Template:Infobox Actor
Donald Henry Pleasence, OBE, (5 October 1919 – 2 February 1995) was an English actor who gained more than 200 screen credits during his long career. Although he often found himself typecast as villainous and/or psychopathic characters, Pleasence is possibly best known for his work in two of cinema's most enduringly successful franchises: the James Bond and Halloween series - in which he played Samuel Loomis for five instalments.
Halloween
Donald Pleasence confessed to John Carpenter that the main reason why he took the part of Loomis was because his daughter Angela loved Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 (1976).
John Carpenter was quite intimidated by Donald Pleasence, of whom he was a big fan and who was easily the oldest and most experienced person on set. Although Pleasance asked Carpenter difficult questions about his character, Pleasance turned out to be a good-humored, big-hearted individual and the two became great friends.
Donald Pleasence did all of his scenes in only five days of shooting. The total duration of his scenes is just over 18 minutes. His salary was $20,000.
Originally, the script had Dr. Loomis having a surprised reaction to the disappearance of Michael Myers's body from the lawn at the end of the film. Pleasence suggested his character's reaction should instead be an "I knew this would happen" look on his face. They shot it both ways and ended up using Pleasance's idea.
When Moustapha Akkad asked Pleasence how many more Halloween films he was planning to make, he replied "I stop at twenty-two!"
At the end of Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, it then says "In Memory of Donald Pleasence". Both The Curse of Michael Myers and Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later were dedicated to him.
Appearances
| Film | Character | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Halloween | Samuel Loomis | 1978 |
| Halloween II | Samuel Loomis | 1981 |
| Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers | Samuel Loomis | 1988 |
| Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers | Samuel Loomis | 1989 |
| Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers | Samuel Loomis | 1995 |