Cast & creator
John Carpenter
Best known for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Rifleman, Halloween
An American film director, screenwriter, producer, editor, composer, and occasional actor. Although Carpenter has worked in numerous film genres in his four-decade career, his name is most commonly associated with horror and science fiction. Most films in Carpenter's career were initially commercial and critical failures, with the notable exceptions of Halloween (1978), The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981), and Starman (1984). However, many of Carpenter's films from the 1970s and the 1980s have come to be viewed as cult classics, and he has been acknowledged as an influential filmmaker. Cult classics that Carpenter directed include: Dark Star (1974), Assault on Precinct 13 (1976), The Thing (1982), Christine (1983), Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Prince of Darkness (1987), They Live (1988) and In the Mouth of Madness (1995). His films are characterized by minimalist lighting and photography, static cameras, use of steadicam, and distinctive synthesized scores. Carpenter is also notable for having composed or co-composed most of the music of his films; some of them are now considered cult as well, with the main theme of Halloween being considered a part of popular culture. His music is generally synthesized with accompaniment from piano and atmospherics. He released his first studio album Lost Themes in 2015, and also won a Saturn Award for Best Music for Vampires (1998). Carpenter is an outspoken proponent of widescreen filming, and all of his theatrical movies (with the exception of Dark Star and The Ward) were filmed anamorphic with a 2.35:1 or greater aspect ratio. The Ward was shot in Super 35, the first time Carpenter has ever used that system. Carpenter has stated he feels that the 35mm Panavision anamorphic format is "the best movie system there is", preferring it over both digital and 3D film. Many of Carpenter's films have been re-released on DVD as special editions with numerous bonus features. Carpenter has been the subject of the documentary film John Carpenter: The Man and His Movies, and American Cinematheque's 2002 retrospective of his films. Moreover, in 2006, the United States Library of Congress deemed Halloween to be "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry. In 2010, writer and actor Mark Gatiss interviewed Carpenter about his career and films for his BBC documentary series A History of Horror. Carpenter appears in all three episodes of the series. He was also interviewed by Robert Rodriguez for his The Director's Chair series on El Rey Network. Many filmmakers have been influenced by Carpenter, including James Cameron, Quentin Tarantino (The Hateful Eight was heavily influenced by The Thing), Guillermo del Toro, Robert Rodriguez, Edgar Wright, Danny Boyle, Nicolas Winding Refn, Bong Joon-ho, among others. The video game Dead Space 3 is said to be influenced by Carpenter's The Thing, The Fog and Halloween, and Carpenter has stated that he would be enthusiastic to adapt that series into a feature film.
Also known as: Martin Quatermass, Frank Armitage, John T. Chance, Rip Haight, John Howard Carpenter
235
film credits
19
television credits
123
1958–2026 · acting roles
6.6
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (254)
Showing 254 of 254 credits
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Guest
2015
The Rifleman
1958
Halloween
Paul (voice) / Michael Myers (uncredited)
1978Halloween
Director
1978Halloween
Original Music Composer
1978Halloween
Screenplay
1978
The Thing
Norwegian (video footage) (uncredited)
1982The Thing
Director
1982The Thing
Original Music Composer
1982
Masters of Horror
Director
2005
Through the Night with...
Self
2002
Crossbow
1987
The Movies That Made Us
Self (Archival Footage)
2019
Halloween Kills
Original Music Composer
2021Halloween Kills
Characters
2021Halloween Kills
Executive Producer
2021
Escape from New York
Secret Service #2 / Helicopter Pilot / Violin Player
1981Escape from New York
Director
1981Escape from New York
Original Music Composer
1981Escape from New York
Screenplay
1981
Halloween Ends
Original Music Composer
2022Halloween Ends
Characters
2022Halloween Ends
Executive Producer
2022
Halloween
Executive Producer
2018Halloween
Original Music Composer
2018Halloween
Characters
2018
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
Characters
1998
The Boy Who Could Fly
The Coupe de Villes
1986
Halloween II
Screenplay
1981Halloween II
Producer
1981Halloween II
Original Music Composer
1981
Halloween
Original Film Writer
2007Halloween
Characters
2007
Charles Band’s Full Moon Freakshow
2022
Christine
Director
1983Christine
Original Music Composer
1983
They Live
Voice That Says 'Sleep' (voice) (uncredited)
1988They Live
Director
1988They Live
Screenplay
1988They Live
Original Music Composer
1988
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Main Title Theme Composer
1988Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Characters
1988
Halloween II
Characters
2009
Big Trouble in Little China
Worker in Chinatown (uncredited)
1986Big Trouble in Little China
Director
1986Big Trouble in Little China
Original Music Composer
1986
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
Characters
1995Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
Main Title Theme Composer
1995
Escape from L.A.
Director
1996Escape from L.A.
Screenplay
1996Escape from L.A.
Characters
1996Escape from L.A.
Original Music Composer
1996
The Real History of Science Fiction
Self
2014
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
Producer
1982Halloween III: Season of the Witch
Original Music Composer
1982
Assault on Precinct 13
Original Film Writer
2005
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
Characters
1989Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
Main Title Theme Composer
1989
Starman
Man in Helicopter (uncredited)
1984Starman
Director
1984
Ghosts of Mars
Director
2001Ghosts of Mars
Original Music Composer
2001Ghosts of Mars
Writer
2001
John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in L.A.
Self
2024
Halloween: Resurrection
Characters
2002
In the Mouth of Madness
Director
1995In the Mouth of Madness
Original Music Composer
1995
Studio 666
Engineer
2022Studio 666
Music
2022
Village of the Damned
Man at Gas Station Phone
1995Village of the Damned
Director
1995Village of the Damned
Original Music Composer
1995
Prince of Darkness
Director
1987Prince of Darkness
Screenplay
1987Prince of Darkness
Original Music Composer
1987
Firestarter
Original Music Composer
2022
The Fog
Bennett
1980The Fog
Director
1980The Fog
Original Music Composer
1980The Fog
Screenplay
1980
A History of Horror
Self
2010
The Fog
Producer
2005The Fog
Original Film Writer
2005
Vampires
Director
1998Vampires
Original Music Composer
1998
The Director's Chair
Self
2014
100 Scariest Movie Moments
Self
2004
Memoirs of an Invisible Man
Helicopter Pilot
1992Memoirs of an Invisible Man
Director
1992
The Philadelphia Experiment
Executive Producer
1984
Dark Star
Talby Voice
1974Dark Star
Director
1974Dark Star
Screenplay
1974Dark Star
Producer
1974Dark Star
Original Music Composer
1974Dark Star
Original Story
1974
Assault on Precinct 13
Gang Member (uncredited)
1976Assault on Precinct 13
Director
1976Assault on Precinct 13
Original Music Composer
1976Assault on Precinct 13
Writer
1976Assault on Precinct 13
Editor
1976
100 Years of Horror
Self - Interview
1996
John Carpenter's Suburban Screams
Executive Producer
2023John Carpenter's Suburban Screams
Main Title Theme Composer
2023John Carpenter's Suburban Screams
Director
2023John Carpenter's Suburban Screams
Creator
2023
Amityville: An Origin Story
Self
2023
Eyes of Laura Mars
Screenplay
1978Eyes of Laura Mars
Story
1978
The Ward
Director
2010
Black Moon Rising
Screenplay
1986Black Moon Rising
Story
1986Black Moon Rising
Executive Producer
1986
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not
Self (archive footage)
2025
The Silence of the Hams
Trenchcoat Man / Gimp
1994
Body Bags
Coroner
1993Body Bags
Director
1993Body Bags
Executive Producer
1993Body Bags
Original Music Composer
1993
Someone's Watching Me!
Director
1978Someone's Watching Me!
Writer
1978
The Thing Expanded
Self
2026
Partners in Crime: Hitchcock's Collaborators
Self
2008
First Works
Self
1989
Valley of the Dead
Additional Music
2020
Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film
Self
2006
Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters
Self
2024
The Last Foxtrot in Burbank
Editor
1973
Nightmare Factory
Self
2011
The Spot
Thanks
2023
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
(archive footage)
2020
The American Nightmare
Self
2000
Vampires: Los Muertos
Music
2002Vampires: Los Muertos
Executive Producer
2002
The Wages of Sin
Self - Filmmaker
2003
Scary Girl
2011
Elvis
Director
1979
El Diablo
Writer
1990
Silent Predators
Teleplay
1999
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects
Self
1994
Hollywood's Greatest Villains
Self
2005
The History of Metal and Horror
Self
2021
In Search of Tomorrow
Self - Interviewee
2022
Tales from the Script
Self
2009
Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven'
Self
2000
Captain Voyeur
Writer
1969Captain Voyeur
Director
1969Captain Voyeur
Producer
1969
The Perfect Scary Movie
Self
2005
Halloween: 25 Years of Terror
Self
2006
Dark Glamour: The Blood and Guts of Hammer Productions
Self - Filmmaker
2017
Cigarette Burns
Director
2005
John Carpenter: The Man and His Movies
Self
2004
The Thing: Terror Takes Shape
Self
1998
Horror Cafe
Self
1990Return to 'Escape from New York'
Himself
2003
Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror
Self
2001Track Stories
Self
2015
Fear in the Dark
Self
1991
Better Late Than Never
Writer
1979
Charlie Brown: Blockhead's Revenge
Self/Host
2011The Debra Hill Story
Self
Tales from the Mist: Inside 'The Fog'
Self
2002
Scream and Scream Again: A History of the Slasher Film
Self
2000
Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of Hitchcock
Self
2008
In Search of Darkness: Part III
Self
2022
The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style
Self
2009
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
Self
2006
Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest
Self
2003
In Search of Darkness: Part II
Self
2020
Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX
Self
2008
Halloween: The Inside Story
Self
2010
Zuma Beach
Writer
1978Fasten Your Seatbelt: The Thrilling Art of Alfred Hitchcock
Self
2009
Henchman: The Al Leong Story
Self
2018
Halloween: Existence
Characters
2012
Why Horror?
Self
2014
Full Moon Rising: The Charles Band Story
Self
2026
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue
Self
2009
Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown
Self
2008
Stephen King's World of Horror
Self
1989
Something to Do with Death
Self - Filmmaker
2003
The Making of 'They Live'
Self
1988
The Stationmaster
Music
1971The Stationmaster
Musician
1971
The Resurrection of Broncho Billy
Writer
1970The Resurrection of Broncho Billy
Music
1970The Resurrection of Broncho Billy
Editor
1970
Jean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound
Self
2015
Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre
Self
2000
Nunca más asistas a este tipo de fiestas
Thanks
2010
Red Desert Nights: Making Ghosts of Mars
Self
2001
Christine: Fast and Furious
Self
2004
Stand Alone: The Making of Halloween III: Season of the Witch
Music
2012
The Making of 'The Thing'
Self
1982
In Search of Darkness
Self
2019
Hollywood's Creepiest Creatures
Self
2004
Working with a Master: John Carpenter
Self (archive footage)
2006
In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy
Self
2008
Plaga zombie: zona mutante: revolución tóxica
Thanks
2012
Stephen King's World of Horror
Self
1986
Pro-Life
Director
2006
Commemoration: Howard Hawks' 'Rio Bravo'
Self
2007
Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story
Self
2006
Nunca asistas a este tipo de fiestas
Thanks
2000
Let There Be Light: The Odyssey of Dark Star
Himself (voice)
2010
It Takes a Village: The Making of Village of the Damned
Self
2016Escape from New York
Executive Producer
Escape from New York
Original Film Writer
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
Self
2006
Halloween in Hollywood
Self
2022
The Rise of the Synths
Narrator (voice)
2019
Carpenter
Self (archive footage)
2026Carpenter
Original Film Writer
2026
Monsterland
Self
2009
Hidden Values: The Movies of the Fifties
Self
2001
After Sunset: The Life & Times of the Drive-In Theater
Self
1995
Bernard Herrmann: Hitchcock's Maestro
Self
2008
Caged In
Thanks
1997Bringing A Legend To Life
Himself
1979
An Opera of Violence
Self - Filmmaker
2003
Blood River
Writer
1991
Monstres, l'ennemi de l'intérieur
Self
2017
Masters of Horror
Self
2002
AGFA Mystery Mixtape #4: Follow Your Own Star
Self
2020Untitled Bong Joon-ho Horror Film
Original Music Composer
Scoring 'Ghosts of Mars'
Self
2001
Good Morning, Dan
Camera Operator
1968
Take One: Fear on Film
Self
1982
Christine: Ignition
Self
2004
John Carpenter Live: Behind the Scenes
Original Music Composer
2022John Carpenter Live: Behind the Scenes
Executive Producer
2022
Bloodsucking Cinema
Self
2007
John Carpenter: Live Retrospective
Self
2018
The Little Cotton Girl
Thanks
2002
In Search of Darkness: 1990-1994
Self
2024
Prince of Darkness
Original Film Writer
2021
The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie
Self
2012
1982: Hollywood Summer
Self
2019
Christine: Finish Line
Self
2004
Scoring "Resident Evil"
Self (archive footage)
2002
In Search of Darkness: 1995-1999
Self
2025The Future of Fear
Self
2011
Do You Remember Laurie Zimmer?
Self (voice)
2003
John Carpenter: Live At Primavera Sound 2016
Self - Keyboards
2016
John Carpenter: Live From Los Angeles - Halloween Night
Self
2025
Snake Plissken: Man of Honor
Self
2005
The Puppet Man
The Taxi Driver
2016The Puppet Man
Music
2016
Halloween: Unmasked
Self
1999
He Came Home
Music
2018Carpenter on Quatermass
Self
2014
Big John
Self
2006Untitled Halloween Film
Characters