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Wes Craven has become synonymous with genre bending and innovative horror, challenging audiences with his bold vision.

Wesley Earl Craven was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Caroline (Miller) and Paul Eugene Craven. He had a midwestern suburban upbringing. His first feature film was The Last House on the Left (1972), which he wrote, directed, and edited. Craven reinvented the youth horror genre again in 1984 with the classic A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), a film he wrote and directed. And though he did not direct any of its five sequels, he deconstructed the genre a decade later, writing and directing the audacious New Nightmare (1994), which was nominated as Best Feature at the 1995 Independent Spirit Awards, and introduced the concept of self-reflexive genre films to the world.

In 1996 Craven reached a new level of success with the release of Scream (1996). The film, which sparked the phenomenal trilogy, was the winner of MTV's 1996 Best Movie Award and grossed more than $100 million domestically, as did Scream 2 (1997). Between Scream 2 and Scream 3 (2000), Craven, offered the opportunity to direct a non-genre film for Miramax, helmed Music of the Heart (1999), a film that earned Meryl Streep an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. That same year, in the midst of directing, Craven completed his first novel, "The Fountain Society," published by Simon & Shuster. Recent works include the 2005 psychological thriller Red Eye (2005), and a short rom-com segment for the ensemble product, Paris, Je T'aime (2006).

In later years, Craven also produced remakes of two of his earlier films for his genre fans, The Hills Have Eyes (2006) and The Last House on the Left (2009). Craven has always had an eye for discovering fresh talent, something that contributes to the success of his films. While casting A Nightmare on Elm Street, Craven discovered the then unknown Johnny Depp. Craven later cast Sharon Stone in her first starring role for his film Deadly Blessing. He even gave Bruce Willis his first featured role in an episode of TV's mid-80's edition of The Twilight Zone. In My Soul to Take (2010), Craven once again brought together a cast of up-and-coming young teens, including Max Thieriot, in whom he saw the spark of stardom. The film marked Craven's first collaboration with wife and producer Iya Labunka, who also produced with him the highly anticipated production of Scream 4.

Craven's Scream 4 (2011) reunited the director with Dimension Films and Kevin Williamson, as well as with stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette, to re-boot the beloved franchise. Craven again exhibited his knack for spotting important talent, with a cast of young actors bringing us a totally new breed of Woodsboro high schoolers, including Emma Robert and Hayden Pannetierre.

Peter J. Votrian was born on 12 June 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for Big House, U.S.A. (1955), Fear Strikes Out (1957) and Playhouse 90 (1956). He died on 30 August 2015 in Burbank, California, USA.

Oliver Sacks was born on 9 July 1933 in London, England, UK. He was a writer and actor, known for Awakenings (1990), At First Sight (1999) and Brilliant Minds (2024). He died on 30 August 2015 in New York City, New York, USA.

Mauro Vestri was born on 25 February 1938 in Genoa, Liguria, Italy. He was an actor, known for Fantozzi 2 (1976), The Inglorious Bastards (1978) and Street Law (1974). He died on 30 August 2015 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.

Guy Godin was born on 18 July 1933. He was an actor, known for La guêpe (1986), Valérie (1969) and Rope Around the Neck (1965). He died on 30 August 2015 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Brad Anderson was born on 24 May 1924 in Jamestown, New York, USA. He was a writer, known for Marmaduke (2010), Marmaduke (2022) and Heathcliff (1980). He was married to Barbara. He died on 30 August 2015 in The Woodlands, Texas, USA.

Mikhail Svetin was born on 11 December 1930 in Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Ukraine]. He was an actor, known for Sirano de Berzherak (1989), Twelve Chairs (1977) and Zolotoy telyonok (2006). He was married to Proskurnina Bronislav. He died on 30 August 2015 in Gatchina, Leningrad Oblast, Russia.

Tod Abrams was an actor and producer, known for The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green (2005) and Kept Boy (2017). He died on 30 August 2015 in Delray Beach, Florida, USA.

Hugo Rasmussen was born on 22 March 1941 in Bagsværd, Denmark. He was an actor and composer, known for Ude på noget (1984), Den våde høne (1975) and Dame i Danmark (1967). He died on 30 August 2015 in Frederiksberg, Denmark.

Seyed Ali Tabatabaei was an actor, known for Season Salad (2005), The Chef (2009) and King's White Horse (2014). He died on 30 August 2015 in Tehran, Iran.

Rhoda Lerman was a writer, known for Mafia Doctor (2003) and Eleanor, First Lady of the World (1982). She died on 30 August 2015.

Joshua Park was born on 26 November 1976 in Union County, North Carolina, USA. He was an actor, known for The Bog Creatures (2003), Fort Doom (2004) and Blood Relic (2005). He died on 30 August 2015 in the USA.

Lev Streltsyn was born on 17 August 1934. Lev was a cinematographer, known for Vechno zhivye (1976), Verkhom na delfine (1970) and Daryu tebe zhizn (1976). Lev died on 30 August 2015.

After serving in the US Army for over 26 years and retiring as a Sergeant Major, Charlie Carlson began writing books on the strange and unusual as well as several historical books. As a Florida Independent Film Award winner, Carlson currently lives in Central Florida where he continues to write both books and screenplays for movies and produces movies related to the paranormal.

Bart Cummings was born on 14 November 1927 in South Australia, Australia. He was married to Valmae. He died on 30 August 2015 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Dan Iordachescu was born on 2 June 1930 in Vânju Mare, Romania. He was an actor, known for Hedenavond: voorstelling (1963) and Music for You (1951). He died on 30 August 2015 in Romania.

Marvin Mandel was born on 19 August 1920 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Marvin was married to Jeanne Blackistone Dorsey and Barbara Oberfeld. Marvin died on 30 August 2015 in Compton, Maryland, USA.

Enrica Prati was a producer, known for Nero: La serie (2015). Enrica died on 30 August 2015 in Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

Blondell Cummings was born on 27 October 1944 in Florence, South Carolina, USA. She was an actress, known for Kristina Talking Pictures (1976) and Retracing Steps: American Dance Since Postmodernism (1988). She died on 30 August 2015 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.

Ján Lazorík was born on 29 September 1920 in Torysa, Czechoslovakia [now Slovakia]. He died on 30 August 2015 in Krivan, Slovakia.