Bruce Campbellis considered by many to be the grooviest actor of all time, appearing in a variety of movies and TV shows in his career, where he is one of horror’s greatest icons. A close friend oflegendary director Sam Raimisince high school, the two collaborated onThe Evil Dead, a low-budget horror film that put both Raimi and Bruce Campbell on the map. He continued to make a name for himself with the franchise, leading bothEvil Dead IIandArmy of Darknessbefore reprising his role for the 2015 television series,Ash vs Evil Dead.
Bruce Campbell has excelled as an actor outside his iconic horror franchise as well, with significant roles in a number of projects that includeBurn Notice,The Adventures Of Brisco County, Jr., andHysteria!He alsocameos in most of Sam Raimi’s movies,often becoming one of the most memorable characters in the film despite the limited screen time.
Fitting within the horror comedy genre,Bubba Ho-Teprevolves around two nursing home residents who believe they are Elvis Presley and John F. Kennedy, respectively. Though it had limited exposure due to only having 32 prints made at the time,Bubba Ho-Tepbecame something of a cult classic, long before it was even released on DVD. The film deals with the existentialism of aging, morality, and identity, making it often poignant while being quite funny. It also has a mummy in it, so there’s that.
He isn’t afraid to go wacky with his performances, and it works so well inBubba Ho-Tep.
Bruce Campbell plays Sebastian Haff in the film, the man who thinks he is Elvis Presley.Campbell’s role in the film is largely what led it to become a cult classic, as he continued to deliver knock-out performances in horror comedy following the wild success of the original Evil Dead trilogy. He isn’t afraid to go wacky with his performances, and it works so well inBubba Ho-Tep, one of the more underrated movies in his catalog.
Leaning into both action and comedy,Jack of All Tradesis a series that follows an American spy stationed on an island in the South Pacific in the early 19th century. He ends up teaming with a no-nonsense British agent as they attempt to stop Napoleon’s colonizing efforts. The series is often silly, but entertaining to watch and its insistence on including parodies of many historical figures, even if they were no longer alive in the time period, makes it all the more fun.
Bruce Campbell gives a knock-out performance as Jack Stiles and his Zorro-esque alter ego Daring Dragoon. One of the running jokes of the series is Jack being responsible for many important historical events but not ever getting credit.Bruce Campbell isn’t ever afraid to lean into the silliness of what his role entails, and he does that phenomenally inJack of All Trades.
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
Cast
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. is a television series that follows the exploits of Brisco County, Jr. (Bruce Campbell), a Harvard-educated lawyer turned bounty hunter in the late 1800s. The show blends elements of science fiction, adventure, and Western genres, featuring Brisco’s quest to capture outlaws and uncover mysterious orbs with otherworldly powers. Throughout the series, he is joined by eccentric inventor Professor Wickwire and trusty horse Comet.
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.is an often absurd western that follows a Harvard-educated lawyer who becomes a bounty hunter that is hired by industrialists to capture a ruthless outlaw. What makes the show so unique is how it doesn’t fit only within the Western genre, as it focuses on various others, like science fiction and steampunk. It’s also quite funny, making it a highly entertaining watch that is also very intelligent.
Bruce Campbell plays the titular character inone of the earliest television roles of his career. He is fantastic in it, of course, carrying the series on his shoulders for a significant portion of it. Though it might go unnoticed within his legendary filmography, Campbell has said it helped provide him with other acting opportunities as well. He was the driving force behind the entire series.
Considered by many as the greatest superhero movie ever made,Spider-Man 2is a monumental film in the genre, taking everything that worked so well inSpider-Manand making something even greater. Sam Raimi’s growth in confidence working within the superhero genre is on full display inSpider-Man 2as he digs deeper into the characters at the center of it while providing even more spectacle than its predecessor. If Bruce Campbell’s role was bigger than just a cameo, it would possibly be his best film ever.
Bruce Campbell was possibly going to play Mysterio inSpider-Man 4, tying all of his cameos together in an incredible way.
That cameo is incredible, though, as Bruce Campbell plays the usher at Mary Jane’s play who won’t let Peter Parker in due to him showing up late.Campbell had a different cameo in each film of Raimi’s trilogy, but his best of the three has to beSpider-Man 2. It’s just so great, and the little bit of screentime he is given is enough to make viewers feel even worse for Peter Parker. Bruce Campbell’s comedic timing and undeniable charm, even when he is a jerk, are infectious.
Army of Darknessis a drastic pivot from bothThe Evil DeadandEvil Dead IIas Ash Williams finds himself stuck in the Middle Ages following the events of the second film. He must rise to the occasion and become a hero, fighting off the undead as he hopes to return home.Army of Darknessditches a lot of the horror from the first two movies and leans more into the offbeat humor that makes the series so special. It might not be as great as what came before, but it is still so, so good.
His character is more heroic than ever as he battles the undead that have plagued him for three straight films.
Bruce Campbell’s charm and comedic talent gets to shine even brighter inArmy of Darknessas he fully embraces his role as Ash Williams, as the character goes in exciting new directions for the final film of the trilogy. His character is more heroic than ever as he battles the undead that have plagued him for three straight films.
Hysteria!
A group of high school outcasts rebrands as a Satanic metal band during the 1980s “Satanic Panic” after a quarterback vanishes. However, a series of violent incidents and paranormal reports lead to a town-wide witch hunt, which eventually points to the band.
Premiering in 2024,Hysteria!was a comedic horror-thriller that premiered on Peacock. The series is set in 1989 during the Satanic panic and follows a trio of friends who rebrand their band as Satanic to capitalize on the rise of interest in the occult in their town, which paints a target on their back as their town begins a witch hunt. Unfortunately canceled after one season,Hysteria!was fantastic while it lasted, striking the perfect balance between funny and genuinely scary.
Hysteria! Cast & Character Guide
Peacock’s horror show Hysteria! is not only jampacked with chills and thrills but also features compelling performances from talented cast members.
Bruce Campbell steps into another horror role withHysteria!, playing Ben Dandridge, the police chief of the town who has to navigate a series of murders and disappearances.It’s a drastically different character from Ash Williams, but Bruce Campbell’s talent as an actor makes his work seem effortless, as he still puts out an incredible performance.
Burn Notice
After being “burned,” (i.e., fired and cut off from his job as a spy), former CIA agent Michael Westen finds himself stuck in Miama with no cash, no credit, and no job history. With the help of an old friend and an ex-flame, he takes whatever work he can as a private investigator, while trying to solve the mystery behind why he was burned.
Burn Noticeinitially premiered in 2007, running for seven seasons until it ended in 2013, remaining a really fantastic series from start to finish. The show follows a former spy who works as a private investigator in Miami while he tries to figure out who burned him and their motive. Smartly written and highly entertaining,Burn Noticetends to feel underrated, but it excels as a crime drama that has heaps of satisfying espionage.
Burn Noticeis actually the longest television role of Bruce Campbell’s career, as he plays Sam Axe, a retired Navy SEAL who is best friends with Jeffrey Donovan’s Michael Westen, the series' main character. He is so good in the role, as Sam Axe is one of the best characters in the entire show, and his gift of picking up older Miami women in exchange for food, shelter, and nice cars make for some of the most entertaining moments in the show.
There is something incredibly inspirational about a young filmmaker going out in the woods with some friends, scraping together as much money as possible to make a low-budget horror film that would go on to become a landmark of the genre.The Evil Deadis just that, and is a remarkable work of passionate people who just wanted to make something great. It’s truly something special, and the practical effects featured throughout are stomach-churning.
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Evil Dead Rise
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The Evil Deadwas also the first major role for Bruce Campbell, portraying horror icon Ash Williams. His performance inThe Evil Deadis much more tame compared to where he would take it for the sequels and beyond, but Bruce Campbell showed from the very beginning that he had what it took to be a star. His friendship with Sam Raimi helped to birth one of the best characters in horror history.
Taking place approximately 30 years after the original Evil Dead trilogy,Ash vs Evil Deadsees the titular character working as a stocker at a supermarket before taking up the mantle of a hero once again to fight against the Evil Dead. What makesAsh vs Evil Deadgreat is the obvious love it has for the original trilogy, containing all the absurdity, blood, and hilariously dark moments that made the franchise so beloved in the first place.
He is astounding from the very first scene to the very last, taking his greatest character in exciting new directions.
Bruce Campbell stepped back into the role of Ash Williams, over 30 years since he first appeared inThe Evil Deadand over 20 years since his last major appearance as the character inArmy of Darkness. He didn’t miss a beat, asAsh vs Evil Deadshowcases why Bruce Campbell will always be one of the best to ever do it. He is astounding from the very first scene to the very last, taking his greatest character in exciting new directions.
A significant entry into the horror film canon,Evil Dead IIserves as both a sequel toThe Evil Deadand a pseudo-remake of it, telling virtually the same story about Ash Williams and the demented nightmare he goes through during the course of the movie. What elevatesEvil Dead IIabove its predecessor is how it does basically everything better. Sam Raimi is a more skilled director in his second time around, and the more comedic edge of the script really gives the film its own flavor. It’s a horror masterpiece.
All 5 Evil Dead Movies Ranked, Worst To Best
From 1981’s original to Evil Dead Rise, the Evil Dead movies are some of the best - and weirdest - horror films. Here’s the Evil Dead movies ranked.
Bruce Campbell is even better inEvil Dead IIas Ash Williams, truly committing to the absurd performance that Sam Raimi asks of him. He became a horror icon in it, and for good reason, asAsh Williams is one of horror’s greatest protagonists, largely due to the brilliant performance at the center.Bruce Campbell’s"Groovy!“line after replacing his missing hand with a chainsaw is truly something special, and it’s the perfect line read by him.
