R.I.P. Re-Animator director Stuart Gordon

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

We have some very sad news to share this morning, as word has come out that we have lost another one of our "masters of horror". The family of filmmaker Stuart Gordon confirmed to Variety that he passed away last night at the age of 72.

Gordon is best known for his 1985 breakthrough feature RE-ANIMATOR, an adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft story. He went on to contribute several more classics to the horror genre, often drawing inspiration from the works of Lovecraft – FROM BEYOND, CASTLE FREAK, DAGON, and his Masters of Horror anthology entry Dreams in the Witch-House were all based on stories written by the author. Gordon also delved into the work and life of Edgar Allan Poe with 1991's THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM and the Masters of Horror entry The Black Cat.

Gordon's other directorial credits include DOLLS, ROBOT JOX, FORTRESS, SPACE TRUCKERS, KING OF THE ANTS, STUCK, the Fear Itself episode Eater, and the David Mamet adaptation EDMOND. As a screenwriter, he worked on HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS; BODY SNATCHERS; and THE DENTIST.

Born in Chicago in 1947, Gordon was hoping to get into the film classes when he chose to attend the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Instead, he ended up majoring in theater, which led to him forming the Organic Theater group with his wife Carolyn Purdy in the late '60s. Gordon is often credited with helping David Mamet get his career rolling, since the world premiere of Mamet's play Sexual Perversity in Chicago was an Organic Theater production. Gordon continued working in theater throughout the decades, and even teamed up with his RE-ANIMATOR star Jeffrey Combs for a Poe play called Nevermore in recent years. He had hoped to turn Nevermore into a feature film, but unfortunately wasn't able to get it into production. Gordon also directed and co-wrote the book for a stage musical based on RE-ANIMATOR.

Gordon always seemed like a good, friendly guy in interviews, and when I briefly crossed paths with him at a horror event several years ago. It's sad to lose him, and to know that we'll never have the chance to see his Nevermore movie. But he did leave behind a lot of cool movies for us to continue watching as time goes on.

Gordon is survived by his wife Carolyn Purdy-Gordon, his brother David George Gordon, daughters Suzanna, Jillian, and Margaret, and four grandchildren. 

Our sincere condolences go out to his family, friends, and fans.