David J. Skal

David J. Skal

Deceased · Born: Jun 21, 1952 · Died: Jan 1, 2024

Personal Details

BornJun 21, 1952 Garfield Heights, Ohio, USA

Biography

American film historian and documentary writer-producer, a multifaceted individual who has made a significant impact in the industry through his work as a frequent on-camera commentator and occasional bit-part actor.

As an author, he has penned numerous books, including the definitive chronicle of Bram Stoker's Dracula, titled "Hollywood Gothic", which explores the journey of the iconic novel from page to stage to screen.

His other notable works include "The Monster Show: A Cultural History of Horror", "Screams of Reason: Mad Science and Modern Culture", "V Is for Vampire", and many others.

In collaboration with Elias Savada, he co-authored the book "Dark Carnival: The Secret World of Tod Browning", a fascinating exploration of the life and work of the renowned filmmaker.

His documentary projects are equally impressive, with "The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale" (1999) being a standout, a behind-the-scenes chronicle of the Academy Award-winning biopic "Gods And Monsters".

Additionally, he worked on 11 DVD documentaries for Universal Studio Home Video's classic horror and science fiction films, showcasing his expertise and passion for the genre.

Throughout his career, he resided in Los Angeles, where he continued to make significant contributions to the world of film and horror.

Career

{"id":155033,"title":"Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Monsters!","year":"2000","character":"Host","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/bud-abbott-and-lou-costello-meet-the-monsters","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_155033.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_155033.jpg"},"released":1}
2000
{"id":164266,"title":"Great Performances","year":"1976","character":"Reporter","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/great-performances-1976-3","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_164266.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_164266.jpg"},"released":1}
1976
{"id":215862,"title":"Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story","year":"2022","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/boris-karloff-the-rest-of-the-story","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_215862.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_215862.jpg"},"released":1}
2022
{"id":196533,"title":"Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster","year":"2021","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/boris-karloff-the-man-behind-the-monster","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_196533.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_196533.jpg"},"released":1}
2021
{"id":103836956,"title":"Eli Roth's History of Horror","year":2020,"character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/eli-roths-history-of-horror","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/13g1si78rpco.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/13g1si78rpco.jpg"},"released":1}
2020
{"id":254240,"title":"The Real Vampire Files","year":"2010","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-real-vampire-files","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_254240.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_254240.jpg"},"released":1}
2010
{"id":49237,"title":"Vampira: The Movie","year":"2006","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/vampira-the-movie","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_49237.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_49237.jpg"},"released":1}
2006
{"id":267295,"title":"Night Terrors","year":"2006","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/night-terrors-2006","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_267295.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_267295.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":150434,"title":"Hitchcocked!","year":"2006","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/hitchcocked","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_150434.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_150434.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":51068,"title":"The Perfect Scary Movie","year":"2005","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-perfect-scary-movie","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_51068.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_51068.jpg"},"released":1}
2005
{"id":152340,"title":"Tod Browning's 'Freaks': The Sideshow Cinema","year":"2004","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/tod-brownings-freaks-the-sideshow-cinema-2004","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_152340.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_152340.jpg"},"released":1}
2004
{"id":152315,"title":"Hollywood's Creepiest Creatures","year":"2004","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/hollywoods-creepiest-creatures-2004","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_152315.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_152315.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":268185,"title":"Ed Gein: The Ghoul of Plainfield","year":"2004","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/ed-gein-the-ghoul-of-plainfield","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_268185.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_268185.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":155451,"title":"The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster","year":"2002","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-frankenstein-files-how-hollywood-made-a-monster","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_155451.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_155451.jpg"},"released":1}
2002
{"id":154964,"title":"Back to the Black Lagoon: A Creature Chronicle","year":"2000","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/back-to-the-black-lagoon-a-creature-chronicle","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_154964.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_154964.jpg"},"released":1}
2000
{"id":154919,"title":"Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed!","year":"2000","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/now-you-see-him-the-invisible-man-revealed","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_154919.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_154919.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":92938,"title":"The Road to Dracula","year":"1999","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-road-to-dracula","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_92938.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_92938.jpg"},"released":1}
1999
{"id":157864,"title":"Biography","year":"1995","job":"Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/biography-1995-4","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_157864.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_157864.jpg"},"released":1}
1995
Biography
Biography as Writer
{"id":182186,"title":"The Universe According to Universal","year":"2002","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-universe-according-to-universal","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_182186.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_182186.jpg"},"released":1}
2002
{"id":155451,"title":"The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster","year":"2002","job":"Director, Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-frankenstein-files-how-hollywood-made-a-monster","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_155451.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_155451.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":54023,"title":"Heroes of Horror","year":"2001","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/heroes-of-horror","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_54023.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_54023.jpg"},"released":1}
2001
{"id":155031,"title":"Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed","year":"2000","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/mummy-dearest-a-horror-tradition-unearthed","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_155031.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_155031.jpg"},"released":1}
2000
{"id":155033,"title":"Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Monsters!","year":"2000","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/bud-abbott-and-lou-costello-meet-the-monsters","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_155033.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_155033.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":154964,"title":"Back to the Black Lagoon: A Creature Chronicle","year":"2000","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/back-to-the-black-lagoon-a-creature-chronicle","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_154964.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_154964.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":154919,"title":"Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed!","year":"2000","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/now-you-see-him-the-invisible-man-revealed","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_154919.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_154919.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":155107,"title":"The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked","year":"2000","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-opera-ghost-a-phantom-unmasked","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_155107.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_155107.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":85482,"title":"Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'","year":"1999","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/monster-by-moonlight-the-immortal-saga-of-the-wolf-man-1999","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_85482.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_85482.jpg"},"released":1}
1999
{"id":92938,"title":"The Road to Dracula","year":"1999","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-road-to-dracula","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_92938.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_92938.jpg"},"released":1}
The Road to Dracula
The Road to Dracula as Director, Writer
{"id":215368,"title":"The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale","year":"1999","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-world-of-gods-and-monsters-a-journey-with-james-whale","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_215368.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_215368.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":55104,"title":"She's Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein","year":"1999","job":"Director, Screenplay","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/shes-alive-creating-the-bride-of-frankenstein-1999","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_55104.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_55104.jpg"},"released":1}