Michael Myers

Full Name: Michael Audrey Myers

Born: October 19, 1957 - Location: Haddonfield, Illinois, U.S.A. (Some people argue that Michael's birthday is listed as October 30 1957 but this seems an error, according to details from the original movie...)

Parents: Donald (or Ron, according to IMDB online) and Edith Myers

Siblings: Judith (deceased, 1963) and Laurie Myers (Laurie was adopted later on (1965?) and underwent a name change)

Childhood home: 35 Lampkin Lane, Haddonfield - then later, Smiths Grove Mental Institution

Psychiatrist: Dr. Samuel J. Loomis, since 1978 (now deceased, as of 2002)

Height: 6 feet, 2 inches

Weight: 185 lbs

Eyes: Dark Brown

Hair: Brown

Last Seen: 2002, Haddonfield, Illinios, U.S.A.

Status: Considered armed and extremely dangerous

Weapon of choice: Kitchen/Large Butcher Knife

The actor who played Michael Myers in the original Halloween movie (1978) was Tony Moran. Yep, that's right, Erin Moran's BIG BROTHER !

Erin Moran played character, Joannie, in the long running, immensely successful Happy Days series (1974-1984) - and then she was also in the short-lived (1982-83) "Joannie Loves Chachi."

So, while Erin was hangin' out with The Fonz, older brother, Richie, friends Ralph Malf and Chachi, and making Season 5 of "Happy Days," HER REAL OLDER BROTHER - Tony Moran - was hangin' out with the likes of Donald Pleasance (character, Dr. Sam Loomis), Jamie Lee Curtis (Laurie Strode), and director, John Carpenter, in order to make the Halloween film!

* Spoiler - details of the movie, Halloween, are below. If you have not yet seen this movie, you might want to return to this hub at a later date after you've viewed the film.

The story of Michael Myers plays out like urban myth - a story incomprehensible but 'true' - rather, a story almost too horrific to imagine, yet truly trapped in celluloid for all to see - time and time again...the story will never go away.

The very first movie in the series begins with a dirty family secret (Michael went crazy and killed his sister, then was locked away in an asylum...for a time...) and Michael represents 'pure evil,' from the very start.

A most shocking detail viewers are presented with in the film is that Michael violently murders his older sister when he is a mere child - six years old. He is taken to Smith's Grove Sanitarium. When Michael is 21 years old (fifteen years of life in a sanitarium), he escapes from the sanitarium and wreaks havoc, stalking several teens, killing them each in the most gruesome manner.

One of the female teens that Michael stalks is the very feisty Laurie Strode, played by actress Jamie Lee Curtis, and Laurie manages a reasonable job of fending a fiendish adult Michael Myers off. His psychiatrist, Dr. Sam Loomis, manages to track him down before Michael manages to kill Laurie.

BY the time Dr. Loomis finds the harrassed Laurie and stalker, Michael, they are on the second story of the house, and Dr. Loomis seems to have no choice but to shoot Michael in order to save the female teen. Michael is shot in the chest - six times - and staggers backward, falling over the balcony ledge to the ground, two stories below.

When Dr. Loomis gets down to ground level outside, MIchael's body is not where a regular body should be after 6 bullets and a fall from a second-story balcony!

You'll be sure to note that the explanation of how the "Halloween" movie 'plays out' hasn't taken long to write at all...rather, the plot doesn't take up a great deal of space here on hubpages...

Like most great urban myths, details are brief and 'sketchy,' and nothing is very well explained. Really, the movie isn't chock-full of plot - basically an escaped lunatic goes on a murderous rampage then disappears! (Something very much like the story of "The Hook" isn't it?)

The full 'why' and 'how' of most of the best urban myths go unanswered. It is the same with the first movie in the Halloween series.

The biggest question: how could a human survive the physical beating of bullets and a crushing topple out of a window?

The anwer is not a reasonable answer...it's just a suggestion but is the most that we can wrap our heads around.

The explanation: Michael Myers is pure evil...therefore, NOT human - so he survived the physical effects of bullets and falling. Not to mention abuse at the self-defending hands of Laurie Strode who actually manages to thrust a long knitting needle into Michael's face while defending herself.

What we have here is a nice pattern of THREE...

Michael endures at least 3 seeming FATAL injuries... a knitting needle is stabbed into his face/brain, multiple-gunshots rip into his chest and heart, and he falls from an extensive height...

Where did Michael Myers go?

I don't know...where does pure evil go when it loses its first series of battles?

Since 1978 at least six people have acted as 'The Shape' of Michael Myers. No doubt, this is because the film sequels have spanned fully over a 20+ year time period.

We Love To Fear Michael Myers!

We know his most likely 'moves' and are horrified by his (psychotic?) motivations, yet we still watch intently to see what Michael will do from sequel to sequel. Ultimately, we are watching for his death...while we know he cannot really be killed.

He just keeps coming back! Again and again and again.

When John Carpenter's "Halloween" hit the theatres in 1978, viewers screamed and gasped, hanging on to the edges of their seats, perhaps covering their eyes with shaking hands...

And now that sequels have been made and DVDs and DVD Collections are common in most households, viewers can scream some more, fidget in their seats, cover their eyes some more - but this time, from the comfort of their own homes.

I'm not sure which is actually more frightening - watching scary movies in the theatre or at home.

At least once one leaves the theatre, part of the fear is left behind. Often, scary movies are more frightening at home because during viewing or even in breaks from watching, one may hear exterior noises or 'house' noises, which may amplify what's happening on-screen.

Add to the effects at home if you plan to get into the Halloween (seasonal) spirit and watch the Halloween series, all the sequels back-to-back...

Some tips for those who plan to celebrate Halloween with a series of spooky movies from the comfort of home...

* Know where your pets are and know their usual 'napping spots' and behaviors. Knowing these things will save on your nerves if you press 'pause' on the DVD in order to 'take your break' - particularly if you have just watched a 'stealthfully, secretly stalking' scene. You don't want to end up hearing your labrador's paws padding along right behind you down the hallway and mistake the sounds for Michael Myers sneaking up on you!

What would you do, anyway, if Michael was after you?

If you're male:

* Don't act "macho" - just RUN! Get the heck outta the house! Michael really won't care about any acts of bravado now, will he?

If you're female:

* Don't trip and fall down as you start to run...if you DO fall down - ROLL WITH IT, gal - use whatever momentum you can muster out of the mishap - then RUN!

* RUN - somewhere OUT of the house....for goshsakes, NOT UPSTAIRS and NOT into a closet! Michael will find you!

Ohyeah...any noises you hear are probably just your pooch or kitty.

:)

Second tip if you're going to celebrate a special spooky Halloween night of movie-watching:

* Prepare, prepare, prepare! That means...don't get excited and just start the DVD...you know darned well that you will want popcorn at some point...and a drink to go with the popcorn or whichever other crunchy snack you're partial to.

Make your popcorn or put your snacks in a bowl, get your drinks together and all ready for consumption at the most opportune moment.....and THEN start the DVD player so that you can enjoy the movie.

This second tip has nothing to do with helping calm your nerves after watching a few fright-scenes...it's just common sense! As well, most people view movies more than one time, so if you're thinking of stopping to make popcorn during a scene you're familiar with...

DON'T!

That's silly...you'll break the flow of the show, especially if one of the movies you're viewing is one you've seen before.

Third tip - for movies you've seen before:

You'll want to be sure to get 'maximum fright' out of some of the 'older shows' you've seen before, so you'll have to get creative! If your place is reasonably soundproofed, you can add to your experience by messing with the VOLUME control on your remote control during scenes where you are already quite certain about. Often the spookiest, creepiest effects are in the sound effects of movies.

Particularly creepy at LOUD volumes:

1. "Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch!" From the Friday The 13th Series. Yeah, Jason's way creepy!

2. The "da-dum...............daaaaaaa-dum...........da-dum.....da-dum...da-dum...da-dum...da-dum dadum dadum dadumdadumdadumdadum." of the JAWS music, tones beginning quite spaced apart, then occurring more closely together right before the shark attacks!

3. That very old, finger-snappin' tune, "Jeepers Creepers" (where'd ya get those peepers?) - sounding like it is being played on an old victrola/old 'crank' record player in the movie of the same name.

4. Any clown that is laughing...when only the clown is laughing and is not in a crowd, say, at the circus, where clowns are supposed to be laughing. (Thanks to films like 'Magic,' "Saw," 'IT' and several other fantastically spooky movies).

5. Hannibal Lecter affirming boldly, "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti - f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-ftt!"

Ooooo I'm too spooked to go on! Trust me - VOLUME will heighten the spook-effects quite nicely for most films.

* Note - no specific tips for "Halloween/Michael Myers" series sound effects because I don't want to dispell whatever 'spookiness' you are going to create yourself!

Other things that will help you get the most 'scare' out of the Halloween season and scary movies:

* If it is safe to do so where you live, candlelight is EXCELLENT for making shadows flick and careen strangely down the walls, couch, etc., and will make you think twice about leaving the room by yourself - for ANY reason - while the movie is still playing and you're still able to hear the sound effects and dialogue. *Note: a 'hurricane' barrier around flames is a safe way to go...these are like glass tubes to set on your candle holder, which enclose the flame and have an opening at the top so the fire of the candle won't be extinguished. You can purchase just 'hurricane covers' in different sizes, however, most 'hurricane candlelight lamps' are specially pieced together just in this style (holder, candle and hurricane cover to fit properly together) and are much safer than open flames.

Plus - you can actually move the hurricane style candle-holders around safely - in the event that you do have to leave the room for a moment...you can continue to scare yourself by walking around by candlelight *smirk* and NOT turning on the lights. It will serve you RIGHT to have to leave the lights off - if you started the film before getting your drinks ready!

Fourth tip is a 'safety tip' for those who have young children.

Most movies since the late 1970's use a lot of special effects and when the movies are horror, thriller, or slasher movies, THESE ARE REALLY NOT OKAY FOR KIDS TO VIEW - OR HEAR!

It is a good idea to let kids 5-12 KNOW what you're going to be up to (scaring yourself silly with spooky movies late at night!) - in the event that they overhear something scary after bedtime, perhaps when they are on the way to the washroom or to get a drink of water in the middle of the night. This way, at least the kids won't be overly shocked to overhear something like growling, 'maniacal dialogues' or screaming coming from the television-viewing area of your home. Sleepy kids in the middle of the night might just react differently to the kinds of sounds in horror movies, than they would during the daytime, so if your little ones DO WAKE UP and are frightened - do tend to their needs and reassure them that everything is alright. Don't dismiss their fears - after all, if you have planned to watch spook-movies, YOU MADE THE SCENARIO POSSIBLE for enhancing both the kids' fears and your own!

A good bet is to hold off on starting the movie experience - wait for about 2 hours - to 2 and a half hours after the kids fall asleep. At this point, most people are often getting into a deeper stage of the sleep cycle, so will be less likely to be restless and wake up.

Fifth and last tip:

"Ch-CH-CH-CH-CH.....f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-ftttttt!"

BOO!

Have fun.

As mentioned earlier, Tony Moran played the role of Michael Myers in the original film. Moran's role was for a brief scene where Myers is unmasked - however - another actor, Nick Castle, actually played Michael Myers throughout most of the movie for scenes where Michael Myers isn't clearly seen, is seen in the background, etc. For Halloween movie fans, Michael in the background, masked, in the shadows, etc., is known as "The Shape." Basically, Nick Castle is "The Shape" of Myers in the original film and Moran has a brief spot in the film as Michael Myers, too. According to the Pit of Horror website, during a stunt scene, the co-producer also played the role of Michael Myers just for the one scene.

An actor/stunt performer, Dick Warlock, acted as "The Shape" of Michael Myers for the second film in the Hallowe'en franchise. Dick Warlock - often billed as Richard Warlock in other films also has two sons in the movie business. Dick Warlock from Halloween II is sometimes said to be the one who played "The Shape" role best.

George P. Wilbur played Myers in Halloween IV.

I know you think I skipped an actor/movie but seriously, Halloween III had no Michael Myers in it. The third movie in the franchise didn't even follow the Myers history and storyline. I have no idea what the makers of Halloween III were thinking, but I consider it the worst movie in the franchise.

Don Shanks played Myers in Halloween 5 - billed as Donald L. Shanks in the credits.

George P Wilbur returned to play Myers in Halloween VI (6).

Chris Durand played Myers in Halloween H2O.

Basically all the actors who played Myers in the Halloween franchise movies have been stuntmen. All have long project lists and timelines for working in the film industry.