Before getting their big break, a surprising number of future movie stars cut their teeth in the Friday the 13th franchise’s Camp Crystal Lake. Most actors aren’t an overnight success in the world of Hollywood. Even those who seem to come out of nowhere and become superstars still usually had to start off plying their trade in something not so prestigious. A common way to try and move up the ladder is to appear in a horror film, which makes perfect sense, as horror movies don’t really require big name stars to be successful.
Recently, we took a look at all the future stars that encountered dream stalker Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, including Johnny “Captain Jack Sparrow” Depp, future Medium lead Patricia Arquette, and Laurence “Morpheus” Fishburne. Now, it’s time to do the same kind of rundown for the future heavyweights that in some cases ended up brutally killed onscreen at the hands of Jason or Pamela Voorhees.
Kevin Bacon as Jack, Friday the 13th
Long before Kevin Bacon could be connected to any other star in six degrees, his first major film role came in 1980’s original Friday the 13th. Bacon played Jack, one of the young people hired by new owner Steve Christy to help renovate Camp Crystal Lake. Of course, as we all now know, going anywhere near there is a bad idea. Jack’s eventual death at the hands of Pamela Voorhees (Betsy Palmer) helped establish the general sex = death rule in the franchise, as he’s killed via an arrow through the throat soon after getting busy with his girlfriend Marcie.
Corey Feldman as Tommy Jarvis, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
Before becoming a 1980s icon via roles in classics such as The Goonies, Stand by Me, and Gremlins, Corey Feldman got the distinction of originating the Tommy Jarvis role in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. The closest thing Jason Voorhees has to a nemesis in the franchise, Feldman’s young Tommy manages to psych out and then kill Jason with his own machete. Jason wouldn’t remain dead, as there was more money to be made, although he would sit out Friday the 13th Part 5 in favor of a copycat killer. Feldman made a cameo in that film, before the narrative transitioned to an older Tommy.
Crispin Glover as Jimmy, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
A famously peculiar actor, Crispin Glover’s second feature film role saw him bust out wacky dance moves, be called a “dead f**k” by an invisible computer, and be on the business end of a meat cleaver to the face from Jason. Still, Jimmy’s odd charm has made him a favorite of Friday the 13th fans. Glover would play George McFly in Back to the Future the very next year, and go on to appear in films like Willard, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, and Charlie’s Angels. Glover currently plays Mr. World on Starz’s American Gods.
Kelly Hu as Eva Watanabe, Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan
Nowadays, Kelly Hu is a woman in demand, working constantly on both the big and small screens. Back in 1989 though, Hu made her feature film debut in Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan. Hu played Eva Watanabe, one of the doomed high school students taking a cruise from Crystal Lake to Manhattan that Jason decides to hitch a ride on. Eva is ultimately picked up and strangled by Jason, getting her throat crushed. In an interesting trivia note, Hu was Jason’s first Asian victim. Some of Hu’s many credits since dying at sea include The Scorpion King, playing China White on Arrow, Admiral Ozawa on The Orville, and tons of voice work.
More: Freddy Krueger Was Almost In Friday The 13th Part 7
