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Who is Nick Castle?
American screenwriter, director and actor Nicholas ‘Nick’ Castle was born in Los Angeles, California USA on 21 September 1947, making Virgo his zodiac sign. He’s written and directed 13 movies, and has eight acting credits; he’s perhaps known best for playing The Shape in the 2021 horror thriller movie “Halloween Kills”, which starred Jamie Lee Curtis and Judy Greer, and was directed by David Gordon Green. It follows a group of people who’ve formed a vigilante mob, wanting to put an end to Michael Myers’ reign of terror, and the film won three of its 11 award nominations.
Nick earned $120,000 for his role, then played the same character in the 2018 prequel “Halloween”, and in the 2022 sequel “Halloween Ends”.
Education and early life
Nick was raised in Los Angeles by his mother Millie and father Nick Castle Sr, but further details about his parents haven’t been disclosed; because he’s yet to mention having siblings, most of Nick’s fans believe him to be an only child.
He became passionate about writing and moviemaking while attending a local high school, and while his best friends enjoyed appearing in school plays, Nick instead wanted to write them. He matriculated in 1966, and then enrolled at University of Southern California, from which he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1970.
Writing credits
Nick’s writing debut was the 1970 short western “The Resurrection of Broncho Billy”, which starred Kristin Harmon and Johnny Crawford, and was directed by James R. Rokos. It follows a young man who’s living in a big city in present time, but is dreaming of being a cowboy in the old west; the movie won two awards, including a 1971 Oscar for Best Short Subject, Live Action Subjects.
Some of Nick’s following work was the 1979 comedy “Skatetown U. S. A.”, the 1980 comedy “Pray TV” and the critically acclaimed 1981 action science fiction adventure “Escape from New York”. He wrote the 1982 action thriller “Tag: The Assassination Game”, which starred Linda Hamilton and Robert Carradine, and follows a college assassination game which has gone awry now that someone’s begun playing for real; it won a New York International Film and TV Festival Award for Main Title Design.
Nick went on to write the 1986 romantic fantasy drama “The Boy Who Could Fly”, which won three of the eight awards for which it was nominated, the 1989 musical comedy “Tap”, and the 1990 romantic musical comedy “Shangri-La Plaza”.
He wrote the screen story for the critically acclaimed 1991 family adventure comedy “Hook”, which starred Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman, and was directed by Steven Spielberg. It follows adult Peter Pan who has to return to Neverland now that Captain James Hook’s kidnapped his children – the film won six of its 29 award nominations, including five Oscar nominations, some of which were for Best Music, Original Song, Best Make-up and Best Effects, Visual Effects.
Nick wrote the popular 1996 action science fiction adventure “Escape from L. A.”, and has since written three movies: the 2007 musical “August Rush”, the 2012 action science fiction thriller “Lockout”, and the 2021 action science fiction “Plissken”.
Directing credits
Nick’s directing debut was the above mentioned 1982 movie “Tag: The Assassination Game”, and the year 1984 saw him direct the popular action adventure science fiction “The Last Starfighter”, which starred Robert Preston and Lance Guest, and follows teenager Alex Rogan who’s completed the video game “Starfighter”, and has been teleported onto another planet which he’s to defend from alien invaders; the movie was nominated for four awards.
Nick directed the evergreen 1993 family comedy “Dennis the Menace”, which starred Mason Gamble and Walter Matthau, and follows Dennis whose parents have left the town on business, and who’s now being looked after by Mr. and Mrs Wilson; the movie won three of its six award nominations. Nick then directed the 1995 adventure family comedy “Major Payne”, the 1996 comedy “Mr. Wrong” and the 2001 fantasy comedy “Delivering Milo”.
He’s since directed three movies: the 2001 family comedy “’Twas the Night”, the 2004 romantic musical comedy “The Seat Filler”, and the 2006 action science fiction “Connors’ War”.
Acting credits
Nick’s acting debut was playing Alien in the 1974 science fiction comedy movie “Dark Star”, which starred Dre Pahich and Dan O’Bannon, and was written and directed by John Carpenter. It follows a small crew who’ve been on a solitary space mission for 20 years now, and the film won one of its three award nominations.
Nick was then cast to appear in the 1978 horror thriller film “Halloween”, the 1981 action science fiction adventure movie “Escape from New York” and the 1986 romantic fantasy film “The Boy Who Could Fly”.
His only other appearance was in the 1986 short musical “The Cope de Villes: Big Trouble in Little China”.
Awards and nominations
Nick’s won four of his eight award nominations. His wins include a 1971 CINE Competition Golden Eagle Award for Student Film, for “The Resurrection of Broncho Billy”, and in 2001 Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film Silver Raven Award and a Giffoni Film Festival Bronze Gryphon Award, both for “Delivering Milo”.
Love life and marriage
Nick retains his own privacy, and has thus shared only a couple of details regarding his love life.
He and American non-celebrity Mary Charlene Napp exchanged vows in a small and private ceremony on 31 December 1981; she’s also quite a secretive person, and her profession remains undisclosed to this day.
Nick and Mary have one child together: the exact birthdate of their son Louis Castle hasn’t been revealed, but it’s known that he’s today a music composer and actor, and is one half of the musical duo The Gifted, with the other half being James Bairian.
There are no other women whom Nick’s perhaps been with, that we know about; he’s married to Mary Charlene Napp as of July 2023, and they have a son together.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Nick and famous American author Stephen King were born on the exact same day; Stephen’s perhaps known best for his books “It”, “The Shining” and “The Stand”.
The character Nick Castle in the popular 1980 horror thriller movie “The Fog” was named after him.
Nick enjoys working with American composer Craig Safan, and has hired him to compose the music for five of his movies.
He’s taken part in numerous charity events, and mostly donates money to organizations which aim to bring drama closer to underprivileged children.
Nick isn’t interested in politics, and prefers not to speak about the subject in public.
Matt Damon’s one of his favorite actors, and some of Nick’s favorite movies include “The Bourne Identity”, “The Martian” and “Good Will Hunting”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Nick’s age is 75. He has brown hair and eyes, is 5ft 10ins (1.78m) tall and weighs around 180lbs (83kgs).
Nick’s net worth’s been estimated at over $4 million, as of July 2023.
