Robert Barton Englund (born June 6, 1947) is an American actor and director. Englund is best known for playing the villain Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. Englund has received multiple accolades and honors, including a… Robert Barton Englund (born June 6, 1947) is an American actor and director. Englund is best known for playing the villain Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. Englund has received multiple accolades and honors, including a Saturn Award, a Fangoria Chainsaw Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Classically trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Englund began his career as a stage actor in regional theatre and made his film debut in Buster and Billie (1974), followed by supporting roles in films such as Stay Hungry (1976), A Star Is Born (1976), and Big Wednesday (1978). Englund had his breakthrough as the resistance fighter Willie in the miniseries V in 1983. Following his performance in the original A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), he became closely associated with the horror film genre, and his performance as Freddy is often referenced in American pop culture; Englund has reprised his role as Freddy in seven sequels, as well as the horror anthology series Freddy's Nightmares (1988–1990). Englund has acted in over 100 film and television productions throughout his career, and he has also directed the horror films 976-EVIL (1988) and Killer Pad (2008).
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