Doug Bradley is a “theatre-trained” British actor who has made his cinematic mark portraying characters in Horror films. His most famous film role is “Pinhead” from Clive Barker’s “Hellraiser” series of movies. “Pinhead” has been variously referred to as the “Dark Prince of Pain”, Angel of Suffering” and “Leviathan’s Lord of the Damned”. The character is a “Cenobite” who appears from Hell when an unfortunate human manages to solve the puzzle of the “Lament Configuration” box…which is the doorway to Hell. The Cenobites then torture the poor soul throughout eternity. Doug Bradley took time-out from torturing his unfortunate victims to speak to T.E.N. during “Horrorhound Weekend” in Pittsburgh.
Selected Filmography
“Hellraiser” (1987) ……………………………….…”Pinhead”
“Hellbound: Hellraiser II” (1988) …….…...…”Pinhead”/Captain Elliot Spencer
“Nightbreed” (1990) ……………………………...………..Dirk Lylesberg
“Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth” (1992) ….”Pinhead”/Captain Elliot Spencer
“Hellraiser: Bloodline” (1996) …………….………………………….”Pinhead”
“An Ideal Husband” (1999) ……………………………….………Brackpool
“Hellraiser: Inferno” (2000) ………………….……………………”Pinhead”
“Hellraiser: Hellseeker” (2002) …......”Pinhead”/Merchant
“Hellraiser: Deader” (2005) …………………………………”Pinhead”
“The Prophecy: Uprising” (2005) …………………………….……Laurel
“Hellraiser: Hellworld” (2005) …………………………….……..”Pinhead”
“Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes” (2006) ……………..………………Doc Fraser
The Entertainment Nexus– You’ve been friends with Clive Barker since your school days. Did either of you ever imagine that you would reach the levels of success that you’ve both attained?
Doug Bradley – Well, sure…you dare to dream and you get kind of scared to dream as well. {laughs} In Clive’s case…a mutual friend of ours…Oliver Parker…who’s a movie director now and was part of the theatre company back in the 70’s…he put it very well. I read this quote attributed to him. He said “We always knew Clive was going into orbit…it was just a question of which rocket he was going to be on.” So, I never really had any doubt that Clive would succeed, because his talent across a number of fields in terms of writing, directing, even acting when I first knew him, movie-making, art, etc. was always just evident and just…you know…he SWEATED talent, basically. So, I never had any doubts in that direction. For myself, well…I made the decision to become an actor and when the theatre company that Clive and I were involved-in ended…I’m out there as a jobbing actor, with no higher profile than any other actor. It’s a difficult, merciless, unforgiving business. Without question, I was fortunate that Clive came back to me in 1985/86 to basically offer me the role of “Pinhead” in “Hellraiser”. That, without question, has made a big difference to me over the last twenty years of my career.
T.E.N. – I once read that “Pinhead” was considered a “sex symbol” in Japan. Was that true? And if so, how do you feel about that?
DB – He seems to be considered a “sex symbol” in most of the States of the Union! {laughs} From my own experience, yeah, it’s there…without question. The sexual response…I would say both from women and in the gay community as well has always been fairly blunt {laughs} and self-evident. I’m not quite sure why it’s there. I have a number of theories about it. I think there’s always…don’t they say that “power is the ultimate aphrodisiac” and I think that there’s always a degree of that going on in the relation to the sexuality of the “bad guys”. And if you take that to one “remove”, where you’ve got a supernatural element going-on as well and another level of power that we understand in terms of CEOs and Presidents and whatnot. I’m sure that’s a lot of the attraction for characters like “Dracula” and “Pinhead” and so forth. And there’s a visceral element. There’s a basic “blood and guts” level that these characters operate on that is directly related to the sexual instinct. I think in “Pinhead’s” case it may be that for the ladies…his line when he says “I have all eternity to know your flesh” is a promising option. He’s no “wham, bam, thank-you mam”. {laughs}
T.E.N. – A lot of Horror films are being shot in Romania. What’s it like working with an Eastern-European crew?
DB – I worked for the first time in Bucharest in Romania doing “Hellraiser VII”. We did “Deader”, then we did the eighth “Hellraiser” movie there and then I was back in the spring of 2003 to do “Prophecy” and back a couple of years ago to do “Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes”. I wouldn’t say that I was “apprehensive” when I went-out the first time…I just didn’t really know what to expect. I’d never been to Central Europe at that point, even on a vacation basis, let alone to work. I also had “slight misgivings”, almost…if you like…from a political point of view, because I was aware of the reasons that movies get made in places like Bucharest…is cheap workforce. I talked to people on the crew in Romania about that and they basically said “Look, we know we’re earning money that would insult people on a film crew in Los Angeles or London, but by Romanian standards…we’re doing very well”. There’s no domestic film production going-on worth talking about. If foreign films don’t come here, we are not working…we are not practicing our craft, so keep them coming and don’t feel bad about it. You always “have your moments” making films, but I would say…without reserve, I had a great time working with the Romanian crews. They’re very dedicated, very hard-working and they know what they’re doing. You “close your ears” and ignore the language difference and you wouldn’t know that you weren’t on a film set in London or LA.
T.E.N. – You’ve worked under several names…Doug Bradley, Bill Bradley, Douglas Bradley and Charles Stead. Why so many different names?
DB – {laughs} The “Douglas Bradley” is simply a mistake. I made the decision professionally to be “Doug Bradley”. That came from one movie I did, “An Ideal Husband”. It was WEIRD, because they kept addressing me as “Douglas” all the time and I kept being down on the call sheets as that. I said kind of casually a few times “You know…I am ‘Doug Bradley’…professionally, I am ‘Doug’. You will make sure I’m credited as such?” And they said “Oh sure. We’ll change that”, and it didn’t change. Eventually, I went to the production office and said “Listen, can you make sure I’m credited as ‘Doug Bradley’?” When I went to see the movie…up go the credits and there I am as “Douglas Bradley”. So, consequently on IMDb (Internet Movie Database), I’m also credited as “Douglas Bradley”.
The other two…let’s take “Bill Bradley” first. When we were shooting “Hellraiser III”, we were doing “night-shoots” in Greensboro, North Carolina…doubling as New York. I was not working this particular night, but I was going down to the “set” anyway…just because it’s the easiest way to stay-up all night, so you stay on “turn-around” for the nights when you are required to work. Bob Keen, who was in charge of the “Special Effects” make-up and effects on the movie…he was doing the shot where “Camerahead” Cenobite takes the middle of the guy’s forehead out with the lens of his camera and Bob suddenly looked-around and he had people working on 1st Unit and this was on 2nd Unit. He said “Oh my God! I haven’t got enough hands to do this. I’m not sure what I’m going to do”. I said “Bob, I’m not doing anything” and he looked at me and he narrowed his eyes. We’d worked-on…this was the fourth movie at least that we’d worked-on together at that point and he said “You know what? All right, you can do it”. So I took Steve Painter, who was playing the guy who gets “nailed”…back to the make-up trailer and under his supervision…I applied the prosthetic make-up to his forehead and then went on “set” and had to do all the “blood-setting” and the clearing and cleaning-up to go back to “first take”, for “second take” and “third take” and “fourth take”. It was hard work…great fun, but it taught me how hard those guys work and Bob said “I’m going to give you a credit on the film as working as part of the Special Effects make-up team”. My middle name is William, so I said “Well, let’s do it as a pseudonym. We’ll do ‘Bill Bradley’”. So that’s “Bill Bradley”.
When we were doing the sixth “Hellraiser” movie, Rick Bota…while we were filming, he said “Does the old man who does the ‘What’s your pleasure?’ thing of handing over the puzzle box to the main character in one scene” He said “I was thinking, it would be great fun if you played that character.” So, I was made-up and did the scene and he said “Now, we should credit you, but do you want to have it credited as you for playing both roles?” So, I said “No, let’s make-up a name and see how long it takes people to catch-on” and he said “Okay, you don’t talk about it in interviews and I won’t talk about it in interviews”. Charles is my father’s name and Stead was his mother’s maiden name, so I just put the two names together and came-up with that and it was fine…except for the alternative commentary when the DVD came-out. In the scene, when I appear…there’s kind of a CGI (computer-generated imagery) flock of crows that flies over my head as I appear. I forget his name now, the guy who was doing all the CG effects…he said on the alternative commentary “And here’s the point where we flew the flock of crows in over Doug Bradley’s head”. So the “cat kind of was out of the bag”. I think people would have guessed pretty quickly anyway. So, that’s the story behind the different names.
T.E.N. – How’d you come to write the book “Behind the Mask of the Horror Actor”?
DB – It grew out of a kind of “illustrated lecture” that I did. I wrote it to do for university and college audiences here in the States initially in the early-to-mid 90’s. And it just really grew out of my interest in the “masking” process, which was always greater than just having latex glued on my face to play “Pinhead”. I think it was partly because I’d done a lot of “masking” work in the theatre and so I was very interested in that whole process. While I was writing the lecture, which only needed to be an hour long…I was putting so much material in, because I wanted to look at the history of the “mask” and then look at a kind of “potted” history of Horror films. Looking at the actor’s relationship to make-up…starting with Lon Chaney Sr., he’s the “Godfather”. And then coming-up through Boris Karloff and so forth. I did my own interviews with Kane Hodder {“Jason Voorhees” in some of the “Friday the 13th” movies}, Gunnar Hansen {“Leatherface” in “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”}, Robert Englund {“Freddy Krueger” in “A Nightmare on Elm Street”}…and then talking about my own experiences as “Pinhead”. It was a lot of STUFF that I was trying to “shoehorn” into one hour. And I kept thinking while I was doing it, “Maybe this wants to be longer. Maybe there’s a book here?” I kept kind of ignoring that voice and telling myself not to be silly. Then I had a “chance conversation” with somebody from Titan Books in London and that issue came-up. I think they said “You have to think about writing a book” and I said “Well, actually…” and they said “Sounds great. Come-in and let’s talk about it.” So, in 1997 the first edition was published…which was then called “The Sacred Monsters”. It did pretty well. It never really had the distribution in the States that I’d hoped for and indeed…had been promised. Then Titan got a new distribution deal…I think through Random House here a few years ago and Random House picked-up the title and said “We want to push this in the States”. But they wanted to drop “Sacred Monsters”, so what was originally the subtitle…became the title. I was sorry to see the old title go, because I liked it. But I understand their point of view, which was…if you’re browsing in a bookshop and you see “Sacred Monsters”, it doesn’t mean anything to you. If you see “Behind the Mask of the Horror Actor”, you know…it does what it says on the tin. So I wrote a new chapter just to bring the “Hellraiser” story up-to-date and it was kind of “re-launched” a few years ago.
T.E.N. – You appeared in Motorhead’s “Hellraiser” video. What was it like making a music video with Lemmy?
DB – It was an interesting and long day {laughs}. I had a good time with it. We shot it in one of the wonderful old theatres. It was condemned then, and I’m sure that it’s probably gone now and it’s a crying shame. Those wonderful, big old, variety Vaudeville theatres in downtown L.A. It was a long day. It was a lot of fun. There were some elements around the way Motorhead were behaving that had more than a hint of “Spinal Tap” around it, shall we say. I had a great time with Lemmy, who is very funny. It was Motorhead’s “gig”, principally. There was an interesting point where…in the video, Lemmy and “Pinhead” are playing cards together and…of course Lemmy wins, because he plays the “Ace of Spades”. But the price of winning at cards is that he loses his soul. There was a decanter on the table, which was just there as a prop…Lemmy had a word with his people and the decanter disappeared…and then came back to the table filled with amber fluid {laughs}…which Lemmy proceeded to “quaff” like you or I would drink orange juice, while “The Dark Pope of Hell” sat and demurely sipped his Evian water on the other side of the table.
T.E.N – Does Clive Barker regret the fact that he only retained his literary rights to his “Hellraiser” characters and not the film rights?
DB – That’s a question to ask Clive, really. I’m sure he does, but like every self-respecting, first-time movie maker…it was the only way he was going to get his movie made, so…you say “yes”. But I think anybody in that situation would LIKE to retain the rights, because you retain control over what’s happening. That may not always be a good thing…it doesn’t necessarily mean to say you have made all the right decisions. But, YEAH!...I’m sure he would have liked to have been able to retain control over it. I’m sure he would have liked to have been retaining 100% of the profits from it too! {laughs}
T.E.N. – Lance Henriksen has ventured into your realm with “Hellraiser: Hellworld” and you returned the favor with “Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes”. How did you two enjoy working with one another?
DB – I can only speak from my own point of view. Lance is a “God” as far as I’m concerned, so I was absolutely thrilled when I heard he was going to be in “Hellworld”. He is a great guy. You’d be surprised how uncommon this is…he was the guy who came-by the make-up trailer…you know…just to sit and smoke a couple of cigarettes and “shoot the breeze” with me and Gary {J. Tunnicliffe – special make-up effects designer} while we were doing the make-up and watch the make-up process and ask questions. We had that embarrassing mutual “Fanboy” moment when I told him what a great fan of his work I was and he told me he was a fan of my work. You’d be surprised how often the principal actors…the “non make-up” actors…don’t come near the make-up process at all. They kind of almost treat the actors who are in latex as though they’re not really there, or they don’t quite “stack-up” as serious actors. Lance had none of that. I got-on really well with him and loved working with him. It was a joy to go back and do it again with “Pumpkinhead”.
T.E.N. – What’s the status of your involvement in any future “Hellraiser” projects?
DB – I have no idea. I guess the “shadow” that’s hanging over this question is the remake. I first got wind of their plans to remake the first movie 18 months ago. In that time, nobody has picked-up the phone to talk to me directly about it. The only conversations I’ve had about it have been with Clive and with Gary…who is not really any further “clued-in” on what’s going-on. First of all…I’m ASSUMING that plans to remake the first film mean that the series “as it stands” is over. I can’t imagine that if they’re remaking the first film…that there’d be any interest in making a ninth movie. Exactly what they’re planning in terms of the remake, I have no idea. I don’t know whether they’re planning a “straight” remake…these ridiculous words start getting thrown around…”re-imagining” and “re-envisioning”…which always kind of tell me that they don’t have a clue what they want to do…and it’s being dressed-up in jargon. So, I have no idea what they’re planning. 18 months down the line…it seems to me they’re no nearer getting going with it than they were 18 months ago. And I have no clue whether they would assume I’d be involved. From the start, I’ve assumed NOT…simply because when they do remakes, they don’t tend to use original cast members. I’d do it like a shot if they ask me, of course…I am jealous and protective of the part., but I’m not expecting them to make any favors.
As a fan, I’m absolutely SHOCKED that Newline has now announced that they’re going to remake “A Nightmare on Elm Street” without Robert Englund. That’s like the New Testament without Jesus Christ, as far as I’m concerned. Robert is Freddy…as Freddy is Robert. He has done a magnificent job…JUST a magnificent job. I haven’t talked to Robert about it, so I don’t know…he may be quite happy not to be involved…I don’t know. But, to me, it seems like a fairly “shoddy” thing to go and do really. He has been an absolutely tireless champion for that franchise over the last 30 years. It’s not for nothing that Newline gets referred to as “The House That Freddy Built”. But I’ve always said that I’m an actor first and “Pinhead” second, so if that’s it…if my life in “latex and nails” is over…Hey!...fine. I’m moving-on and doing other things…so, we’ll see what happens.
T.E.N. – You’re an actor who has created an “iconic” figure in film history…yet you can walk down the street and no one looks twice. Has this been a benefit or a curse?
DB – I think it’s a benefit. I would not feel comfortable with having that level of recognition that you can’t walk down the street without people “spotting” you…people photographing you…being “self-conscious” in every situation you’re in. You know, you just want to go to a bar and have a drink and…Hey!...maybe get drunk and…Hey!...maybe make a bit of a fool of yourself like people do. You feel you can’t do that because people are watching and judging you. I don’t know. It kind of suits me to be where I am. I can always “sneak the revelation” of my identity in if I think it’s warranted and there are benefits to accrue from it. When I worked with Robert Englund on “Killer Tongue” in Spain, there were a couple of nights we all went-out together and we’d be in a club and Robert would say “Look, I’m going home. I’ve got people asking me to sign autographs on napkins in the bathroom. I’ve had enough and I’m going back to the hotel.” And I was being…I was anonymous. If people would have known who I was, then I would have been on the receiving-end of the same thing. I’m “cool” with where I am.
T.E.N. – Are there any plans to make Clive Barker’s “The Damnation Game” into a film?
DB – I have no idea. I just don’t know. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened…it’s a magnificent novel. One of Clive’s best.
T.E.N. – That’s the first exposure that I ever had to Clive’s work and I just thought the novel was fantastic.
DB – I absolutely agree with you. It always felt like it really wanted to be a film. That would be a question for Clive.
T.E.N. – I know you’ve talked about this a lot, but would you care to go into a little bit of what all you had to go through to be made into “Pinhead”?
DB – It’s quite a long answer really. People could buy my book {laughs}.
T.E.N. – Don’t worry. I’ll plug your book.
DB – I have written about the whole process. From my first conversation with Clive about the character, to me then going to meet Bob Keen and his guys, having the “life-cast” done, seeing the sketches for the make-up…then encountering the make-up for the first time…which was the screen-test…in what then was like a 6-hour process transforming me into “Pinhead”. This involved having this 6-piece application originally…basically just “glued” onto my head and then the painting process. It was FASCINATING for me to watch…slightly “scary”…and a very strange experience. At the end of it, you look in the mirror and it’s not you looking back at you…it’s this “thing”. I’ve said for all the conversations I’ve had with Clive and the hours I’ve spent reading and re-reading the screenplay and thinking about it…trying to “get my head” into the kind of place that a character like “Pinhead” occupies…you do all that “proper” research and “method” stuff, but I quite shamelessly will say that I’ve found 95% of what I was doing with “Pinhead” in 15-20 minutes…just sitting…looking in the mirror and just watching. Thinking “How does this work?...if I raise an eyebrow?...frown a bit? If I start to say things like ‘No tears please. It’s a waste of good suffering’ and ‘I’ll tear your soul apart’…how does it…WHEW! This sounds good! I think I’m…” I got very excited and all my kind of “instincts” were kicking-in very quickly, as to where I was going and what I was going to do. I didn’t deviate really, very much…from all the things that I felt in that first “grab” of the character, really at all…in the following 20 years of playing the character.
T.E.N. – Now that they’ve gotten the make-up process pretty much “down pat”, how long does the process take compared to the first time you sat in the chair?
DB – It had come-down to a standard time of about 3 hours…there-abouts. It comes-down a bit more sometimes to around 2 ½. And I have at this convention…this T-shirt {holding-up a shirt}, to commemorate Gary Tunnicliffe’s “world-record” application in Romania on the last film (“Hellraiser: Hellworld”) of 1 hour, 9 minutes, 42.3 seconds. He was especially pleased that it came-out at 1 hour and 9 minutes. He proudly proclaimed “‘Pinhead’ had been 69’d by Gary Tunnicliffe”. Gary has an answering T-shirt that says on the back “I 69’d ‘Pinhead’” {laughs}.
Fans can purchase autographed copies of
“Behind the Mask of the Horror Actor”
from www.dougbradley.com