Over the decades, we’ve seen 12 Friday the 13th movies, and 10 actors have shared the role of slasher icon Jason Voorhees (including Ari Lehman as Jason as a child). And while they’ve all made their mark, one of the most famous actors behind the mask is Kane Hodder. Hodder has actually played Jason four times in a row since Friday the 13th – Chapter 7: A New Challenge for Jason
A true icon of the horror genre, it’s hard to believe his career almost never happened because before it really took off, the actor was nearly killed in a stunt that ended in a fire.
third degree burn
Kane Hodder In several interviews and in the 2017 documentary film, To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story, he even talked about the accident that almost cost him his life. He also wrote about the accident in his 2011 autobiography. Unmasked: The True Story of the World’s Most Prolific Cinematic Assassin. If you’ve ever seen his interviews, you’ll notice the scars on his face and arms. Instead of being ashamed of the incident that led to them, the actor never shied away from discussing the worst moment of his life.
Speaking to Celebrity Parents Magazine in 2021 (via Collider), Hodder explained what happened. Just 22 years old, he was doing an interview with a local news show in 1977 when he suggested he perform a fire stunt for them. Unfortunately, the stunt went wrong, leaving him with second and third degree burns all over his body. Kane Hodder However, he was not admitted to a specialist burn hospital unit and only got worse over the course of months.
“After four months I was almost dead, then they told me to take me to the burn unit. Why didn’t I go there in the first place? The doctor who took care of me was such an egomaniac and it almost cost me my life. I had a staph infection all over the burned area and I lost 60 kilos. I dropped to 63 kilos and now I am 104 kilos. I received such terrible care and it made my entire recovery worse, including the scars that should have been there.“
A Friday the 13th Adventure
It could have been the end of his career, but instead of running away from what almost killed him, the actor healed and returned to the dangerous world he loved so much. His efforts paid off as ten years later his life changed for the better. In 1987, he was cast as Jason Voorhees Friday the 13th – Chapter 7: A New Challenge. This was supposed to be his only appearance, as with all the other Jason cast members, but he was asked to return in Friday the 13th – Chapter 8: The Final Return, Friday the 13th – Chapter 9: Jason Goes to Hell, and finally, Jason X. Unfortunately, when it finally came time to make his dream movie, Freddy vs. Jason, Hodder was not asked to reprise the role.
This disappointment does not mean that his career is over. Since then, he has done stunts for many other films, and a few years ago he played Jason Voorhees in the video game Friday the 13th. Since then, Hodder has also been behind Victor Crowley’s monstrous make-up. In the Hatchet film series (or Butcher in French).
A fan favorite for his interpretations of Jason Voorhees, which are more expressive than others – as well as his heavy breathing every time he is disappointed when the victim escapes – he left his mark on fans of the genre with his 1 88 meters, with his great presence. The way he held his hands at his sides and his chest out. You don’t need to see her face to know when her Jason was angry…
His bravery is also a source of admiration, having to perform a stunt that involves setting his entire body on fire, the first time he has played Jason in the franchise, despite his past trauma. The actress also regularly visits hospital burn units to share her story and admits that her burn pain was once so severe that she decided to stop altogether. She told Celebrity Parents magazine:That’s what I tell people. I know what suicidal thoughts are. I talk to people who are in this situation.“
Kane Hodder can be seen in The Friday the 13th Saga, available on VOD, Paramount+, or DVD and Blu-ray.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
