Famous movie monsters, With Halloween just around the corner, 'tis the season for tricks, treats and all things spooky. Horror movies contain some of the scariest monsters around, and actors are often transformed from head to toe with creepy costumes and even creepier personas. Check out our round-up of the best movie monsters, then click through to see if you know the actor behind the costume.
The Thing
After playing a humanoid alien in the 1951 sci-fi classic "The Thing From Another World" , this actor went on to star in a classic television series for 20 years. He also had a younger brother who worked in show biz.
The Creeper
The stage actor-turned-"Jeepers Creepers" movie monster has also appeared in a famous sci-fi television series and currently acts on stage in this hit off-Broadway show in Los Angeles.
Leatherface
The "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" remake actor and former bodybuilder was discovered by a talent scout when visiting a friend in Los Angeles, and has acted in several films since.
Pyramid Head
The Italian actor and choreographer was a soloist for this ballet company before moving on to teach dance. His "Silent Hill" role included acting as lead choreographer for the film.
Pennywise
This isn't the first villainous role for the actor behind every kid's worst nightmare in Stephen King's "It"; other roles include Dr. Frank-N-Furter in this 1975 cult film, Rooster in "Annie," a suspicious butler in "Clue" and more
Frankenstein
Many may be surprised to find that this American actor, director and producer played "the creature" in the 1994 film "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein." The actor in question is more well known for starring as tough guys in crime films like his Academy Award-winning role in this classic Coppola crime epic series.
Papa Jupiter
The actor behind the evil mutant leader in the "The Hills Have Eyes" is known for his villainous roles, including a part in this 1987 crime drama.
Freddy Krueger
One of only two to play a horror character eight consecutive times, the actor received multiple awards for his portrayal of a disfigured serial killer in Wes Craven's "A Nightmare on Elm Street" series .
Jennifer Check
While best known for her role in this 2009 hit film, the actress and model also found time that year to take on the lead part of a high school student possessed by a hungry demon in the black-comedy horror film "Jennifer's Body."
Santanico Pandemonium
Already boasting an all-star cast the 1996 horror movie "From Dusk Till Dawn" was somewhat of a breakout role for this now A-List actress, who played a club performer-turned-vampire in the film.
Hannibal Lecter
This Welsh actor took home an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1991 for his portrayal of a cannibalistic serial killer in "Silence of the Lambs" , which he also reprised in the film's sequel and prequel.
Ghostface
The voice behind the killer Ghostface in the "Scream" film series also voices an animated super-villain named "Mojo JoJo" in this popular Cartoon Network series.
Mr. Blake
Portraying evil on-screen comes easy for this English actor and singer, who first became well-known for his role as Count Dracula from this iconic horror studio and as this stuffy doctor-turned-apelike monster in the 1971 film "I, Monster." More recently, he graced the big screen as the villain in "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" film trilogies.
Michael Myers
In his first major role, this actor was paid a surprisingly little amount of money for his portrayal of a teenage murderer in the original horror classic "Halloween".
Dracula
The award-winning British actor is known for multiple roles, including this portrayal of Count Dracula in 1992, a major character in the Harry Potter film series, Batman's ally in Christopher Nolan's "Batman" trilogy and more.
The Torn Prince
Best known for his lead role in this television series, the Canadian actor played a vengeful spirit in the 2001 remake "Thir13een Ghosts" before going on to direct, write and produce this 2005 mockumentary.
Laurie
Long before she played a vampire in the 2007 anthology horror film "Trick 'r Treat," the New Zealand actress took home an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (for what film?) when she was just 11 years old, making her the second-youngest actress to win. Today, she's best known for her role as a telepathic waitress on this HBO series.
Vincent Sinclair
The actor and former model behind the "House of Wax" villain also plays the ex-husband of this A-list actress on the comedy series "Cougar Town"
The man in the mask
The "Glory Road" actor plays a masked villain haunting a couple vacationing in the woods in "The Strangers," which also stars this A-list actress.
