The Tall Man Has Left This Dimension

January 10, 2016 7:35 AM

Early in his career, Lawrence Rory Guy won a Grammy for writing album liner notes for such diverse artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, and Itzhak Perlman. More recently as an actor, under the name of Angus Scrimm, he was known for his roles in movies like I Sell the Dead and John Dies at the End or on television in the series Alias. Of course, he is most well known for is iconic role as The Tall Man in 1979's Phantasm and its three (soon to be four) sequels. Late last night, at the age of 89, Angus Scrimm passed away peacefully surrounded by his friends and loved ones.

Don Coscarelli, writer and director of the Phantasm films, has released this statement:
"I am heartbroken to tell you that our beloved Tall Man, Angus passed away peacefully tonight surrounded by his friends and loved ones. He was 89 years old. His performance as the Tall Man is a towering achievement in horror film history. He was a terrific actor and an even better friend. He will be missed."

Scrimm's final role was in Phantasm V Ravager, which will be released later this year.

Interestingly, the release of this movie was significantly delayed for a very happy reason. Director J.J. Abrams (whom you may know as "the guy with the lens flares", "the guy who ruined Wrath of Khan", or possibly "the guy who directed the highest domestic grossing film in U.S. history") is also a huge Phantasm geek. He wanted to show the film in a screening at Bad Robot, but was disappointed because all of the prints were very low quality. Last month the news broke that Abrams had spearheaded a 4K restoration project for Phantasm, which should be complete in the next few months.

posted by Lokheed (23 comments total)

I know, logically, that Phantasm isn't that great of a movie. It has its flaws. But it scared the crap out of me in 3rd or 4th grade. I didn't even see it at first, another kid described it to me in detail first, scene by scene, and then I saw it years later when VCRs became accessible. Angus Scrimm walking around menacingly was a big part of the atmosphere.

I still have a still have a soft-spot for this movie, there are parts that really work. And parts that are blatant rip-offs from Star Wars, Dune, and other movies/books.

In recent years Coscarelli has made "Bubba Ho-tep" and "John Dies at the End", both of which suffered from low budgets but I found fun and interesting.

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Edit: just saw "John Dies at the End" above the fold. Still good.
posted by beowulf573 at 7:53 AM on January 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

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posted by allthinky at 7:54 AM on January 10, 2016

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posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 8:20 AM on January 10, 2016

HE PLAYED A GOOD GAME, BOYYYYY.

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posted by Strange Interlude at 8:39 AM on January 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

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posted by Smart Dalek at 9:08 AM on January 10, 2016

"The funeral is about to begin!"

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posted by doctornemo at 9:42 AM on January 10, 2016

In his honor, I'm sending a chrome ball rolling down my hallway.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:42 AM on January 10, 2016 [3 favorites]

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posted by Artw at 10:16 AM on January 10, 2016 [3 favorites]

In his honor I'm crushing my neighbor down to 3 feet tall.

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posted by Splunge at 10:25 AM on January 10, 2016 [9 favorites]

I worked with Angus on many films and it is no hyperbole to say he was one of the most generous, thoughtful people I've ever met. He always remembered everyone he worked with and always had something kind to say. The last time I saw him was in October, at a screening of I SELL THE DEAD - he could still recall in perfect detail the violin lessons he'd take 70 years earlier - as well as his tutors name. He told Ron Perlman that his "hand acting" was incredible.

In 2010 I directed an audio drama (for Tales From Beyond The Pale) called THE GRANDFATHER (excerpt) in which Angus plays the titular Grandfather. He nailed every word perfectly and needed zero direction. It's a pleasure to hear him speak and I'm very happy he was willing and excited to participate in that project.

When I moved to LA two years ago, we met up, and he jovially recorded a list of candies for an abstract, experimental Halloween film I made called THE TRICK IS THE TREAT. I tried to pay him, but he refused - it was my "Welcome to Los Angeles" present. I'll always be grateful.
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 11:10 AM on January 10, 2016 [22 favorites]

Glass Eye Pix has put up the two Tales From Beyond The Pale episodes Angus starred in, for free.

The Grandfather (directed by me) and The Tribunal of Minos (directed by Jim McKenney). Please enjoy and think of Angus fondly!
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 11:38 AM on January 10, 2016 [3 favorites]

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posted by Dhertiiboi at 11:41 AM on January 10, 2016

👨👴⛪️🎩🙏👹

💧
posted by clavdivs at 12:30 PM on January 10, 2016

A delightful commercial for Fangoria Magazine from 1988.
A delightful set of bumpers from an Aqua Teen Hunger Force Halloween marathon.
A delightful acceptance speech for the New York City Horror Film Festival's Lifetime Achievement Award.
posted by brianrobot at 1:11 PM on January 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

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Hot as love
posted by ian1977 at 1:46 PM on January 10, 2016

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posted by Mezentian at 2:38 PM on January 10, 2016

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Ever if he is not REALLY dead.

(Soft spot for Phantasm, as large portions were shot in Julian, California, where I spent a good long while growing up. Also, had mad funsexytimes in the graveyard (well, one of them) that shows up in the movie.) Had also met Mr. Scrimm on more than one occasion and had a good hard chuckle at how nice and gracious he was afterwards.
posted by Samizdata at 4:26 PM on January 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

Be careful around mirrors.
posted by Artw at 4:33 PM on January 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

I was hoping someone had made a Unicode death-sphere that I could drop in here, but:

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Phantasm sticks with me, all these years later.
posted by ryanshepard at 5:09 PM on January 10, 2016

Also, had mad funsexytimes in the graveyard (well, one of them) that shows up in the movie.

Hopefully the night didn't end with your sexytime friend turning into the Tall Man.
posted by brianrobot at 6:18 PM on January 10, 2016

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posted by Ignorantsavage at 7:41 PM on January 10, 2016

brianrobot: "Also, had mad funsexytimes in the graveyard (well, one of them) that shows up in the movie.

Hopefully the night didn't end with your sexytime friend turning into the Tall Man."

Nope. Otherwise I would have said maddening unfunsexytimes. snickers
posted by Samizdata at 10:38 PM on January 10, 2016

Back during the whole dotcom boom in the early aughts, I spent several months working for a company in the Bay Area. One day over a long lunch I made the pilgrimage to visit the Dunsmuir Mansion (exterior filming location for the graveyard and mausoleum). I didn't have any mad funsexytimes, though.
posted by Lokheed at 8:04 AM on January 11, 2016