We got the sad news today that John Carl Buechler has passed away. He had been undergoing treatments for Stage IV prostate cancer and had a Go Fund Me set up last month to help with costs. Buechler was just 66 when he passed away.
For many of us, John Carl Buechler had a huge hand in shaping our love of horror at a young age. We were first introduced to him as a director in 1984 for the anthology film The Dungeonmaster alongside such directors as Charles Band, David Allen, and Ted Nicolaou. In 1986, Buechler directed Troll, which opened to largely negative reviews, but has since become a beloved cult classic. Both films were produced by Charles Band and distributed by Band’s Empire Pictures. It was in 1988 that Buechler would leave his mark on the Friday the 13th franchise in a big way with Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood. This was the first time Kane Hodder went behind the mask as Jason Voorhees and the film quickly jumped to the number one spot at the box office opening weekend.
In addition to directing and writing, John Carl Buechler was one of the best special effects and makeup artists in the business. He contributed to such films as Re-Animator (1985), From Beyond (1986), A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988), Bride of Re-Animator (1989), Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991), Carnosaur (1993), Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995), the Ghoulies series, and so many more.
You can still contribute to the Go Fund Me campaign, as his wife, Lynn, still needs our help. The page was updated today to say:
John passed away Monday March 18th at 1:00am. His family is absolutely devastated as are many of his fans and friends. His wife who works for the school system has been left with thousands of dollars worth of bills and the position to care for three children. Please donate to this newly captioned memorial fund help them get through this terrible tough time.
To all of you who sent good wishes and love please know that your communication really lifted his spirits.
There is no doubt that John Carl Buechler has not only played a huge role in many of the classic horror films we love today, but also inspired countless directors, writers, and effects artists along the way. We are forever grateful for the legacy Buechler has left behind and we offer our sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and fellow fans.
R.I.P. John Carl Buechler.
