One, Two … Freddy, Er, Robert Englund Won’t Be Coming For You

Karen Ruud June 6, 2023

In light of the new documentary coming out about him, Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, actor Robert Englund shared that his days of playing the iconic horror character Freddy Krueger are long behind him. He recently told Variety, “I know who icons are,” he says “I’m not an icon. Maybe Freddy Krueger is, but I’m not. I’m just a character actor, a utility actor who’s been very lucky.”

After eight films — including one with that other horror icon Jason Voorhees — and the anthology TV show Freddy’s Nightmares that aired from 1988-90, we tend to disagree. Here are some of the reasons that Robert Englund is what made Freddy the horror icon he is today.

WARNING: Clips below may contain intense visuals or language not suitable for all.

Rubber ducky won’t keep you safe in this bath

Best Line: “I’m your boyfriend now, Nancy.”

An epic pool party we are fine missing

Best Line: “You are all my children now.”

Dream Warriors was rockin’ with Dokken

Best Line: “Welcome to primetime, bitch” and oh so many other good ones, it’s hard to pick only one. Just watch it!

We condone skipping school

Best Line: “Wanna suck face?”

And he’s back, again!

Best Line: “Faster than a bastard maniac! More powerful than a loco-madman! It’s … Super Freddy!”

Of course, Englund has many other great Freddy moments, along with other memorable movie and TV roles he’s starred in. When asked if he would ever play the knife-handed character again, he said, “I’m too old and thick to play Freddy now. I just can’t do fight scenes for more than one take anymore, I’ve got a bad neck and bad back and arthritis in my right wrist. So I have to hang it up, but I would love to cameo.”

We’d love to see that too! Meanwhile you can catch Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story streaming on Screambox June 6. Oh, and it just so happens to be the the nightmare maker’s 76th birthday. Happy birthday, Robert, thanks for terrorizing us all these years!