As the summer heat cranks up in the Lone Star State, horror fans have something chilling to look forward to: the Houston Horror Film Festival, hitting the Bayou City this weekend on August 8, 9, and 10. And who better to haunt the event than Lee Waddell, the legendary stunt performer and actor who brought the iconic Ghostface killer to life in the original Scream (1996)? In an exclusive chat with AMFM Magazine, Waddell shared his excitement about returning home to Texas, reflected on his storied career, and teased what’s next for fans of the franchise that redefined slasher films.
A Texas native through and through, Waddell couldn’t hide his enthusiasm for heading back to his roots. “It’s always good to be at home. You know, I’m a Texas boy,” he said during our conversation. Currently wrapping up filming on a project out of state, Waddell is eager to dive into the festival’s festivities. “I’ll be jumping jet here soon as I wrap up these next two days of filming and I’m coming straight into Houston. I’m going to hang out with all the Scream Nation and horror fans in Houston again, which is great.”
This year’s Houston Horror Film Festival promises to be a scream for Scream enthusiasts, with Waddell joining fellow franchise stars like Jamie Kennedy and a special appearance by Linda Blair (who had a cameo in the first Scream). Fans can look forward to unique photo ops, including one with Waddell in full Ghostface gear alongside Kennedy and Blair. “We got cool photo ops this week,” Waddell noted. “It’s fun to get back in the costume again. When I’m in that wardrobe, I’m pretty intense—I’m there to get a good photo and let these people feel that intensity that character comes across.”
Reflecting on the film that launched a horror empire, Waddell shared fond memories from the set of Scream, directed by the late Wes Craven. Having worked with Craven for over a decade as his stunt coordinator and right-hand man, Waddell viewed it as “just another Wes movie” at the time. “I’ve been with Wes Craven at that point, ten plus years,” he recalled. “To me, it was just another acting job, stunt job, whatever. You know, because being in the film industry, you’re just a working actor, working stunt man. You just go from one project to the next.”
Little did he know, Scream would become a cultural phenomenon, spawning sequels, merchandise, and a dedicated fanbase that still thrives nearly 30 years later. “Here we are, 29.75 years later, we’re still talking about this franchise,” Waddell marveled. “I’m speechless on how cool it is to be adopted by the horror community as the original Ghostface.” With the 30th anniversary looming next year, he hinted at “tons and tons of stuff going on,” keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Waddell’s love for the fans shines through in his stories of convention interactions. From signing rare Gen 1 Ghostface masks and handcrafted vendor items to inking tattoos (yes, really—he’s signed plenty that fans later get permanently etched), he thrives on the energy. “I love signing the most is like some real OG stuff… or handcrafted stuff from our vendors section,” he said. “Houston Horror has great vendors and the vendors down there are really cool artisan vendors.” And don’t get him started on the “big love fest” atmosphere at horror cons: “It’s a lot of fun. But that’s what’s so cool about Houston Horror and the fan base down there—it’s just let’s have a party and let’s have fun.”
For aspiring stunt performers or filmmakers eyeing Hollywood, Waddell offered hard-earned wisdom from his decades in the biz. “It’s a tough racket, you know, making movies… You better have a hide on you an inch thick because, man, you’re going to get beat up,” he advised. Drawing from his own “ten-year overnight sensation” journey, he emphasized perseverance: “If that’s what you want to do in whatever capacity, by all means do it… Get on the sets and hustle and just meet the right people. And it’s a grind.”
Waddell’s “Hail Mary” moment came about seven years into his career when he ditched odd jobs to go full-time in stunts and acting. “I didn’t leave myself any options. I had to succeed,” he said, channeling the spirit of Dallas Cowboys legend Drew Pearson’s famous catch. These days, retired from full-time stunts since 2015, Waddell stays motivated by indie films and fan connections. “I love making those small independent films… I have more fun on the $2 film because it’s not this big studio monstrosity,” he laughed, recalling a shoot fueled by street tacos.
Beyond Houston, Waddell’s schedule is packed. After the festival, he’ll head to San Jose for GalaxyCon, then Vegas for “Night of Screens,” a rare event uniting the original three Ghostface stunt performers—himself, Alan Robinson (Scream 2), and Jeff Brockett (Scream 3). “It’s never been done before,” he teased. Come September, though, he’s eyeing some downtime: “Hopefully this September I could take some time off and get back to fishing and golfing and being fat.”
While in Houston, Waddell plans to indulge in local flavors. “I’ll try to get in there early and go destroy some good barbecue,” he said, favoring family-owned spots for ribs and brisket. “None of that chain stuff—that’s good, but that’s right, some good brisket.”
Horror fans, mark your calendars: The Houston Horror Film Festival runs August 8-10, with Waddell ready to meet, greet, and maybe even sign a tattoo or two. Follow him on Instagram at @lee_waddell (with underscores) for updates on his adventures, from outdoor pursuits to con shenanigans. As Waddell put it, “If you’re on Instagram and I respond to you, it is me.” Don’t miss your chance to connect with the man behind the mask—Texas style.
For tickets and more details on the Houston Horror Film Festival, visit houstonhorrorfilmfest.com. See you in the shadows!
