Did Robert Englund Help This Iconic Actor Appear In 'Star Wars'?
It seems that the star of 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' was instrumental in getting one aspiring actor into a galaxy far, far away.
Freddy Krueger actor Robert Englund had been a close friend of Mark Hamill 's for years, especially when both actors were just beginning their now-successful careers in the 1970s. While auditioning for Francis Ford Coppola's 'Apocalypse Now', Englund heard that another major director, George Lucas, was casting for the role of the now iconic Luke Skywalker, and, upon realizing that he was too old for the part, Englund suggested to his roommate Hamill to give it a go. The rest, as we know, is history.
Speaking with The Guardian following his pivotal role in 'Stranger Things ' season 4, Englund recounted how he introduced Hamill to the world of 'Star Wars '.
"I remember saying: "Guess what? George Lucas is making this space movie." We both loved 'American Graffiti', so Mark called his agent and put her under pressure to get him an audition," Englund said.
Fans are certainly very grateful to the horror veteran for helping 'Star Wars' become what it is today, but many lament Englund's own career, arguing that his talent deserves more than occasional appearances in scary movies.
His recent appearance in 'Stranger Things', though, may put an end to that losing streak, with Englund finally being able to showcase his acting abilities to the fullest. Perhaps 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' will return for more action on Netflix?