Every actor must start somewhere, and horror movies are an excellent place to start. The horror genre doesn't need the Hollywood budget, or the big name celebrities, it gets by on the ability to draw an audience in with just fear and excitement. However, many of horror movies of the past featured some of the best actors in Hollywood that we love today.
While these actors have gone on the become household names, most of them began their careers getting covered in fake blood and running from wild killers. Nobody would expect they would eventually win awards and star in multimillion dollar productions. Let's take a look at some actors and actresses at their humble beginning in horror movies.
Kevin Bacon - 'Friday the 13th' (1980)
Before Kevin Bacon was dancing up a storm in Footloose or battling Tremors, he was murdered by Mrs. Voorhees herself by having an arrow plunged into his neck.
Bacon starred in the original Friday the 13th movie before Jason Voorhees made his gruesome appearance in the remakes and took the place of Mrs. Voorhees as Crystal lake's crazed serial killer.
Johnny Depp - 'A Nightmare On Elm Street' (1984)
Johnny Depp's rise to fame was in 21 Jump Street where he was too cool for school, however at 21 years old he played as Glenn in Nightmare on Elm Street. He was Nancy's (Heather Langenkamp) boyfriend. Robert Englund said part of the inspiration he had on how to play Freddy was jealousy of the youth and attractiveness of Johnny Depp and Heather Langenkamp.
Glenn has one of the most gruesome deaths in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. He is pulled inside his mattress, followed by blood that fills the room. It is a favorite kill scene among fans.
Patricia Arquette - 'A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors' (1987)
Before Patricia Arquette was Christian Slater's girlfriend as Alabama in True Romance or a psychic detective on Medium, she got her start as Kristen Parker in Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, where she battled Freddy Krueger himself.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors is considered the best movie in the franchise other than the original.
Tom Hanks - 'He Knows You're Alone' (1980)
Run Forrest, run! Yes, before he was smitten by Jenny or sleepless in Seattle Tom Hanks, one of the world's most likable actors, got his start in the slasher film He Knows You're Alone.
The film is about a slasher who has a thing for slashing up brides. Don't blink, or you'll miss Hanks.
Jennifer Aniston - 'Leprechaun' (1993)
Before, she was America's sweetheart, and everyone's friend Jennifer Aniston went to battle with a leprechaun.
If only she had Charlie (Charlie Day) from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia to help her fight the leprechaun; she may have had an easier battle. Where is the rat killer when you need him?
Paul Rudd - 'Halloween: The Curse Of Michael Myers' (1995)
The world's sexiest man, Paul Rudd, got his start in Halloween: the Curse of Michael Myers.
He plays Tommy Doyle, the kid that Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) babysat in the original film. In this film, Tommy is all grown up, and he is obsessed with Michael Myers.
Jamie Lee Curtis - 'Halloween' (1978)
Following in her mother's Janet Leigh's footsteps, Jamie Lee Curtis got her start with what would become one of the most popular horror franchises in history. Curtis played as Laurie Strode, the babysitter, and first final girl to face off with Michael Myers.
Curtis would star in lesser-known slasher films and eventually break into other roles, especially comedy. Only to come around full circle and revise her role as Laurie Strode to face Michael Myers again in Halloween, Halloween Kills, and Halloween Ends.
Chrispin Glover - 'Friday The 13th IV: The Final Chapter' (1984)
Before trying to win Lorraine's heart at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance or playing as the strange character Layne in the underrated film River's Edge Crispin Glover would get his start as the goofy virgin Jimmy in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, where he takes a corkscrew to the hand and a machete to the face.
Interesting fact: Crispin Glover played as Marty's father (Michael J Fox) in Back to the Future and as his friend on the hit sitcom Family Ties.
Brad Pitt - 'Cutting Class' (1989)
Brad Pitt won the world over with his stellar performance in Thelma and Louise. However, he began his successful career in the 80s slasher film Cutting Class, a movie about a student who escapes from a mental institution and starts cutting people up. Similar to the plot of many slashers in the 80s, someone had escaped from a mental institution and cuts up people in the woods, on campus, in a furniture store, grocery store, etc.
Brad Pitt would later star in the fantastic horror thriller film Seven.
Christian Slater - 'Twisted' (1986)
Before he was a young gun, Christian Slater starred in the little-known horror flick Twisted. He had been in a few television series and films playing bit parts and supporting roles but Twisted was his first starring role playing as a killer teenager.
It wouldn't be until films like Heathers, Pump up the Volume, and True Romance that Slater would become a household name.