Tony Moran, who played iconic psycho Michael Myers in scenes toward the end of the original “Halloween,” will be appearing in Waterbury in August during a horror convention.
The convention, “CT Horrorfest,” is being birthed by Seymour resident Christine Caprilozzi, and the gang at the Horror News Network.
The convention is Aug. 23.
It will be held at the Courtyard Marriott. Click here for the convention’s website.
Click here for the Facebook page and click here for the convention’s Twitter account.
Moran is the older brother of Erin Moran, famous for her role as Joanie Cunningham on “Happy Days” and “Joanie Loves Chachi.”
Moran will be signing autographs (for a fee) at the convention and talking to fans about his scenes in “Halloween,” the low-budget 1978 independent flick considered to be one of the most influential (and critically praised) horror films of all time.
Moran was in the scene where Myers is unmasked, which happens at the climax of the fright flick. There were actually several actors who played Myers at various points in the movie.
The Valley Indy recently chatted with Moran about the movie and his upcoming appearance in the Nutmeg state. The interview has been condensed.
Valley Indy: What’s the wackiest thing you’ve been asked to sign?
Moran: “A woman wanted me to sign her butt, so I did. I’ve tattooed a few people. They’ll want my signature so they can get it tattooed. I’ve actually inked the tattoo myself for four or five people.”
Valley Indy: Isn’t it a bit grueling to sign all those autographs at these conventions?
Moran: “Actually, no, at least not for me. I don’t think it is for most of us. It’s for the fans, and without them, I’m nobody. It’s very humbling.”
Valley Indy: “Halloween” is one of the most highly regarded horror films of all time. The story of its small budget and tight shooting schedule is well known. You obviously had no idea it would become a classic.
Moran: “I thought it would do a week or two at the drive-in, and that would be that. At first, I didn’t even want to do it. I was in an acting workshop and, at 21 years old, I was taking myself pretty seriously. My agent said Jamie Lee Curtis was in it, and I said ‘Who the heck is that?’ Then she told me Donald Pleasence was in it and I just flipped. I was a big fan of his. Also … I needed the money.”
Valley Indy: It’s 1978. You’re 21 years old in a low-budget flick with Jaime Lee Curtis and PJ Soles. Was it all drinking and hanging out all the time?
Moran: “There wasn’t anything like that on the set. We were all one big happy family, for sure, and had a great time, but it was all business. The budget was so low that (director) John Carpenter wasn’t doing more than three or so takes for each scene. Everything was rush, rush, rush, but Carpenter was so brilliant, every shot was preplanned. There wasn’t much hanging around waiting. He knew exactly what he wanted in every shot.”
Here’s Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel talking about “Halloween” in 1980.
Valley Indy: I saw John Carpenter speak at a horror convention a few years ago. He was funny, in a world-weary, curmudgeonly way. Was he a task-master on the set of “Halloween?”
Moran: “He was cool and good-natured.”
Valley Indy: It’s been some 35 years since “Halloween” was released. “Halloween,” essentially, birthed the 80s-era “slasher” genre. It set the “rules” for the genre, which were famously pointed out in “Scream,” the self-aware slasher flick. What was going on in the U.S. in the late 70s and early 80s that made the original “slasher” films so popular?
Moran: “What caused the chord to get struck? Beats me, to be honest. I wish I had some deep philosophical theory about it, but I just don’t.”
Valley Indy: I know you’ve been asked this a million times, but the Rob Zombie “Halloween” remake. You still haven’t seen it?
Moran: “You’ve heard, huh? No, I still haven’t seen it.”
Valley Indy: It’s on Netflix streaming! You’ve never passed by a room where maybe it was in the background and checked out a scene or two?
Moran: “Nope. Not one iota. I’m a huge fan of Rob Zombie. I’ve always loved his music, and I loved “The Devil’s Rejects” and “House of 1,000 Corpses.” But, the fact he remade my movie, I just can’t bring myself to watch it. It’s like being stabbed in the heart.”
Valley Indy: It’s that personal? Why?
Moran: “It’s like someone coming up to you and saying, ‘Hey, we want to make a movie about your life but we don’t want to use you, and we’re going to change it around, so it’s not really going to be what you remember from your life.’ It (the feeling) just sucks.”
Valley Indy: Zombie remade the original and then made a sequel. Did that indirectly help you in any way? Did you get more bookings on the horror convention circuit?
Moran: “Nah. The first “Halloween” stands on its own. (The remake) is just a totally different thing.”
Valley Indy: I’m sure you’ve read that Zombie’s movie looks at what caused Michael Myers to become Michael Myers.
Moran: “Yes, which totally takes away the mystery of Michael Myers.”
Valley Indy: The first two “Halloween” movies were big hits. I remember “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” was viewed as a disaster, although sources tell me it made $14 million on a $2.5 million budget. But now, some 32 years later, “Halloween III” has built a cult following. What’s your take on the third installment?
Moran: “I’ve never seen it. I’ve only seen Halloween I and II because those are the ones I was involved in. With III, I’ve heard Universal Studios got hold of the script and changed everything.”
Valley Indy: You’ve said you got out of acting and “went underground.” Why did you become so private?
Moran: “My little sister is Erin Moran, from ‘Happy Days.’ I just wanted to get away. I was starting to get small roles on a lot of television shows. I was starting to get recognized on the street. It was not something I particularly craved. I got out of acting in my early 30s. I got fed up with Hollywood. I just went underground. You couldn’t have found me if you’ve tried.”
Valley Indy: You had seen how fame and attention can have a negative affect on people?
Moran: “I saw what it did to my little sister. It pretty much ruined her.”
Valley Indy: How does it ruin a person?
Moran: “We started at the same time, when we were little kids. We both did a commercial together. She was 5 and I was 9. I hated it, but she kept going. (Erin was cast as Richie Cunningham’s little sister, Joanie, at age 14). She really, really ate up the attention. She loved it, and she still does. It makes her feel like a different person, I guess. But these kids get used to that attention and getting pampered for so many years. It’s a different reality, but it doesn’t last forever. Then there’s the whole Hollywood scene with drugs and alcohol. The combinations can just about ruin you.”
Valley Indy: How is Erin doing now? Are you in touch at all?
Moran: “No, she’s not in touch with anyone in our family. There’s six kids in the family, but she’s not really in touch.”
Valley Indy: What’s the most common questions fans pose to you at conventions?
Moran: “They’ll ask what it was like working with Jamie Lee Curtis or John Carpenter. And they’ll say, ‘I thought you were taller.’”
