George P. Wilbur
George Wilbur | |
|---|---|
| Born | George Peter Wilbur March 6, 1941 Kent, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | February 1, 2023 (aged 81) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1966–2023 |
George Peter Wilbur (March 6, 1941 – February 1, 2023) was an American actor and professional stuntman, best known for playing Michael Myers in both Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers and Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers.
Early life
George Peter Wilbur was born in Connecticut and served in the U.S. Navy. He worked as a wrangler on a ranch in Tucson, Arizona, where he worked as an extra in the 1966 film El Dorado and was recruited as a stand-in performer for John Wayne. Wilbur later moved to California, where he worked as an extra and stunt double.[1]
Career
Wilbur played Michael Myers in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers and Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers.[2][3] He was credited as a stunt player in Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers, another Halloween sequel, although not in the role of Michael Myers as actor and stuntman Don Shanks played the role. His career as a stuntman lasted for 40 years and involved over 100 television and film projects. He was a member of the Hollywood Stuntmen's Hall of Fame.[4]
Wilbur was notably referenced in Family Guy, fictionalised as the stage name of character Tom Tucker earlier in his career. In the same episode, archive footage of Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers featuring Wilbur as the titular character is played with Seth McFarlane voicing over the scene as Tom Tucker.
Death
George P. Wilbur died on February 1, 2023, at the age of 81.[5][6]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Escape from the Planet of the Apes | Boxer | Uncredited |
| 1972 | Hammer | Brady | |
| 1976 | Death Journey | Thug | |
| 1978 | Movie Movie | Tony Norton | |
| 1978 | Every Which Way but Loose | Church | |
| 1979 | Parts: The Clonus Horror | Walker Man | |
| 1980 | Coast to Coast | Billy Ray | |
| 1981 | Pennies from Heaven | Motorcycle Police | |
| 1983 | Max Dugan Returns | Man in Car | |
| 1984 | Firestarter | DSI Orderly | |
| 1986 | Raw Deal | Killer #1 | |
| 1987 | The Running Man | Lieutenant Saunders | |
| 1988 | Split Decisions | Referee at Patty Flood | |
| 1988 | Remote Control | Dockman | |
| 1988 | Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers | Michael Myers | |
| 1989 | Ghostbusters II | Bailiff | |
| 1989 | Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers | Michael Myers | Archive footage |
| 1990 | Loose Cannons | Grimmer's Man | |
| 1990 | Come See the Paradise | Theatre Man #1 | |
| 1991 | Eve of Destruction | Trooper | |
| 1991 | Defenseless | Sherman Bodeck | |
| 1994 | Cobb | Casino Security Man | |
| 1995 | Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers | Michael Myers | |
| 2014 | American Muscle | Prison Clerk |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970–1973 | Mission: Impossible | Various roles | 4 episodes |
| 1973 | Search | Mull | Episode: "Ends of the Earth" |
| 1975 | Dead Man on the Run | Benet | Television film |
| 1977 | Switch | Mullins | Episode: "Two on the Run" |
| 1978 | The Six Million Dollar Man | 2nd Man | Episode: "Dead Ringer" |
| 1978 | Pearl | Marine Sergeant | 3 episodes |
| 1979 | Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story | Bank Clerk | Television film |
| 1979 | Goldie and the Boxer | Wilson | Television film |
| 1981 | Hardcase | Wolfgang | Television film |
| 1983 | The Fighter | Fighter | Television film |
| 1983, 1985 | Simon & Simon | Kaydon's Hood / Thug | 2 episodes |
| 1984 | The Master | Thug | 2 episodes |
| 1984 | Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer | Thug | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Hardcastle and McCormick | Thug #2 | Episode: "Angie's Choice" |
| 1986 | Magnum, P.I. | Henchman #1 | Episode: "Straight and Narrow" |
| 1989 | Dynasty | Security Guard | Episode: "Virginia Reels" |
| 1991 | Fatal Exposure | Fisherman | Television film |
| 1991 | Cast a Deadly Spell | Owl Wagon Cook | Television film |
| 1992 | Days of Our Lives | Ike | Episode #1.6926 |
| 1993 | Renegade | Gunman #1 | Episode: "Headcase" |
| 2012 | Family Guy | Michael Myers | Episode: "Tom Tucker: The Man and His Dream" |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Ground Zero: Texas | Border Patrolman |
| 2021 | Ground Zero Texas: Nuclear Edition |
References
- ^ Freese, Gene Scott (2014-04-04). Hollywood Stunt Performers, 1910s-1970s: A Biographical Dictionary, 2d ed. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-1470-0.
- ^ "Creation's Weekend of Horrors Bringing on The Men Behind the Mask". DreadCentral. 24 July 2012.
- ^ Horn, Shawn Van (2022-09-17). "'Halloween': The Portrayals of Michael Myers, Ranked". Collider. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- ^ JimmyO (2014-10-24). "Where in the Horror are they Now? George P. Wilbur aka "Michael Myers"". JoBlo. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- ^ "R.I.P.: George P. Wilbur, the Michael Myers of Halloween 4 and 6, has passed away". HetFlix. 2 February 2023. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ 'Halloween' Stuntman & Michael Myers Actor George P. Wilbur Dead at 81