20 Things You Didn't Know About Halloween (1978)

7. The Actor Originally Meant To Play Bob Simms

Halloween 1978
Lionsgate

Audiences will likely remember the brief role of Bob Simms, who ends his time in the film pinned up with a butcher's knife by The Shape and later strung upside down in a doorway. He was played by John Michael Graham.

However, John Carpenter had originally planned to cast Dennis Quaid in the role, as Quaid was married at the time to P.J. Soles, who portrayed Bob's girlfriend, Lynda van der Klok in the film. Unfortunately, the plan did not come to fruition as Quaid was "totally" unavailable at the time of filming.

Quaid did, however, accompany Soles to a showing of Halloween upon its release. When a male theatregoer reacted very positively to her character exposing herself onscreen, Quaid asked Soles if she wanted him to confront the theatregoer, but she declined as she found the incident far too amusing.

In this post: 
Halloween
 
Posted On: 
Contributor

I started writing for WhatCulture in July 2020. I have always enjoyed reading and writing. I have contributed to several short story competitions and I have occasionally been fortunate enough to have my work published. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I also started reviewing films on my Facebook page. Numerous friends and contacts suggested that I should start my own website for reviewing films, but I wanted something a bit more diverse - and so here I am! My interests focus on film and television mainly, but I also occasionally produce articles that venture into other areas as well. In particular, I am a fan of the under appreciated sequel (of which there are many), but I also like the classics and the mainstream too.