Angus Scrimm
Encyclopedia
Angus Scrimm is an American actor, best known for playing the Tall Man
in the 1979 horror movie Phantasm
and its sequels.
. He was originally a journalist and has written and edited for TV Guide
, Cinema Magazine, the Los Angeles Herald Examiner and many other publications. He has also written liner notes
for many LP
s and CDs for artists ranging from Frank Sinatra
to the Beatles
, as well as Arthur Rubinstein
and Itzhak Perlman
. Scrimm won a Grammy (as Rory Guy) for his liner notes.
Scrimm stands approximately 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m). To appear even taller when playing the Tall Man
, he wore suits that were several sizes too small, and platform shoes. His Phantasm role led to a steady acting career in theater and television. In recent years Scrimm had a recurring role as an SD-6 agent on Alias
.
Tall Man (Phantasm)
The Tall Man is a fictional character and main antagonist of the Phantasm series of horror films. The Tall Man first appeared in the first Phantasm in 1979, and last appeared in Phantasm IV Oblivion in 1998. In all of his appearances; the Tall Man has been portrayed by Angus Scrimm.-Fictional...
in the 1979 horror movie Phantasm
Phantasm (film)
Phantasm is a low-budget "cult classic" horror film produced in 1977 and released in 1979. The film was directed, written, photographed, co-produced and edited by Don Coscarelli...
and its sequels.
Life and career
Scrimm was born in Kansas City, KansasKansas City, Kansas
Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...
. He was originally a journalist and has written and edited for TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
, Cinema Magazine, the Los Angeles Herald Examiner and many other publications. He has also written liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
for many LP
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
s and CDs for artists ranging from Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
to the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, as well as Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein KBE was a Polish-American pianist. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music of a variety of composers...
and Itzhak Perlman
Itzhak Perlman
Itzhak Perlman is an Israeli-born violinist, conductor, and instructor of master classes. He is regarded as one of the pre-eminent violinists of the 20th and early-21st centuries.-Early life:...
. Scrimm won a Grammy (as Rory Guy) for his liner notes.
Scrimm stands approximately 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m). To appear even taller when playing the Tall Man
Tall Man (Phantasm)
The Tall Man is a fictional character and main antagonist of the Phantasm series of horror films. The Tall Man first appeared in the first Phantasm in 1979, and last appeared in Phantasm IV Oblivion in 1998. In all of his appearances; the Tall Man has been portrayed by Angus Scrimm.-Fictional...
, he wore suits that were several sizes too small, and platform shoes. His Phantasm role led to a steady acting career in theater and television. In recent years Scrimm had a recurring role as an SD-6 agent on Alias
Alias (TV series)
Alias is an American action television series created by J. J. Abrams which was broadcast on ABC for five seasons, from September 30, 2001 to May 22, 2006...
.
Filmography
- PhantasmPhantasm (film)Phantasm is a low-budget "cult classic" horror film produced in 1977 and released in 1979. The film was directed, written, photographed, co-produced and edited by Don Coscarelli...
(19791979 in filmThe year 1979 in film involved some significant events.- Major events :* March 5 - Production begins on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.* May 25 - Alien, a landmark of the science fiction genre, is released....
) - Witches' BrewWitches' Brew (film)Witches' Brew is a 1980 horror comedy film directed by Herbert L. Strock and Richard Shorr who co-wrote screenplay with Syd Dutton. It was based on Fritz Leiber Jr.'s novel Conjure Wife...
(1980) - The Lost EmpireThe Lost Empire (1983 film)The Lost Empire is a 1983 fantasy adventure film directed by Jim Wynorski. It stars Melanie Vincz, Raven De La Croix, Angela Aames and Angus Scrimm-External links:* at Bad Movie Planet* at And you call yourself a scientist!...
(1983) - Phantasm IIPhantasm IIPhantasm II, also known as Phantasm II: The Ball is Back! is the 1988 sequel to Phantasm. It was written and directed by Don Coscarelli, starring Angus Scrimm, James LeGros and Reggie Bannister...
(19881988 in film-Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:* Act of Piracy* Action Jackson, starring Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, Vanity, Sharon Stone* The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* Akira* Alice...
) - Transylvania TwistTransylvania TwistTransylvania Twist is a 1989 comedy film that parodies horror movies. Originally released by Concorde Pictures, this film is distributed on home video by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In the film Angus Scrimm reprises his role of the "Tall Man" from the Phantasm movies, as a parody. The humor of the film is...
(19891989 in film-Events:* Batman is released on June 23, and goes on to gross over $410 million worldwide.* Actress Kim Basinger and her brother Mick purchase Braselton, Georgia, for $20 million...
) - Subspecies (19901990 in filmThe year 1990 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* CGI technique is expanded with motion capture for CGI characters, used in Total Recall .* The first digitally-manipulated matte painting is used, in Die Hard 2....
) - MindwarpMindwarp (film)Mindwarp is a 1992 post-apocalyptic science fiction movie, starring Bruce Campbell as Stover, Angus Scrimm as the Seer, Marta Martin as Judy, Elizabeth Kent as Cornelia, and Wendy Sandow as Claude...
(1992) - Phantasm III: Lord of the DeadPhantasm III: Lord of the DeadPhantasm III: Lord of the Dead is a 1994 horror film sequel to Phantasm II written and directed by Don Coscarelli. The film starred Angus Scrimm as the Tall Man, Reggie Bannister and A. Michael Baldwin. Filming wrapped up in mid-1993 but the film sat unreleased for over a year before being released...
(19941994 in film1994 was a significant year in film.The top grosser worldwide was The Lion King, which to date stands as the highest-grossing traditionally-animated film of all time...
) - WishmasterWishmaster (film)Wishmaster is a 1997 American horror film directed by Robert Kurtzman, and is the second film directed by Kurtzman. It was executive produced by Wes Craven—the only film of the Wishmaster series with his name attached....
(19971997 in film-Events:* The original Star Wars trilogy's Special Editions are released.* Production begins on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.* Titanic becomes the first film to gross US$1,000,000,000 at the box office making it the highest grossing film in history until Avatar broke the record in 2010.*...
) - Phantasm IV: OblivionPhantasm IV: OblIVionPhantasm IV Oblivion is a 1998 horror film, a sequel to the Phantasm film series written and directed by Don Coscarelli, starring A. Michael Baldwin, Reggie Bannister and Angus Scrimm....
(19981998 in film-Events:* February 14 - Sharon Stone marries Phil Bronstein.* Former child star Gary Coleman is charged with assaulting a young female bus driver at a California shopping mall.-Top grossing films:...
) - The Off SeasonThe Off SeasonThe Off Season is a 2004 independent horror film directed by James Felix McKenney and produced by Larry Fessenden's Glass Eye Pix. It was filmed in Old Orchard Beach, Maine and distributed through Lionsgate Home Entertainment.-Cast:...
(20042004 in filmThe year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
) - Incident On and Off a Mountain RoadIncident On and Off a Mountain RoadIncident On and Off a Mountain Road is the premiere episode of the first season of Masters of Horror directed by Don Coscarelli. It originally aired in North America on October 28, 2005. The screenplay is based on an original short story by American author Joe R...
(2005) - AutomatonsAutomatonsAutomatons is a 2006 black-and-white horror film about a war against robots. The movie was made under the working title Death to the Automatons. Christine Spencer, Angus Scrimm, and Brenda Cooney star. John Levene, Don Wood and Executive Producer Larry Fessenden have supporting roles...
(2006) - SatanicSatanic (film)Satanic is a 2006 American horror film directed by Dan Golden starring Annie Sorell, Jeffrey Combs, Angus Scrimm and James Russo.-Plot:The powers of darkness converge to claim the soul of a young girl who may have made a deal with the devil...
(2006) - I Sell The DeadI Sell The DeadI Sell the Dead is a 2008 comedy horror film, the feature film debut from Irish director Glenn McQuaid. The film is a period horror comedy about grave robbing and stars Dominic Monaghan, Ron Perlman, Larry Fessenden and Angus Scrimm.-Plot:...
(2008) - Hollywood Horror (2009)
- Satan Hates YouSatan Hates YouSatan Hates You is a 2010 horror film written and directed by James Felix McKenney.-Plot:A homage to end of times Christian horror movies of the 1970s, the story follows the crisis of faith of an unemployed alcoholic and a pregnant, cocaine snorting, pill popping teenager...
(2009)
External links
- Interview with Angus Scrimm 2011 (video) at 9. Weekend of Horrors
- Five Minutes With Angus Scrimm interview by Michael Mercadante, 1990
- The Phantasm Archives Unpublished Interview from 1992
- Masters of Horror Interview: Angus Scrimm
- Phantasm Web Site
- PHANTASMAGORIA