloween. That was a lot at the time! You have to remember: my interest in doing the film was being on set, so I could demystify the experience of filmmaking and directing. I expected to hang around the set for no money. But hey, $25 per day, and all I had to do was wear a rubber mask.”
Nick Castle On Being Trained For His Role Of Michael Myers
Nick Castle shared that he is still unsure of what the director of first Halloween saw in him and why cast him for this role. The Tap filmmaker shared that when he asked the director, John Carpenter, about what his character will do in the movie, Carpenter shockingly stated that he just needs to walk across the street.
“It’s a mystery what John [Carpenter, who directed the first Halloween] saw in me and the way I moved. I asked John, ‘What is this character going to do?’ And he said, ‘Just walk across the street.’ I knew Michael’s movements weren’t going to be robotic. He was a real guy. He’s not rushing.”
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Nick Castle‘s embodiment of Michael Myers in the original Halloween film set the stage for a character that would haunt our nightmares for years to come. Castle went ahead and reprised his fan-favorite character on multiple occasions, and all of them were equally adored by horror fans.
Halloween (1978) is available on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: Vanity Fair
