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IMDbPro

David J. Skal(1952-2024)

  • Writer
  • Director
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
David J. Skal
American film historian and documentary writer-producer; frequent on-camera commentator and occasional bit-part actor. Author of the books 'Hollywood Gothic', the definitive chronicle of Bram Stoker's Dracula in its journey from page to stage to screen; 'The Monster Show: A Cultural History of Horror'; 'Screams of Reason: Mad Science and Modern Culture'; 'V Is for Vampire' and many others. With Elias Savada, co-author of 'Dark Carnival: The Secret World of Tod Browning'. Documentary projects include The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale (1999), a behind-the-scenes chronicle of the Academy Award-winning biopic 'Gods And Monsters', and 11 DVD documentaries for Universal Studio Home Video's classic horror and science fiction films. He resided in Los Angeles.
BornJune 21, 1952
DiedJanuary 1, 2024(71)
BornJune 21, 1952
DiedJanuary 1, 2024(71)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 1 win total

Photos1

View Poster

Known for

The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale (1999)
The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale
7.2
Video
  • Writer
  • 1999
The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked (2000)
The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked
6.9
Video
  • Writer
  • 2000
Jules Verne & Walt Disney: Explorers of the Imagination (2003)
Jules Verne & Walt Disney: Explorers of the Imagination
7.5
Video
  • Writer(as David Skal)
  • 2003
Elsa Lanchester in She's Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein (1999)
She's Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein
7.0
Video
  • Writer
  • 1999

Credits

IMDbPro

Writer

  • Jules Verne & Walt Disney: Explorers of the Imagination (2003)
    Jules Verne & Walt Disney: Explorers of the Imagination
    7.5
    Video
    • Writer (as David Skal)
    • 2003
  • The Universe According to Universal (2002)
    The Universe According to Universal
    6.7
    Video
    • Writer
    • 2002
  • Ricou Browning in Back to the Black Lagoon: A Creature Chronicle (2001)
    Back to the Black Lagoon: A Creature Chronicle
    7.2
    Video
    • Writer
    • 2001
  • The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked (2000)
    The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked
    6.9
    Video
    • Writer
    • 2000
  • Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Monsters! (2000)
    Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Monsters!
    7.2
    Video
    • written by
    • 2000
  • Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed! (2000)
    Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed!
    6.9
    Video
    • Writer
    • 2000
  • The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale (1999)
    The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale
    7.2
    Video
    • written by
    • 1999
  • The Road to Dracula (1999)
    The Road to Dracula
    7.0
    Video
    • written by
    • 1999
  • Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man' (1999)
    Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'
    6.8
    Video
    • Writer
    • 1999
  • Elsa Lanchester in She's Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein (1999)
    She's Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein
    7.0
    Video
    • writer
    • 1999
  • Boris Karloff in Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed (1999)
    Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed
    6.5
    Video
    • Writer
    • 1999
  • Frankenstein (1931)
    The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster
    7.1
    Video
    • Writer
    • 1999
  • Biography (1987)
    Biography
    7.7
    TV Series
    • writer
    • Writer
    • 1995–1998

Director

  • Carla Laemmle Remembers: An Interview with David J. Skal
    7.8
    Video
    • Director (uncredited)
    • 2003
  • Jules Verne & Walt Disney: Explorers of the Imagination (2003)
    Jules Verne & Walt Disney: Explorers of the Imagination
    7.5
    Video
    • Director (as David Skal)
    • 2003
  • The Universe According to Universal (2002)
    The Universe According to Universal
    6.7
    Video
    • Director
    • 2002
  • Ricou Browning in Back to the Black Lagoon: A Creature Chronicle (2001)
    Back to the Black Lagoon: A Creature Chronicle
    7.2
    Video
    • Director
    • 2001
  • The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked (2000)
    The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked
    6.9
    Video
    • Director
    • 2000
  • Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Monsters! (2000)
    Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Monsters!
    7.2
    Video
    • Director
    • 2000
  • Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed! (2000)
    Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed!
    6.9
    Video
    • Director
    • 2000
  • The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale (1999)
    The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale
    7.2
    Video
    • Director
    • 1999
  • The Road to Dracula (1999)
    The Road to Dracula
    7.0
    Video
    • directed by
    • 1999
  • Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man' (1999)
    Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'
    6.8
    Video
    • Director
    • 1999
  • Elsa Lanchester in She's Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein (1999)
    She's Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein
    7.0
    Video
    • Director
    • 1999
  • Boris Karloff in Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed (1999)
    Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed
    6.5
    Video
    • Director
    • 1999
  • Frankenstein (1931)
    The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster
    7.1
    Video
    • Director
    • 1999

Producer

  • Carla Laemmle Remembers: An Interview with David J. Skal
    7.8
    Video
    • producer (uncredited)
    • 2003
  • Jules Verne & Walt Disney: Explorers of the Imagination (2003)
    Jules Verne & Walt Disney: Explorers of the Imagination
    7.5
    Video
    • producer (as David Skal)
    • 2003
  • The Universe According to Universal (2002)
    The Universe According to Universal
    6.7
    Video
    • producer
    • 2002
  • Ricou Browning in Back to the Black Lagoon: A Creature Chronicle (2001)
    Back to the Black Lagoon: A Creature Chronicle
    7.2
    Video
    • producer
    • 2001
  • The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked (2000)
    The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked
    6.9
    Video
    • producer
    • 2000
  • Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Monsters! (2000)
    Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Monsters!
    7.2
    Video
    • producer
    • 2000
  • Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed! (2000)
    Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed!
    6.9
    Video
    • producer
    • 2000
  • The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale (1999)
    The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale
    7.2
    Video
    • producer
    • 1999
  • The Road to Dracula (1999)
    The Road to Dracula
    7.0
    Video
    • produced by
    • 1999
  • Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man' (1999)
    Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'
    6.8
    Video
    • producer
    • 1999
  • Elsa Lanchester in She's Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein (1999)
    She's Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein
    7.0
    Video
    • producer
    • 1999
  • Boris Karloff in Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed (1999)
    Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed
    6.5
    Video
    • producer
    • 1999
  • Frankenstein (1931)
    The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster
    7.1
    Video
    • producer
    • 1999

Personal details

  • Alternative name
    • David Skal
  • Born
    • June 21, 1952
    • Garfield Heights, Ohio, USA
  • Died
    • January 1, 2024
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(car accident)
  • Other works
    Book, with Elias Savada: "Dark Carnival: The Secret World of Tod Browning, Hollywood's Master of the Macabre"
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Article

Did you know

  • Trivia
    Interred at Los Angeles Gardens cemetery in Odessa, Texas.

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