David DeCoteau /də kt/[1] (born January 5, 1962) is an American film director[2] and producer.[3]

David DeCoteau
Born (1962-01-05) January 5, 1962 (age 62)
Other names
  • Ellen Cabot
  • Julian Breen
  • Victoria Sloan
  • Richard Chasen
  • Jack Reed
  • Martin Tate
  • Joseph Tennent
  • Mary Crawford
Occupations
Years active1983-present

Early life

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David DeCoteau was born on January 5, 1962, in Portland, Oregon,[4] where he was raised.[1] DeCoteau was an only child and was adopted at birth.[5] His father was of Native American heritage.[5]

DeCoteau's mother died of cancer when he was eight years old.[5] As a teenager, DeCoteau developed a love for film, and worked as a theater projectionist beginning at age fifteen.[5]

Career

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He has worked professionally in the movie business since he was 18. He got his start through Roger Corman, who hired him in 1980 as a production assistant at New World Pictures. In 1986, DeCoteau directed and produced his first feature film for Charles Band.

He is the founder of Rapid Heart Pictures, where his films include A Talking Cat!?! and the 1313 series. He has said of his working methods, "I always wanted to make what I could sell. So I just promised myself that I would not be set in my ways. If somebody said, ‘Look, we need a horror film, we need a creature feature, we need a Western, we need a period costume drama,’ I was able to put it together pretty quickly."[6]

Throughout his career DeCoteau has been credited under a variety of pseudonyms: Ellen Cabot, Julian Breen, Victoria Sloan, Richard Chasen, Jack Reed, Martin Tate, Joseph Tennent, and Mary Crawford. DeCoteau revealed that he originally did not want his name to be associated with films that did not turn out as intended.[7]

DeCoteau has directed 102 motion pictures between 1986 and 2014.[6]

Personal life

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He resides in British Columbia and Los Angeles.[8] DeCoteau is gay.[9]

Acting credits

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1983 Angel Jean Jacket Criminal in Line-Up Uncredited
Games Dick McCabe Uncredited
1984 Good Men Go Bad
1989 Robot Ninja Russ Mazzola
1990 Crash and Burn ILU Member Uncredited
1993 Beach Babes from Beyond City Worker Uncredited
2003 Leeches! Franklin / Walkie Talkie Voice Uncredited
2008 Gingerdead Man 2: Passion of the Crust Self
2013 I Am Divine Self
2014 Trophy Heads Juicy Stand Customer
Bigfoot vs. D.B. Cooper Pilot Voice role; credited as Ellen Cabot
2015 Evil Bong 420 Self
2016 Evil Bong: High 5 Self
2017 The Disaster Artist David DeCoteau Uncredited
Puppet Master: Axis Termination Flamboyant Nazi #1
2019 Weedjies: Halloweed Night Party Guest
2020 Tales of the Uncanny Self [10]

Filmmaking credits

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Year Film Director Producer Cinematographer Writer Notes Ref.
1987 Creepozoids Yes Yes No Yes
1988 Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama Yes Yes No No
Nightmare Sisters Yes Yes No No
Lady Avenger Yes Yes No No
Assault of the Killer Bimbos No Yes No No
1989 Murder Weapon Yes Yes No No as Ellen Cabot
Robot Ninja No Yes No No
Ghost Writer No Yes No No
Assault of the Party Nerds No Yes No No
American Rampage Yes No No Yes
Dr. Alien Yes Yes No No
Deadly Embrace Yes Yes No No as Ellen Cabot
Ghetto Blaster No Yes No No
1990 The Girl I Want Yes Yes No No as Ellen Cabot
Linnea Quigley's Horror Workout No Yes No No
Steel and Lace No Yes No No
Crash and Burn No Yes No No
Ghoul School No Yes No No Uncredited
Skinned Alive No Yes No No
Puppet Master II No Yes No No
1991 Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge Yes Yes No No
Trancers II No Yes No No
Zombie Cop No Yes No No
Beasties No Yes No No
Shock Cinema Vol. 1 No Yes No No
Shock Cinema Vol. 2 No Yes No No
Shock Cinema Vol. 3 No Yes No No
Shock Cinema Vol. 4 No Yes No No
Sorority Babes in the Dance-A-Thon of Death No Yes No No
1992 Reanimator Academy No Yes No No
Redneck County Fever No Yes No No
Nightmare Asylum No Yes No No
Humanoids from Atlantis No Yes No No
Chickboxer No No No Yes
Zombie Rampage No Yes No No
1993 Naked Instinct Yes Yes No No as Ellen Cabot
Beach Babes from Beyond Yes No No No as Ellen Cabot
1994 Test Tube Teens from the Year 2000 Yes No No No as Ellen Cabot
1995 Young Blood, Fresh Meat Yes Yes No No
Beach Babes 2: Cave Girl Island Yes Yes No No as Ellen Cabot
Prehysteria! 3 Yes No No No as Julian Breen
1996 Bikini Goddesses Yes Yes No No as Ellen Cabot
Huntress: Spirit of the Night No Yes No No Uncredited
Not Again! No Yes No No
Petticoat Planet Yes Yes No No as Ellen Cabot
1997 Prey of the Jaguar Yes No No No
The Journey: Absolution Yes No No No
Skeletons Yes No No No TV movie
Leather Jacket Love Story Yes No No Yes
Lurid Tales: The Castle Queen Yes No No No as Ellen Cabot
1998 Shrieker Yes No No No as Victoria Sloan
Curse of the Puppet Master Yes No No No as Victoria Sloan
Talisman Yes No No No as Victoria Sloan
Frankenstein Reborn! Yes No No No as Julian Breen
1999 The Killer Eye Yes No No No as Richard Chasen [2][11]
Teenage Alien Avengers Yes No No No
Witchouse Yes No No Yes as Jack Reed [12]
Totem Yes No No No as Martin Tate
Retro Puppet Master Yes No No No as Joseph Tennent
2000 Ancient Evil: Scream of the Mummy Yes Yes No Yes
Voodoo Academy Yes No No No
Prison of the Dead Yes No No No as Victoria Sloan
2001 The Brotherhood Yes Yes No No [13]
Micro Mini Kids Yes No No No Uncredited
Final Stab Yes Yes No Yes
The Brotherhood II: Young Warlocks Yes Yes No Yes
2002 The Frightening Yes Yes No No
The Brotherhood III: Young Demons Yes Yes No Yes
Wolves of Wall Street Yes No No No
2003 Leeches! Yes Yes No Yes
Speed Demon Yes Yes No Yes
2004 Ring of Darkness Yes No No No TV movie [14]
Tomb of Terror Yes No No No Segment 3: "Evil Never Dies"
The Sisterhood Yes No No No
2005 The Brotherhood IV: The Complex Yes No No No
Possessed Yes No No No as Jack Reed
Killer Bash Yes No No Yes TV movie
Witches of the Caribbean Yes No No No
Frankenstein & the Werewolf Reborn! Yes No No No as Julian Breen
2006 Beastly Boyz Yes Yes No Yes TV movie
2007 Grizzly Rage Yes No No No TV movie
The Raven Yes Yes No Yes TV movie
House of Usher Yes Yes No No
2008 Playing with Fire Yes No No No
2009 The Invisible Chronicles Yes No No No
The Brotherhood V: Alumni Yes No No No
The Brotherhood VI: Initiation Yes Yes No No
Alien Presence Yes No No No
Stem Cell Yes No No No
The Pit and the Pendulum Yes No No No
Nightfall Yes No No No
2010 Puppet Master: Axis of Evil Yes No No No
Body Blow Yes Yes Yes Yes TV movie
2011 1313: Wicked Stepbrother Yes Yes Yes Yes
1313: Actor Slash Model Yes Yes Yes Yes
1313: Boy Crazies Yes Yes Yes Yes
1313: Haunted Frat Yes Yes Yes Yes
1313: Nightmare Mansion Yes Yes Yes Yes AKA: A Dream Within a Dream
1313: Giant Killer Bees Yes Yes Yes No
Christmas Spirit Yes Yes No No TV movie
Monty No No Yes No Short film
2012 The Magic Puppy Yes Yes Yes No TV movie; AKA: A Halloween Puppy; as Mary Crawford
1313: Cougar Cult Yes Yes Yes Yes
1313: Bigfoot Island Yes Yes Yes Yes
Snow White: A Deadly Summer Yes Yes Yes No
1313: UFO Invasion Yes Yes Yes Yes
1313: Bermuda Triangle Yes Yes Yes Yes
1313: Billy the Kid Yes Yes Yes Yes
1313: Hercules Unbound! Yes Yes Yes Yes
1313: Night of the Widow Yes Yes Yes Yes
1313: Frankenqueen Yes Yes Yes Yes
2: Voodoo Academy Yes Yes Yes Yes
Immortal Kiss: Queen of the Night Yes Yes Yes Yes
2013 Santa's Summer House Yes No Yes No as Mary Crawford
A Talking Cat!?! Yes Yes Yes No as Mary Crawford
An Easter Bunny Puppy Yes Yes Yes No as Mary Crawford
Badass Showdown Yes Yes Yes Yes
A Talking Pony!?! Yes Yes Yes No
My Stepbrother is a Vampire!?! Yes Yes Yes No
Bonnie & Clyde: Justified Yes Yes Yes No
Hansel and Gretel: Warriors of Witchcraft Yes No Yes No
2014 3 Scream Queens Yes Yes Yes No
Doc Holliday's Revenge Yes Yes Yes No
3 Wicked Witches Yes Yes Yes Yes
666: Kreepy Kerry Yes Yes Yes No
666: Devilish Charm Yes Yes Yes No
90210 Shark Attack Yes Yes Yes Yes [15]
Bigfoot vs. D.B. Cooper Yes Yes Yes Yes
Spidora No Yes No No
Knock 'Em Dead Yes Yes Yes No
Stranded No No No No
2016 The Wrong Roommate Yes Yes No No TV movie
The Wrong Child Yes Yes No No TV movie
Sorority Slaughterhouse Yes Yes Yes Yes
Asian Ghost Story Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bloody Blacksmith Yes Yes Yes Yes
A Husband for Christmas Yes Yes No No TV movie
666: Teen Warlock Yes Yes Yes Yes TV movie
Evil Exhumed Yes Yes Yes Yes
2017 Deadly Lessons Yes Yes Yes No TV movie
Swamp Freak Yes Yes Yes Yes
The Wrong Crush Yes Yes No No
Blood Dynasty No Yes No No
The Ugly Christmas Sweater No Yes No No TV short
Runaway Christmas Bride Yes No Yes No TV movie
Delivering Christmas Yes Yes No No TV short
Runaway Christmas Bride Yes Yes No No
A Royal Christmas Ball Yes No No No TV movie
A Christmas Cruise Yes Yes No No TV movie
The Wrong Student Yes Yes No No TV movie
The Wrong Man Yes Yes No No TV movie
My Christmas Grandpa Yes Yes No No TV short
Femaliens: Seduction of the Species Yes No No No as Ellen Cabot
Witness Protection Yes Yes Yes No
2018 The Wrong Cruise Yes Yes No No TV movie
The Wrong Friend Yes Yes No No TV movie
Puppet Master: Mlitzkrieg Massacre Yes No No No
The Wrong Teacher Yes Yes No No TV movie
Bunker of Blood: Chapter 5: Psycho Slideshow Yes No No No
Bunker of Blood; Chapter 6: Zombie Lust: Night Flesh Yes No No No
2019 My Mother's Stalker Yes Yes Yes No
The Wrong Stepmother Yes Yes No No TV movie
The Wrong Boy Next Door Yes No No No TV movie
The Wrong Mommy Yes No No No TV movie
The Wrong Tutor Yes Yes No No TV movie
The Wrong Cheerleader Yes Yes No No TV movie
Carole's Christmas Yes No No No TV movie
Christmas Matchmakers Yes No No No TV movie
2020 The Wrong House Sitter Yes No No No TV movie
The Wrong Wedding Yes No No No TV movie
The Wrong Stepfather Yes No No No TV movie
The Wrong Cheerleader Coach Yes No No No TV movie
Christmas Together Yes No No No TV movie
A Christmas for Mary Yes No No No TV movie
2021 The Wrong Real Estate Agent Yes No No No TV movie
The Wrong Fiancé Yes No No No TV movie
The Wrong Mr. Right Yes No No No TV movie
The Wrong Prince Charming Yes No No No TV movie
The Wrong Valentine Yes No No No TV movie
Deceived by my Mother-In-Law Yes No No No TV movie
Mommy's Deadly Con Artist Yes No No No TV movie
Sinister Stepfather Yes No No No TV movie [16]
The Wrong Cheer Captain Yes No No No TV movie
2021-2022 Keeping up with the Joneses Yes No No No 7 episodes
2022 The Wrong Blind Date Yes No No No TV movie
The Wrong High School Sweetheart Yes No No No TV movie
Killer Design Yes No No No TV movie
2023 Honeymoon in Paradise Yes No No No
If I Can't Have You Yes No No No TV movie
As Luck Would Have It Yes No No No 3 episodes
A Christmas Intern Yes No No No TV movie
2024 The Wrong Life Coach Yes No No No TV movie
Tall, Dark, and Dangerous Yes No No No TV movie

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref
2008 GayVN Awards Hall of Fame Won [17]

References

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  1. ^ a b DeCoteau, David; Del Valle, David (2023). Private Parts (Blu-ray audio commentary). Scream Factory. Event occurs at 1:22.
  2. ^ a b Horn, John (12 October 2002). "Live and die in LA". The Guardian.
  3. ^ "David DeCoteau". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2014. Archived from the original on December 3, 2014.
  4. ^ "David DeCoteau". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on December 17, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d Cinema Conversations: David DeCoteau. Here TV. May 1, 2020 [2010]. Retrieved June 9, 2023 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ a b Sloan, Will (2014-10-28). "Meet David DeCoteau, the King of Homoerotic On Demand Schlock". Flavorwire. Retrieved 2015-01-09.
  7. ^ "The Video Graveyard: David DeCoteau: On Rapid Heart, Fake Names & B-Movies". www.thevideograveyard.com. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  8. ^ "Official Website for David DeCoteau's films". Rapidheart.com. Archived from the original on 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  9. ^ ""Leather Jacket" Success Story: A Conversation with director David DeCoteau". Indiewire. 20 February 1998. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  10. ^ "Original Productions". Severin Films. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  11. ^ Mark Deming (2016). "The Killer Eye". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-06.
  12. ^ Robert Firsching (2016). "Witchouse". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-06.
  13. ^ Davies, Steven. "Horror Asylum Interview". Horror-asylum.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-05. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  14. ^ "Interview at AfterElton". Afterelton.com. 2006-10-31. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  15. ^ 90210 Shark Attack Takes a Bite Out of Home Video
  16. ^ Sinister Stepfather (2021) | MUBI, retrieved 2024-03-16
  17. ^ "GayVN Awards (2008)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
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