Alan Ormsby
Encyclopedia
Alan Ormsby is an American
director
, screenwriter
, make up artist, actor
and author
. He is best known for his work in the horror genre.
directed Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things
(1972). In addition to writing the film's script, Ormsby played the lead Alan and provided the film's make-up effects. Two years later, Ormsby and Clark re-teamed on Deranged
and Deathdream
. Deranged, a horror film inspired by serial killer Ed Gein
, saw Clark producing with Ormsby writing and co-directing the feature (with Jeff Gillen), while Deathdream saw Clark directing another Ormsby script.
The early 1980s saw Ormsby continue as a screenwriter with Ormsby providing the scripts for My Bodyguard
(1980), The Little Dragons
(1980), Paul Schrader's Cat People
(1982) and Clark's Porky's II: The Next Day
(1983). Ormsby returned to directing with Popcorn
. Written by Ormsby, the film production saw him leave the director's chair early on, to be replaced by Porky's
actor Mark Herrier
. The only footage shot by Ormsby that remains in the final film are the scenes from the faux horror films shown in the theater. In 1996, he co-wrote The Substitute
, which became a successful series of films.
, which would be featured on The Pee-wee Herman Show
and Uncle Floyd's variety show.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, make up artist, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. He is best known for his work in the horror genre.
Film career
Ormsby began work in feature films with the Bob ClarkBob Clark
Benjamin "Bob" Clark was an American actor, director, screenwriter and producer best known for directing and writing the script with Jean Shepherd to the 1983 Christmas film A Christmas Story...
directed Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things
Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things
Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things is a 1972 comedic horror film directed by Bob Clark...
(1972). In addition to writing the film's script, Ormsby played the lead Alan and provided the film's make-up effects. Two years later, Ormsby and Clark re-teamed on Deranged
Deranged
Deranged is a Canadian/American horror film made in 1974 and directed by Alan Ormsby and Jeff Gillen. It is also known by the title Deranged: The Confessions of a Necrophile in the USA...
and Deathdream
Deathdream
Deathdream is a 1972 Canadian horror film, directed by Bob Clark and written by Alan Ormsby. It was inspired by the W.W. Jacobs short story The Monkey's Paw.-Plot summary:...
. Deranged, a horror film inspired by serial killer Ed Gein
Ed Gein
Edward Theodore "Ed" Gein - July 26, 1984) was an American murderer and body snatcher. His crimes, committed around his hometown of Plainfield, Wisconsin, gathered widespread notoriety after authorities discovered Gein had exhumed corpses from local graveyards and fashioned trophies and keepsakes...
, saw Clark producing with Ormsby writing and co-directing the feature (with Jeff Gillen), while Deathdream saw Clark directing another Ormsby script.
The early 1980s saw Ormsby continue as a screenwriter with Ormsby providing the scripts for My Bodyguard
My Bodyguard
My Bodyguard is a 1980 comedy-drama film released by 20th Century Fox, directed by Tony Bill , and written by Alan Ormsby...
(1980), The Little Dragons
The Little Dragons
The Little Dragons is a 1980 American film about two young brothers who use their karate skills to rescue a friend after she is held captive for ransom. Produced and directed by Curtis Hanson...
(1980), Paul Schrader's Cat People
Cat People (1982 film)
Cat People is a 1982 American erotic horror film directed by Paul Schrader and starring Nastassja Kinski, Malcolm McDowell and John Heard. The film co-stars Annette O'Toole, Ruby Dee, Ed Begley, Jr. and John Larroquette. Jerry Bruckheimer served as executive producer...
(1982) and Clark's Porky's II: The Next Day
Porky's II: The Next Day
Porky's II: The Next Day is the 1983 sequel to the 1982 film Porky's. The film is written and directed by Bob Clark.-Plot:After dealing to Porky the "fatal" blow that was coming to him, the gang from Angel Beach is ready for a new challenge: The High School Drama Club is producing a Shakespeare...
(1983). Ormsby returned to directing with Popcorn
Popcorn (1991 film)
Popcorn is a 1991 American horror film, directed by Mark Herrier and written by Alan Ormsby.- Plot :A group of film students plan an all-night horror film festival in order to raise funds for their cinema club. They decide to show a number of horror films from the 1950s that rely on gimmicks such...
. Written by Ormsby, the film production saw him leave the director's chair early on, to be replaced by Porky's
Porky's
Porky's is a 1982 comedy film about the escapades of teenagers at the fictional Angel Beach High School in Florida in 1954. It was released in the United States in 1982, and spawned two sequels: Porky's II: The Next Day and Porky's Revenge! and influenced many writers in the teen film genre...
actor Mark Herrier
Mark Herrier
Mark Herrier is an American actor and film director, best known for his role as Billy in the 80's teen trilogy Porky's. He graduated from Lompoc High School in 1972....
. The only footage shot by Ormsby that remains in the final film are the scenes from the faux horror films shown in the theater. In 1996, he co-wrote The Substitute
The Substitute
The Substitute is a 1996 action-crime-thriller film directed by Robert Mandel and starring Tom Berenger, Ernie Hudson, Marc Anthony, William Forsythe, Raymond Cruz, and Luis Guzmán.-Plot:...
, which became a successful series of films.
Other works
In addition to his work in film, Ormsby is known for having authored the 1970s special make-up effects book Movie Monsters. He also created the popular doll Hugo: Man of a Thousand FacesHugo: Man of a Thousand Faces
Hugo: Man of a Thousand Faces, was a doll created by Alan Ormsby, and produced by Kenner toy company in 1975 and issued in the UK by the toy company Denys Fisher. The Hugo doll looked like a man, and came with a makeup kit, wig, glasses, and several different glue-on accessories...
, which would be featured on The Pee-wee Herman Show
The Pee-wee Herman Show
The Pee-wee Herman Show is a stage show developed by Paul Reubens in 1980. It marks the first significant appearance of his comedic fictional character, Pee-wee Herman, five years before Pee-wee's Big Adventure, and six years before Pee-wee's Playhouse...
and Uncle Floyd's variety show.