Our next guest announcement for the March 1-3, 2024 Horror Realm convention is a guest we have been hoping to have at the show since we began in 2009. Barbara Crampton will be joining us all 3 days. Our favorite roles of hers are “Re-Animator”, “Chopping Mall”, “From Beyond” and “Lords of Salem.”

Brief Biography

If you are a fan of horror movies, you probably know the name Barbara Crampton. She is one of the most iconic scream queens of the 80s and 90s, who starred in cult classics like Re-Animator, From Beyond, Castle Freak and Chopping Mall. But did you know that she is also a versatile and talented actress who has worked in many genres and mediums, from soap operas to Shakespeare, from comedy to drama, from TV to theater?

Early Life

Barbara Crampton was born on December 27, 1958, in Levittown, Long Island. She grew up in a military family and moved around a lot as a child. She developed an interest in acting at an early age and participated in school plays and local theater productions. She attended Castleton State College in Vermont, where she majored in theater arts and performed in several plays. She also spent a year studying drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, where she honed her skills and learned from some of the best teachers and actors in the world.

After graduating from college, Barbara Crampton moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. She landed her first role in the TV movie Body Double, directed by Brian De Palma. She then appeared in several TV shows, such as Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful, Santa Barbara and The Young and the Restless. She also made her film debut in the comedy Fraternity Vacation, where she played a sexy co-ed who seduces a nerdy student.

But it was her collaboration with director Stuart Gordon that catapulted her to fame and made her a horror icon. She starred in his adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s Re-Animator, playing Megan Halsey, the girlfriend of a medical student who experiments with bringing dead bodies back to life. The film was a huge hit among horror fans and critics alike, and became one of the most influential horror movies of the 80s. Barbara Crampton delivered a memorable performance that combined innocence, vulnerability, courage and sex appeal. She also had to endure some of the most gruesome and shocking scenes ever filmed, such as being attacked by a severed head and being strapped to a gurney by a reanimated corpse.

Barbara Crampton continued to work with Stuart Gordon in his next two films, From Beyond and Dolls. In From Beyond, she played Dr. Katherine McMichaels, a psychiatrist who joins a team of scientists who explore an alternate dimension of monstrous creatures. In Dolls, she played Rosemary Bower, a wicked stepmother who gets terrorized by a group of murderous dolls. Both films showcased her range as an actress and her ability to handle different types of horror.

In the late 80s and early 90s, Barbara Crampton starred in several other horror movies that became cult favorites among genre fans. She played Suzie Lynn, a mall employee who fights against killer robots in Chopping Mall. She played Susan Reilly, a reporter who investigates a haunted castle in Castle Freak. She played Anne White, a woman who gets involved with a mysterious cult in The Sect. She played Allison Carter, a psychic who helps a detective solve a murder case in Trancers II. She even played Dennis Hopper’s love interest in Space Truckers!

Barbara Crampton also ventured into other genres and mediums throughout her career. She starred in several comedies, such as Kidnapped and Space Truckers. She appeared in dramas, such as Cold Harvest and The Sisterhood. She did voice work for animated shows, such as Robot Chicken and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. She performed on stage in plays such as Much Ado About Nothing and The Merchant of Venice.

In the 2000s, Barbara Crampton took a break from acting to focus on her family. She married Robert Bleckman, a director of photography, and had two children with him. She also became involved in charity work and supported causes such as animal rights and environmental protection.

In 2011, Barbara Crampton made a comeback to horror with the film You’re Next, directed by Adam Wingard. She played Aubrey Davison, the matriarch of a wealthy family who gets attacked by masked intruders during a family reunion. The film was a critical and commercial success and introduced Barbara Crampton to a new generation of horror fans.

Since then, Barbara Crampton has been very active and prolific in the horror scene. She has starred in many films that have received acclaim and recognition from festivals and critics, such as We Are Still Here, Beyond the Gates, Sun Choke, Replace, Dead Night and Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich. She has also produced some of her own projects, such as Jakob’s Wife and Sacrifice. She has also appeared in TV shows, such as Channel Zero, Creepshow and The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs.

Barbara Crampton is not only a horror icon, but also a role model and an inspiration for many women in the industry. She has shown that age is not a barrier to success and creativity, and that women can be strong, smart, sexy and scary at any stage of their lives. She has also been very supportive and generous with her fans and peers, and has been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in horror.

Barbara Crampton is a legend in every sense of the word. She is one of the most beloved and respected actresses in horror history, and one of the most versatile and talented actresses in general. She has given us countless unforgettable performances and moments, and has enriched our lives with her charm, grace and passion. She is truly a treasure and a gift to the world of cinema.

If you love horror, you should definitely go to Horror Realm convention in Pittsburgh. It’s the ultimate destination for fans of scary movies, books, games, and more. You’ll get to meet your favorite horror celebrities, browse through hundreds of vendors, attend panels and workshops, and join the fun at the costume contest and the zombie walk. Plus, you’ll get to explore the city of Pittsburgh, which has its own spooky history and attractions. Don’t miss this chance to experience the best of horror culture at horrorrealmcon.com!

Horror Realm will be held February 28-March 2, 2025 in Pittsburgh at the Crowne Plaza Suites Pittsburgh South. Get your tickets soon… More details at the website: https://www.horrorrealmcon.com/