Where Are They Now… A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET!

Didn't one of 'Elm Street' victims them become like really famous or something?

By Gareth Bunkham / June 30, 2011

The horrendous looking 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' remake is currently polluting screens across the world and desecrating the memory of one of the most iconic horror franchises in cinematic history. The trend for remakes and re-imaginings has gotten well out of control now, and the sad thing is the majority of these new films serve no purpose other than to remind us all just how much better the original source material was. With that in mind, the time seemed right to take a look at the original 'Elm Street' film that kick-started a cultural phenomenon that spanned several movies and find out what happened to its cast of victims. As we ask 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' Where are they Now?

Johnny Depp (Glen Lantz)

After 'Elm Street' Johnny Depp Im just fucking with you! Unless your Fathers last name is Fritzl, you probably know by now pretty much all there is to know about one John Christopher Depp II. And this guide won't tell you anything you didn't already know.

Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger)

Prior to the role that would turn him into a cult hero, Robert Englund was often typecast as a redneck or hillbilly; but after donning that razored glove he was typecast in a very different role. Englund has gone on to appear in a plethora of horror films, some good, most bad. Around the time that Krueger first stalked the big screen Englund was also gaining mainstream attention for his role as Willie in the original 'V' series 2010 is obviously a good year for remaking lesser versions of Englund-starring projects. Englund has played Freddy Krueger in each of the seven sequels that have been produced to date (obviously with the exception of the remake). Most of the 'Elm Street' sequels were released in the 80s, in between donning that infamous striped jumper Englund continued to work in TV, guest spots during this period included: 'Night Court', 'Knight Rider' and 'MacGyver'. Englunds success and rising star thanks to Krueger helped him land the role of the titular character in a 1989 big screen adaptation of 'The Phantom of the Opera'. Englund garnered much praise for his performance, with some describing him as the best phantom since Lon Chaney.

Between 1988 and 1990, Englund could be found reprising his role of Freddy Krueger on the small screen in 'Freddys Nightmares'. 'Nightmares' was essentially an anthology series, hosted (in a Crypt Keeper kind of way) by Freddy Krueger. The show ran for two seasons. Englund took Krueger back to the big screen twice during the 90s in 'Freddys Dead: The Final Nightmare' and 'Wes Cravens New Nightmare'; then in 1995, Englund played the titular character in an adaptation of the Stephen King story 'The Mangler'. Throughout the 90s, Englund continued to primarily be found in TV guest starring roles and B movie horror. His TV credits were as diverse as 'Walker, Texas Ranger', 'Babylon 5' and 'The Hughleys', while his most high profile film roles were in Scream rip-off 'Urban Legend' and 'Wishmaster' (exec produced by Wes Craven). For much of the 21st century, Englund has been lending his distinctive voice to animated features such as 'Batman', 'Spider-Man' and 'Justice League'. He took to the screen as Freddy Krueger once more (his most recent stint under the make-up) in the dire 'Freddy Vs. Jason' and has continued his TV work and B movie appearances. Highlights, in the loosest of senses, of his campy B movie work in this millennium have been 'Python' with Casper Van Dien and 'Zombie Strippers' with Jenna Jameson. Most recently, Englund was seen guesting in an episode of the bafflingly popular 'Bones'.

John Saxon (Lt. Donald Thompson)

John Saxon had almost thirty years of screen acting experience coming into 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' and has had almost another thirty years of big and small screen roles since, yet he is probably most widely remembered for his role as Police Lieutenant Don Thompson. Saxon twice returned to 'Elm Street' films with 'Dream Warriors' in 1987 and 'New Nightmare' in 1994. Much like Robert Englund, the majority of Saxons work post-'Elm Street' has been in supporting roles in horror films and in guest spots on TV. In the 80s you would have seen him in recurring roles in the likes of 'Dynasty', 'Falcon Crest' and 'The A-Team'. Some of Saxons more notable film roles in the 90s include 'Beverly Hills Cop III' playing one of the theme park-based villains and 'From Dusk Till Dawn' playing an FBI Agent. Most noteworthy of Saxons recent endeavours was his guest role in the Quentin Tarantino directed double episode of 'CSI: Grave Danger'.

Ronee Blakley (Marge Thompson)

Prior to 'Elm Street', Ronee Blakley was undoubtedly best known on screen for her OSCAR nominated role in the late Robert Altmans 'Nashville'. Blakley was a successful musician, which helped land her the role in Altmans Country inspired film. Following her successful move into film, Blakley continued to act, mostly on TV, with a string of guest roles and made for TV movie appearances. Whereas some of the stars of 'Elm Street', made a living afterwards purely from their involvement in such an iconic film, Blakleys career had already hit its peak and arguably 'Elm Street' was a stop on the way down the mountain. Her last acting role came in 1990, but she has recently been far more prolific with her music, with a number of albums released (and re-released) in the last four years.

Heather Langenkamp (Nancy Thompson)

Heather Langenkamp was a relative unknown prior to her role as 'A Nightmare on Elm Streets' heroine Nancy Thompson. Langenkamp would, like John Saxon, return twice to the franchise for 'Dream Warriors' and 'New Nightmare', playing herself in the latter as Wes Craven offered a first attempt at the post-modern horror twist he would perfect with 'Scream' a few years later. Beyond Nancy, Langenkamp is probably best known for two television roles in the late 80s/early 90s; first appearing in multiple episodes of ABC family sitcom 'Growing Pains', then landing one of the lead roles in 'Just the Ten of Us' another family-orientated sitcom. In recent years, save for a guest appearance on 'JAG' back in 2002 and a couple of TV movies, Langenkamp has been more at home behind the camera.

She was part of the production crew for Zack Snyders 2004 remake of 'Dawn of the Dead', provided make-up on the crap fest that was 'Evan Almighty' and has also been working on Joss Whedons upcoming (if it ever escapes development hell) 'The Cabin in the Woods'.

Amanda Wyss (Tina Gray)

Prior to 'Elm Street', Amanda Wyss had starred in another seminal 80s classic: 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High', but it is her role as Tina Gray that she is best known for, as her character is the first (and probably most memorable) on screen kill ever made by Freddy Krueger. Since popping Freddys murderous cherry, Wyss has never been too far from our screens, with a slew of TV and small films roles to her name. Highlights from a busy career over the last two decades include: 'ER', 'Charmed', 'CSI' and 'Cold Case'. Wyss had more prominent roles in 'St. Elsewhere', 'Cagney & Lacey' and 'Highlander: The Series', all of which she had a recurring multi-episode role in. Her most recent role of note was in Showtimes brilliant Michael C. Hall starring 'Dexter'.

Nick Corri a.k.a. Jsu Garcia (Rod Lane)

Credited as Nick Corri, 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' was Jsu Garcias first role of any note, over the last twenty plus years though he has starred in some very successful films and TV shows. In the late 80s/early 90s he appeared in 'Miami Vice' on the small screen and 'Predator 2' on the big screen, then in the mid 90s he starred opposite Eddie Murphy in the horribly misconceived 'Vampire in Brooklyn', directed by 'Nightmare' helmer Wes Craven. Garcia also briefly returned to an 'Elm Street' set in 1994 with a blink and youll miss it cameo in 'New Nightmare'. From the turn of the century though, Garcias career in front of the camera really started to gather steam. He had a small role in Steven Soderberghs 'Traffic', then starred opposite Arnie in 'Collateral Damage', Mel Gibson in 'We Were Soldiers' and had a role in the Stiller-Aniston rom-com 'Along Came Polly'. On TV, Garcia has appeared in the likes of 'CSI: Miami' and 'Without a Trace'; he was recently seen on the big screen reuniting with 'Traffic' colleagues, Soderbergh and Benicio Del Toro on 'Che: Part One'. Garcia has set up his own production company, with their first project being released in 2005; Garcia not only produces now, but also writes, directs and continues to act.