Who can carry the torch?
 

First Vincent Price, then Peter Cushing, now Christopher Lee.

Who will carry on the legacy of the true horror masters?

Tim Curry was the closest my generation was able to come, and he has retired.

Honestly, I can't think of anyone

The closest I can think of with the class, sophistication and style of the above mentioned would be Benedict Cumberbatch. Though his genre isn't horror specific.

That IS a good pick, newb. They both played Sherlock Holmes!

I can't think of anyone who is particularly known for horror...

I thought of one! Frank Langella!

If you mean who will carry the torch for the old brigade i dont think anyone is left.As for the now brigade Kane Hodder springs to mind.

Bruce Campbell

Robert Englund

Kane Hodder

Anthony Hopkins

Jamie Lee Curtis

But with the loss of Christopher Lee and Betsy Palmer it's the end of an era. A tough year for horror.

I could get yelled at here but i wouldnt put Bruce as a horror torch bearer.When was the last time he made a horror movie,and more-so when was the last time he played anything straight and instead of joking around.

Dont get me wrong,i love Campbell,but a horror legend,i dont think so.

Neither would i put Hopkins in too,a fantastic actor i have no doubt but horror is not his genre.

The only person I agree with is Curtis. What other horror was Campbell, Englund, Hodder, or Hopkins in??

They're still legends to me dammit!

Jeffery Combs, Anthony Hopskins & Jeffery Rush

Could you imagine if he did do horror? He would own it.


I think Robert Englund could do it. Maybe not in the classiest way, but he could do it.

I totally feel this

As much as I love these guys, they just can't hold a candle to the masters... They don't have the same range, depth, or... I can't even define the qualities that are missing, maybe it's a 'legendary icon' sort of thing... Perhaps Bruce Campbell or Robert Englund can achieve something like that in 20 or 30 more years... Maybe the reason there are no equivalent modern masters, is simply the fact that they are 'modern'... I hope they get there someday.

WHAT?!... Just off the top of my head -

Robert Englund:
Galaxy of Terror
2001 Maniacs
Jack Brooks Monster Slayer

Bruce Campbell:
My Name is Bruce
Man With the Screaming Brain
The Woods

Kane Hodder:
Hatchet (Okay, that's not much of a stretch from Friday the Thirteenth...)

I really think you might be surprised if you check out their IMDB pages... Robert Englund's horrorography is quite extensive.

I absolutely considered Jeffrey Combs... But, I quickly threw him in with the other aforementioned...and to that list I would add Tony Todd, Ted Raimi, and Brad Dourif.


CLASS... Perhaps that's part of what the others are missing... Robert Englund kinda got a bit sleazy here and there (Zombie Strippers... I mean, I actually thought the movie was better than I expected it to be, but it certainly didn't do Englund's reputation any favors)...in the way of Corey Feldman.

Opps - didn't see that this was answered....

Robert Englund:
Hatchet
Wish Master
Strangeland
The Vampyre Wars
The Mangler
Dance Macabre
The Phantom of the Opera
C.H.U.D. II - Bud the Chud
Night Terrors
Urban Legend
Zombie Strippers!
2001 Maniacs
etc etc and I have missed a few I am sure plus a bunch of Horror Tv shows like Masters of Horror and Nightmare Cafe.

I will let you check the others.

Brad Dourif.

Been in several horror flicks and he's awsome. ::cool::

SPOT ON!!

I'm going to mention Elijah Wood, he seems to be doing more horror lately and can be insanely creepy. I'm not saying he can carry the torch right now but I feel like he's heading in that direction. Norman Reedus could be up there one day as well, he has B movies and big budget horror under his belt, a successful horror themed television show, and he's still doing horror(ish?) stuff with movies like Air. As for the old guard, most people have mentioned the actors I think of when I think of horror, Jack Nicholson is good in theory and if he returned to horror it could be amazing but I doubt that will happen. Two people I'd love to see go into the later years of their careers waving the horror flag if I had some insane cinematic wish granted would be Kurt Russel and Pam Grier.

Agree on Elijah Wood......think he would fall into the Peter Lorre category.

I do agree about Elijah Wood. He was very good in Grand Piano, and he was decent in Open Windows, but that seemed mostly due to the sort of mediocre writing and confusing plot. I don't remember much from Maniac. I wasn't really paying attention to it. I need to watch it again.

Elijah Wood's name didn't jump to mind but I have to agree. He has an uncanny presence, in the most literal sense. He always feels familiar while seeming out of place. Have to give a nod to Newb on the Peter Lorre comparison. That's a perfect parallel.

More horror actors/actresses to fill the shoes:

Warwick Davis

Johnny Depp

Tony Todd

Sigourney Weaver

One of my personal favourites : Michael Ironside.

Elijah Wood was pretty damn creepy in Sin City.

But is there a purpose mentioning really good actors who hasn't been in any horror movies? (Not talking about Elijah here)

Well, let's be real here, no actor wants to be typecast as a "Horror actor" -- only thing worse is a "child actor". Go ahead and ask them (or read interviews). They graciously say they are pleased to do the work they do, including Horror -- whatever allows them to act for a living, they will embrace -- good guy, bad guy, a mix... they love acting and making a living at it. Traditionally, Horror films don't get big money nor professional accolades in the biz.

Anthony Hopkins is no different. I consider him a Horror actor, but not in exclusion to other types of acting. His biggest films include:

Magic
Silence of the Lambs (his only Best Actor Oscar)
Hannibal
Red Dragon
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Fracture

Hopkins is now known as a great "evil actor".

Just saying, simply because they've had other roles is no reason to exclude them as a Horror actor.

See above ::wink::

I'm not sure if someone said Lin Shaye, but she's definitely one of the great horror actresses. She was in ANOES, Insidious, Dead End, 2001 Maniacs and quite a few others.

Lin Shaye is an excellent pick. Just based on the titles I can think of, she has major horror cred. Killer talent as well.