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Happy Birthday, Crazy Ralph!

Never has an actor done less and been universally adored. While many (properly) laud Anthony Hopkins and Doug Bradley for the icons they fashioned in little screen time as Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Pinhead, respectively, they were featured players compared to the man of the hour. Nearly four decades since last creeping around Camp Crystal Lake, Walt Gorney remains the unofficial mascot of one of horror’s most beloved franchises, and today we celebrate the anniversary of his birth.

Armed with nothing more than a crumpled hat, dingy vest, and a few ominous words of warning, Crazy Ralph endeared himself to FRIDAY THE 13TH fans everywhere and his life to this day.

For as much as Friday freaks adore Jason and revere Pamela Voorhees (Betsy Palmer), all one need do is whisper “doomed” to rally the troops. Maybe it was the wobbly way he piloted his bicycle, the gleeful, sarcastic taunt of “You’re goin’ to Camp Blood, ain’tcha?” or that he had occasion to hole up in pantries. Whatever the reason, FRIDAY THE 13TH aficionados have never tired of a character that last appeared on a screen over 40 years ago.

Born in Vienna, Austria in 1912, Gorney will be forever remembered for getting liquored up, spouting his gospel, and being a pain in Officer Dorf’s ass. However, we’re not allowed to forget that he had a successful stage career, which included involvement with the Provincetown Players theatrical group in the 1950s, or that he made brief appearances in KING KONG (1976) and TRADING PLACES (1983).

Sad, in a way, that Gorney was 68 years old when the original Friday film debuted because conventions being what they are today, few would be as popular on the circuit as Crazy Ralph. As legendary horror host, Joe Bob Briggs once said, “If the old geek says you’re doomed, then you’re by God doomed.”

Alas, it’s been 14 years since Mr. Gorney left us, but for as long as FRIDAY THE 13TH has a following, he will never be forgotten.

So, wherever you find yourself whetting your whistle tonight, raise a glass in honor of the man who is, was, and ever shall be Crazy Ralph – Walt Gorney.

The Office, Horror Digs Deeper than John Krasinski

So John Kransinki’s A Quiet Place raked in over $50 million in its initial weekend, further solidifying the horror revolution that we’ve enjoyed for more than two years. Kransinski was so effective as a father doing all he could to protect his children and pregnant wife, that it occurred to me that Jim Halpert was not the only alumnus of The Office to make a dent in the world of horror.

Here are just a few who’ve also made a lasting impression.

RAINN WILSON

“Question.” No one was as painfully and rudely inappropriate as Dwight K. Schrute, nor could any inhabitant of the Dunder Mifflin branch irritate Michael Scott quite like our favorite beet farmer. Well, maybe Andy. That said, the fact that the Assistant to the Regional Manager’s queries never came to an end, it was altogether fitting that what made Wilson’s appearance in House of 1000 Corpses so memorable (and ultimately sealed his doom), was that his curiosity could not be quenched.

KATHY BATES

She rode in as Jo Bennett,  a no-nonsense southern belle, which wasn’t exactly in keeping with the shenanigans of Scranton, but American Horror Story aside, we’ll never have the capability to see Bates and not think about Annie Wilkes. Don’t get us wrong, Bates’ brilliance allows her to fully embody any role she chooses, but her turn as Paul Sheldon’s biggest fan was, well, a sledgehammer.

LESLIE DAVID BAKER

Let’s face it, Stanley’s monotone aggression and disdainful glances were part of his charm, but every day cannot be pretzel day. At first glance, about the best we could do was note that Baker appeared in an episode of Key & Peele. As we all know, Jordan Peele’s Get Out provided us with the most important horror film since George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968), but this isn’t six degrees of Kevin Bacon, so instead, let’s turn to Dwight’s display with the CPR mannequins, because no one was more terrified of that Lecter moment than Stanley.

CRAIG ROBINSON

Big man admitted that he’d be upset if he didn’t at least get a bite of the Milky Way in This is the End, but no one who’s seen Tragedy Girls can say that they A) didn’t absolutely adore the Brianna Hildebrand and Alexandra Shipp-helmed hit, or B) elicit a squeal upon seeing Robinson on-screen pumping iron and rallying the community.

JENNA FISCHER

Pam’s relationship with Jim felt so real that it has become the goal of everyone who desires to live the dream. The foundation of that love was achieved whilst Fischer sat at her desk taking calls and conspiring with Halpert to mess with Dwight, so it’s rather perfect that Fischer rocked a phone headset as a bunch of creepy crawlers entered the equation in Slither. And don’t call her Pammie.

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TIMOTHY OLYPHANT

Brief though his appearance as Danny Cordray was, Olyphant is part of The Office universe, and as such, we can look past David, the heroic cop in Romero’s The Crazies (2011), and instead revel in his crazy stance that Ewoks blew in Scream 2.

IDRIS ELBA

Charles Miner couldn’t determine what would motivate The Office’s workforce, but for our purposes here, let’s look past his appearance as Roland in Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, and instead take pride in the fact that Elba appeared in the Prom Night (2008) remake, as well 28 Weeks Later. And if we could go back to Fischer for a moment, “how do you confuse 28 Days with 28 Days Later?”

STEVE CARELL

In case you’d forgotten.

Trick Or Treat Studios Is Making An Officially Licensed Child’s Play 2 Good Guy Doll! Here’s How To Grab One!

Andy is gonna be pissed.

Over the years, we’ve seen many variants of everyone’s favorite Good Guy in toy and collectible form come and go- but never something like this! Trick or Treat Studios recently launched a Kickstarter dedicated to the making of the most LEGIT looking Good Guy doll to date! The campaign has already passed it’s $100,000 goal in the past 48 hours, which means this is definitely happening. Which is fantastic news for fans of the little plastic hellion and the Child’s Play series, because hell, we’ve been asking for this for YEARS!

The full-size replica is made entirely of used screen molds from Child’s Play 2, so it’ll be like you just nabbed one off one that factory shelf from the film!

The Officially Licensed One-To-One Scale Child’s Play 2 Chucky Doll is the most screen accurate Child’s Play Product ever produced. Every detail of this doll is made from actual screen used molds, including the clothing which was replicated using actual screen used swatches.The body of the doll has a wire frame surrounded by a soft flexible foam to allow you to pose your doll anyway you’d like.

The Kickstarter began with two main pledge levels, but the higher of the two, which included an exclusive certificate signed by the voice of Chucky, Brad Dourif, Trick or Treat Studios VP of Art Direction, Justin Mabry and Trick or Treat Studios President, Chris Zephro, have sold out at the time of this article. However, you can still grab your Good Guy for $500, which will come along with any little goodies that coincide with stretch goals.