Horror film icons get starts on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Some horror greats will be added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame next year: "Halloween" director John Carpenter and actor Robert Englund - famous for playing Freddy Krueger.
(SOUNDBITE OF JOHN CARPENTER'S "HALLOWEEN THEME - MAIN TITLE")
AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:
For almost 50 years, that tune has struck fear in so many. And if you're a horror fan like me, maybe even a little delight - it's the unmistakable theme from John Carpenter's slasher classic, "Halloween."
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "HALLOWEEN")
BRIAN ANDREWS: (As Tommy Doyle) Was it the bogeyman?
KYLE RICHARDS: (As Lindsey Wallace) I'm scared.
JAMIE LEE CURTIS: (As Laurie Strode) There's nothing to be scared of.
ANDREWS: (As Tommy) Are you sure?
CURTIS: (As Laurie) I killed him.
ANDREWS: (As Tommy) You can't kill the bogeyman.
(SCREAMING)
RASCOE: The movie made actor Jamie Lee Curtis the quintessential final girl - you know, the one who survives the carnage and emerges stronger for it. And although John Carpenter is the wonderfully demented director behind Halloween and countless other fear flicks and creature features like "The Thing"...
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE THING")
KURT RUSSELL: (As R.J. MacReady) I know I'm human. And if you were all these things, then you'd just attack me right now. So some of you are still human.
RASCOE: ...He has never received that classic Hollywood honor, a star on the Walk of Fame.
(CHEERING)
RASCOE: And my fellow horror fans, don't reach for that kitchen knife or flamethrower just yet. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce made the right call and announced John Carpenter will get a star along with another horror great...
(SOUNDBITE OF CHARLES BERNSTEIN'S "MAIN TITLE")
RASCOE: ...My personal horror icon, the great Robert Englund, aka Freddy Krueger.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET")
ROBERT ENGLUND: (As Freddy Krueger) The souls of the children give me strength.
RASCOE: I actually spoke to Englund about his life and career last year.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)
ENGLUND: I've been around over 50 years in Hollywood, and there's been hills and valleys, dreams and nightmares, wins and losses. And all of those together - given me a little bit of wisdom over the years.
RASCOE: Englund told me he has no regrets being known as the killer with the knife glove who haunts your dreams.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)
ENGLUND: I'm sure the first line of my obituary would be - it will be Robert Englund, aka Freddy Krueger. You know, and I made peace with that a long time ago. I've done close to a hundred movies. And I sort of segued into these other films that were horror genre, and I would never have been offered those roles had I not stayed loyal to the genre.
RASCOE: Robert Englund and John Carpenter will be inducted alongside legends like Jane Fonda and Prince in the class of 2025 Hollywood Walk of Fame. And isn't it a dream that all of these legends are finally getting this honor? - but a nightmare that it took so long (imitating evil laughter) (laughter).
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