Lesser Known Horror Actors Who Have Died

[Torgo]

‘Sleepaway Camp’ Star Jonathan Tiersten Has Passed Away at 60

We are sad to learn this morning that Jonathan Tiersten, best known to horror fans for his role in the original Sleepaway Camp, has passed away at the age of 60 years old.

TMZ reports, “Tiersten passed away last week at his home in New Jersey, according to his brother, William Tiersten. The medical examiner is investigating Jonathan’s cause of death.”

Jonathan Tiersten played Angela’s (Felissa Rose) cousin Ricky in the original 1980s slasher classic, a role he later reprised in the 2008 sequel Return to Sleepaway Camp.

Sleepaway Camp marked the teenage Tiersten’s feature film debut, and he returned to the horror genre decades later in a handful of films including The Perfect House, Redemption, Blood Reservoir, The House That Wept Blood, Terror Tales, Lake of Shadows, Toilet Zombie Baby Strikes Back, Last American Horror Show: Volume II, and the slasher Time’s Up.

In addition to his acting work, Jonathan Tiersten was also an accomplished musician. His IMDb bio states, “As a singer/songwriter, Tiersten made his presence felt on the Greenwich Village folk-rock/roots rock circuit in the late 1980s and early 1990s as one-half of the acoustic duo The Magic Box. Tiersten (whose first solo album, Heaven, was released in 1998) also has been a member of the alternative funk-rock band Gaphiltaphunk, and now leads the band TEN TIERS, whose debut album, Don’s Club Tavern: Part 1, was released in 2006.”

“Music is an enormous passion for me. Music is not what I do. It’s who I am,” he once said.
https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3...ed-away-at-60/

[JamesG]

I was surprised to hear that this morning.

Another recent horror death was Beau Starr of Halloween 4 and 5 who was Sheriff Meeker.

[Dude111]

This is very sad... Jimmy thank you for your report also..

I have Sleepaway camp on VHS and its goregous!

I have a 1989 Video Treasures release and it is just insanely beauitful... The colours,etc.......

[Torgo]

Originally Posted by JamesG

I was surprised to hear that this morning.

Another recent horror death was Beau Starr of Halloween 4 and 5 who was Sheriff Meeker.

I really liked him in those

[JamesG]

Originally Posted by Torgo

I really liked him in those

One of my favorite scenes of the franchise (though his gun never seems to run out of ammo, ha!)

[Dude111]

Its sad,they all seem to dying 1 by 1

[Torgo]

Originally Posted by JamesG

One of my favorite scenes of the franchise (though his gun never seems to run out of ammo, ha!)

Haha I think he uses the same type of guns Ash from the Evil Dead movies uses.

[Torgo]

Maybe we should make this a thread for lesser known horror actors that have passed as Jack Taylor just passed away today at the age of 99. He appeared in numerous European horror films in the 70s and 80s (most notably for his role in the 1982 Spanish slasher Pieces), he was born in Oregon City, Oregon.

[JamesG]

Voice actor Tom Kane died earlier this week.

In horror, he voiced Dr. Loomis in the opening of Halloween H20 (1998).

[JamesG]

Actress Caitlin O'Heaney has died at 73.

Horror appearances include Savage Weekend (1979), He Knows You're Alone (1980), small role in Wolfen (1981) and Late Phases (2014).

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv...ey-1236608943/

[Torgo]

Originally Posted by JamesG

Actress Caitlin O'Heaney has died at 73.

Horror appearances include Savage Weekend (1979), He Knows You're Alone (1980), small role in Wolfen (1981) and Late Phases (2014).

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv...ey-1236608943/

I'd forgotten she was in Late Phases...I think I was more focused on the horrendous werewolf effects.

She was really good in the short lived early 80s series Tales Of The Gold Monkey.

[JamesG]

Anthony Guidera has died at 65.

He appeared in 1995's Species.

https://ew.com/anthony-guidera-dies-...actor-11993844

[JamesG]

Daveigh Chase has died at 35 after being hospitalized for meningitis and a blood infection.

Her first movie role was the sci-fi/horror thriller Donnie Darko (2001) and she reprised her role in the direct-to-video S. Darko (2006).

She was Samantha Morgan in the 2002 American remake of The Ring.



Outside of horror, she voiced Lilo in Disney's Lilo & Stitch (2002), its direct-to-video sequel Stitch! The Movie (2003) and the 2003-06 series Lilo & Stitch: The Series.

https://ew.com/daveigh-chase-dead-li...-ring-12000920

[JamesG]

It was reported that Daveigh Chase died from AIDS w/ other factors, such as chronic polysubstance use.

Manner of death listed as natural.

https://deadline.com/2026/06/daveigh...ds-1236970345/