Don Coscarelli Biography
Don Coscarelli was born in Tripoli, North Africa, but grew up in Southern California. He developed an interest in cinema at a young age and, along with his friends, created several low-budget movies that aired on community TV stations, receiving positive feedback.
Coscarelli's early work included the feature film "Jim, the World's Greatest" (1975),a drama about a young teenager struggling with alcoholic abuse, and the comedy "Kenny & Company" (1976),which followed the perspective of a 12-year-old boy.
However, it was the release of "Phantasm" (1979) that brought Coscarelli widespread recognition. This horror film, starring Angus Scrimm as the iconic Tall Man, told the story of a young boy caught up in a supernatural battle at a creepy funeral home. Despite its modest budget, "Phantasm" was a huge hit among horror fans, spawning three sequels: "Phantasm II" (1988),"Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead" (1994),and "Phantasm IV: Oblivion" (1998). A fifth and final sequel, "Phantasm's End," has been discussed but remains in development.
In addition to the "Phantasm" series, Coscarelli wrote and directed the sword and sorcery film "The Beastmaster" (1982),starring Marc Singer and Tanya Roberts. More recently, he collaborated with Bruce Campbell on the offbeat horror film "Bubba Ho-Tep" (2002),which tells the bizarre story of Elvis and John F. Kennedy hiding out in a Texas rest home from a 3,000-year-old mummy.
Throughout his career, Coscarelli has established himself as a cult figure in the world of horror and fantasy, earning a loyal following among fans of his work.
