Tony Moran at Days of the Dead Chicago 2015

Tony Moran is a classic example of the fun at comic cons.  He appeared as Michael Myers (unmasked) in 1978's Halloween.  He had a few episodic tv appearances around that time and then was offscreen until 2008.  Since then, he has done a few other acting projects.

At comic cons, Moran is very popular, despite a short acting resume.  He played Michael Myers!  That alone makes him popular and creates demand.  He played one of the most iconic horror characters of all time.

Fans of the Halloween franchise would want his autograph.  That's already a huge audience.  It is enough to keep him in demand at any comic con.  I witness his lines every time I see him at a con.

Moran is also very cool.  His lines move slowly, because he spends a fair amount of time with everyone.  I sometimes think Moran actually just enjoys being there and talking with the fans.  Of course, nobody complains about his lines, because eventually you know you will get the same decent amount of time and consideration from him.  You couldn't ask for more from a con guest.

Once again, I applaud the Days of the Dead gang who has brought him to cons a few times.  They look beyond a short acting resume to see a celebrity who the fans love and want to see

Tony Moran and me in Schaumburg, IL-November 2015.

Tony Moran at Days of the Dead Indy 2015

Tony Moran was the unmasked Michael Myers in the original Halloween, a role which reportedly paid $200.  After Halloween, Moran had a few roles on episodic television, before dropping out of the Hollywood scene.  He is also the brother of actress (and Johngy's Beat favorite) Erin Moran.

Moran returned to acting in 2008.  In 2010, he produced and starred in Beg, which also stars his Halloween co-star (and another Johngy's Beat favorite) P.J. Soles.

Despite a relatively short resume, Moran will always have a place at comic and horror cons.  This is exactly why the folks at Days of the Dead had him as part of their lineup in June.  When you appear in a classic like Halloween, you will always be in demand by the fans.  Plus, Michael Myers is such an iconic character.

For his part, Moran was very cool at the convention.  He seemed genuinely happy to be there, as he talked and laughed with his fans.  That's all you really want from any celebrity at these cons.

Tony Moran and me in Indianapolis, IN-June 2015.

The Man Behind the Mask-Tony Moran

Tony Moran's biggest role was in Halloween and lasted all of several seconds. In the final minutes of the movie, when Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) lifts the mask off of Michael Myers, the face under the mask belongs to Tony Moran.
Moran is the big brother of Erin Moran (from tv's Happy Days). He has only done a handful of roles during his career. Moran reportedly was never really into the grind of rehearsals and call-backs nor the attention , that comes with an actor's life.
Moran is one of at least 5 people to wear the mask in the original Halloween, although his is the only face to be seen. An interesting side-note regarding the mask is that it is actually a mask of Captain Kirk (William Shatner). Of course, for the film, the Kirk mask had to be altered, including a fresh white paint job.

I met Tony Moran at the Motor City Comic Con a few months after I met Erin. Both were very happy to talk about the other. Tony was a bit self-effacing when he suggested holding his 8x10 for the photo, so people would know who he was.

Tony Moran and me in Novi, MI-May 2007.