George P. Wilbur obit

R.I.P.: George P. Wilbur, the Michael Myers of Halloween 4 and 6, has passed away

 R.I.P.: George P. Wilbur, the Michael Myers of Halloween 4 and 6, has passed away

He was not on the list.

Fans of the Halloween franchise received some sad news today, as it has been confirmed that stuntman George P. Wilbur – who played horror icon Michael Myers in both Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) and Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995), the sixth entry in the series – has passed away at the age of 81. He served in the US Navy as well.

Wilbur’s fellow Michael Myers performer Chris Durand, who played the character in 1998’s Halloween H20, broke the news of his passing on Facebook earlier today: “George P. Wilbur passed away last night. George, you were a class act and well loved. You will be missed. May you Rest in Peace.” Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers screenwriter Daniel Farrands reacted to the news by saying, “Very sad to hear of George’s passing. He was such a kind soul and a beloved member of the Halloween family.“

Born on March 6, 1941 in Connecticut, Wilbur served in the United States Navy before finding work as a wrangler on a ranch in Arizona. That ranch work led to him being hired as an extra and a stand-in for John Wayne on the 1966 Western El Dorado – and after he working on that production, he decided to move to California and become a stuntman. The movies and TV shows Wilbur performed stunts on over the decades include Planet of the Apes, Blacula, Mission: Impossible, The Poseidon Adventure, High Plains Drifter, Blazing Saddles, The Towering Inferno, Grizzly, The Clonus Horror, Escape from New York, The Sword and the Sorcerer, Poltergeist, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, The Beastmaster, They Call Me Bruce, Blue Thunder, Firestarter, Ghostbusters, Re-Animator, Fletch, Extreme Prejudice, The Monster Squad, Dead Heat, Die Hard, The ‘Burbs, Tales from the Crypt, Ghostbusters II, Lock Up, A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, Total Recall, The Exorcist III, Pump Up the Volume, Eve of Destruction, The Silence of the Lambs, Suburban Commando, Cast a Deadly Spell, The Last Boy Scout, Unlawful Entry, Dr. Giggles, Outbreak, Casino, Broken Arrow, Mars Attacks!, Vegas Vacation, Rush Hour, The Perfect Storm, Spider-Man, Deadwood, The Aggression Scale, Cheap Thrills, and many more. He also had acting roles in many of the movies he did stunts for.

Fellow stuntman Tom Morga was initially cast as Michael Myers for Halloween 4 and still appears in some scenes. But when Morga was let go in the midst of production, Wilbur was hired as his replacement. Wilbur wasn’t brought back for Halloween 5, but returned to play Myers in Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (with A. Michael Lerner stepping in for reshoots).

Our sincere condolences go out to Wilbur’s family, friends, and fans. Halloween 4 is my favorite of the Halloween sequels, so I’m really sad to know that the film’s Michael Myers is no longer with us.

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    

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