It’s the smallest appearance in any of the Halloween films to date, but Tony Moran’s portrayal of Michael Myers in the original Halloween is noteworthy because it is the first and only time we actually see Michael’s face. This makes Tony important enough for a Where Are They Now installment!
Tony Moran was born in California during the month of August 1957. He was born into a big family, one where many family members were pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. Tony is the older brother of Erin Moran (Joanie on “Happy Days”), John Moran, Kelly Moran. Tony was a struggling actor, sleeping on a friend’s couch when his sister’s agent got him an audition for Halloween (1978) in front of John Carpenter and Irwin Yablans. He landed the role of Michael Myers and was paid $250 for the part. Throughout the movie the maniacal Michael Myers stalks Laurie Strode and kills off her friends one by one. Tony often shared the screen with Nick Castle, another actor paid to be the silhouette of the brutal mass murderer. However, fans got a good look at Mr. Moran during the final battle between Laurie and Michael where Laurie (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) rips the mask off her brother and reveals his face. Mr. Moran opted not to reprise the role when Halloween II went into production.
With new found Halloween fame under his belt, Tony continued forward with a career in Hollywood. He booked one-shot guest-spots on popular television shows including “The Waltons” in 1979 and “CHiPS” in 1981. For reasons unknown to everyone but himself, Mr. Moran quit acting shortly after that.
So, where is Tony Moran now?
Tony stayed in retirement for 27 years before returning to the world of acting in 2008’s The Lucky Break. Now with a cult status attached to his name, Tony quickly learned that he was a hot commodity in film and many people directors were interested in having a Michael Myers portrayer in their films. In 2011 Mr. Moran had a small role in Thomas C. Churchill’s Emerging Past as a blind prophet. He starred in and produced the award winning horror film, Beg, in 2011 which also starred Halloween co-star P.J. Soles, Tony Todd, Debbie Rochon, Michael Berryman, and Tiffany Shepis. Finally, in 2013 he played the lead role in horror film Provoked as well as doing stunts there, too.
He has a bunch of titles due for release in 2015! He will play the lead role in horror’s Dead Bounty, comedy’s The Ungovernable Force with Lloyd Kaufman and Debbie Rochon, and an unconfirmed part in horror-thriller Redemption A.D. He is also the subject of a documentary, Life of a Horror Icon: Tony Moran, which is currently in production.
