Robert Englund’s most famous role as Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise only scratches the surface of his prolific career. With over 150 credits in film and television and counting, the actor remains a heavyweight in the horror space. That includes cameo appearances, where Englund’s history and experience bring welcome depth to each part, no matter how fleeting.
Some Robert Englund cameos offer a wry wink to horror fans, while others intentionally play on audience expectations based on his more prominent roles.
For #RobertEnglundDay, here are six of the best Robert Englund cameos in horror.
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare
Writer/Director Wes Craven warmed up his meta-horror muscles with this 1994 franchise entry. Englund plays Freddy Krueger, who crosses over from his fictional film franchise into the real world to torment the cast and crew behind his films. While Englund plays a prominent role as Freddy Krueger, he also briefly cameos as himself. After so many years under a heavy coating of prosthetics and makeup, it’s refreshing to see the man behind the mask.
Urban Legend
Englund channels Freddy Krueger’s impatience and disdain for teenagers as Professor Wexler in this slasher. The professor doles out lessons in American folklore with an irritable dryness, exacerbated by class clowns like Damon Brooks (Joshua Jackson). Englund’s performance and preceding reputation in horror marks Professor Wexler as the perfect red herring; Wexler’s past as the sole survivor of the college campus’s previous massacre ensures he’s a prime suspect.
Wishmaster
Englund plays wealthy art collector Raymond Beaumont, the one ultimately responsible for importing the antique statue that’s imprisoning an evil Djinn. And it’s Beaumont that sets the stage for the climax when his wish for one killer party becomes just that: a bloodbath. Wishmaster packs in the horror cameos, including Kane Hodder, Tony Todd, Tom Savini, Angus Scrimm, Joseph Pilato, Ted Raimi, and Reggie Bannister. Robert Englund’s role technically may be slightly larger than a cameo, but it’s small (and mighty) enough to count.
Hatchet
Adam Green starts his slasher franchise with a memorable opening kill by slasher villain Victor Crowley (Kane Hodder). A father and son are hunting alligators in a Louisiana swamp, only to run afoul of the hulking killer. Green’s clever casting of Englund as dad Sampson means that this opening kill delivered a deceptive Freddy vs. Jason rematch. Hodder may have won this round, but the franchise’s final girl is Sampson’s daughter, ensuring the playing field remains even. Well played, Mr. Green.
The Goldbergs
Englund’s final appearance as Freddy Krueger delivers a hefty dose of warm, cozy nostalgia. Series creator Adam F. Goldberg spent months convincing Robert Englund to come out of retirement to reprise his most iconic role for the Halloween episode of “The Goldbergs” in 2018. The episode “Mr. Knifey-Hands” sees Englund don the makeup one last time to terrorize mom Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey) in her dreams.
Stranger Things
Season four of Netflix’s blockbuster series enlisted Englund as Hawkins’ resident Boogeyman; Victor Creel was charged with the murders of his family and locked up under high security at Pennhurst Asylum. There, he attempted to take his life and his eyes so that he could join them. Englund plays this cameo with a knowing menace, only to subvert audience expectations with a more tragic backstory.
What is your favorite Robert Englund cameo? Let us know below!
And celebrate the horror stalwart with SCREAMBOX Original documentary Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, streaming now.
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