Special Guests
Thom Mathews
Mathews began his acting career in the early 1980s as a model and commercial actor, starring in national television commercials for Le Tigre, Sprite and Tostitos. From 1982 to 1984, Mathews guest starred on a string of soap operas including Falcon Crest (1982; 1984), Dynasty (1983) and Paper Dolls (1984). In 1984, Mathews portrayed Erik in the romantic comedy film The Woman in Red although he was uncredited.
His first major role was Freddy in the 1985 cult film The Return of the Living Dead. The following year, Mathews starred in Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, being the third actor to portray Tommy Jarvis after Corey Feldman and John Shepherd. In 1987, he starred as Francis Kelly in the television film The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission. The same year, Mathews starred in the film Down Twisted and guest starred on the sitcom Mr. President. In 1988, he starred as Joey in Return of the Living Dead Part II and Charmin' in Alien from L.A.. In 1989, Mathews guest starred on an episode of CBS Summer Playhouse.
In 1990, he portrayed Tim Murphy in the television film Rock Hudson, Sonny Hilderbrand in the television pilot Sporting Chance, and David in the film Midnight Cabaret. The following year, Mathews starred in the films Bloodmatch and Born to Ride and the television short The Letters from Moab. In 1992, he starred in the film Nemesis. In 1994, he portrayed Bill in Kickboxer 4 and Dan Donahue in In the Living Years. The following year, Mathews starred in Heatseeker. The same year, he guest starred on an episode of ER. In 1996, Mathews starred in the television films If Looks Could Kill and Raven Hawk.
He reprised the role of Tommy Jarvis twice in 2017, providing his voice and likeness to the video game Friday the 13th: The Game and making a cameo appearance in the unofficial fan film Never Hike Alone and its 2020 prequel, Never Hike in the Snow. He repeated the role of Tommy Jarvis in 2022 in another unofficial fan film Vengeance Part 2: Bloodlines and starred in the sequel Never Hike Alone 2, released in October 2023.
ParaPeculiar
Damian and Nicole are paranormal researchers known for their innovative + esoteric investigative techniques, including their very own, ND Method. They also run the ParaPeculiar Museum Of Haunted Items in San Marcos, Texas, and are hosts of two popular podcasts, ParaPeculiar and The Real Ghosts Of. Nicole and Damian have been featured on Fox, Austin Monthly Magazine, RTX Fest, Ethereal Horror Fest, and more, showcasing their unique approach to the paranormal.
The Boogie Man
The Boogie Man has been a haunt/horror icon for 20-plus years. He was the first to bring haunt and horror modeling to social media with photo meets and has trained numerous monsters you see today at the big scare events around the US. He has done everything from being the main entertainer for celeb parties, to scare acting, to being a part of a creative team that developed the Deadly Seven for Knott's Scary Farm. He has done improv and scare performing for 20-plus years, from home haunts to making his own haunt on base in Europe, to theme parks, to the first R-rated escape room. He has been an instructor and performer for other haunt cons as well . He has been involved in the haunt/horror industry from performing, to advising, to modeling, to fashion all over the US in some form or another.
Mary Deese Hampton
James Hampton was an actor/writer/producer/director for over 45 years. Many fans know him from his role as Michael J. Fox’s Dad in “Teen Wolf” and as Dr. Jerry Woolridge in “Sling Blade” (for which he was nominated for a Screen Actor’s Guild Award for Best Ensemble Cast). Going back a bit, James played Bugler Hannibal Dobbs in "F-Troop", as well as Caretaker in the original production of "The Longest Yard" with buddy Burt Reynolds (he did 5 pictures with Burt and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role as Caretaker). His long-spanning career runs from “Gunsmoke” to “Full House” with James having the privilege to work with some of Hollywood’s most famous actors and directors such as Jack Lemmon, Doris Day, Michael Douglas, Billy Bob Thornson and Burt Reynolds. James’ autobiography “What? And Give Up Show Business?” was published before his death in 2021 and has 5 Star ratings on Amazon. James was a Golden Globe nominee, a Screen Actor’s Guild Award nominee and appeared in numerous Academy Award winning films with a host of famous stars from Rock Hudson and Doris Day to Michael J. Fox and Billy Bob Thornton. A journalist once wrote that he was “One of the last living bridges between Old Hollywood and New Hollywood”. The list of his credits is long and impressive.
Beginning her career in Dallas, Texas in the late 80s as a student of Lou Diamond Phillips and Adam Roarke, Mary moved on to Los Angeles in the early 90s and hit the ground running, studying with academy award nominee Kim Darby and working on hit shows like Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Family Matters. She also appeared in the recurring role of “Reporter Kristy Koi” on the award winning soap opera General Hospital. You’ll recognize Mary Deese Hampton from many commercials, television shows, and movies. She currently has a national Jiffy Lube commercial airing! Recently, Mary recently appeared as a guest star in the now infamous role of “ The Donut Lady” on Amazon Prime’s/Pureflix’s series Vindication as well as co-star roles on Netflix’s Blockbuster and Lady Dynamite. Some of Mary’s film roles include Big Stone Gap, Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, Run Hide Fight, Dusting Cliff Seven, Ensure, Dennis and Henry’s Post Divorce Checklist and Old Broads. Married to well-known actor/director James Hampton for 19 years, they co-hosted the television pilot B&B Our Guest and appeared in the films Big Stone Gap, Divine Access and The Association together. Mary continues to act and is now writing screenplays for television and film. She loves attending the comic conventions and festivals meeting her fans, and James’ fans from around the world.
Preston Corbell
Preston is an actor and stuntman, known for playing The Bunny Man in the Cabin Fever films, as well working on One Tree Hill, Eastbound & Down, Daredevil, The Punisher, VHS, Blue Mountain State and The Vampire Diaries.
David Ankrum
David Ankrum has over 50 years experience in TV and Film work. Some of his credits include, Every Little Crook And Nanny with Victor Mature and Lynn Redgrave, The Sting II with Jackie Gleason, Karl Malden and Terri Garr, Cracking Up directed by Jerry Lewis where David played The Bellhop, Zebra Force, Guest Starring Roles in Cannon, Barnaby Jones, Moonlighting, Simon And Simon, The Waltons, Cagney and Lacey, White Shadow, Tell Me Where It Hurts, Alice, Murder She Wrote, Delivering Marlena Evan'sTwins on Days Of Our Lives and Playing Adam Stephens in the ABC series Tabitha opposite Lisa Hartman as Tabitha. He is more recently known for Voicing the Character of Wedge Antilles in the Original Star Wars movie back in 1977 and 40 years later, voicing Wedge on Yavin in Rogue One as the PA Announcer. He has written for TV and Film and also Co-Produced a small film, The Victim, starring Michael Biehn and Jennifer Blanc.