John Lafia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Lafia
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| Born | April 2, 1957 |
| Died | (aged 63) Los Angeles, California, US
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| Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Film director, screenwriter, producer, musician |
| Years active | 1983–2014 |
John Lafia (born April 2, 1957 – died April 29, 2020) was an American filmmaker and musician. He was well-known for his work in movies and TV shows. He helped write the scary movie Child's Play in 1988. He also directed its follow-up, Child's Play 2, in 1990.
Contents
Career
John Lafia started his career in movies in the 1980s. He was a talented writer, director, and producer.
Early Films
Lafia's first big movie was The Blue Iguana. He wrote and directed this film. He even helped create its music. This movie was shown at the famous 1988 Cannes Film Festival.
He then co-wrote the script for Child's Play (1988). He came up with the famous name "Chucky" for the doll. He also wrote some of Chucky's well-known lines, like "Hi, I'm Chucky, wanna play?" This movie was very popular and was number one at the box office. It even won an award for Best Horror Film.
After that, Lafia directed Child's Play 2 (1990). This movie also started at number one at the box office. It was nominated for an award too. He then wrote and directed Man's Best Friend (1993). This film also did well and was chosen for a special prize at a film festival.
TV and New Media
In the mid-1990s, John Lafia explored new types of entertainment. He directed a live-action video game called Corpse Killer (1994). He also worked on an interactive movie called Bombmeister (1995). These projects combined computer technology with real actors. They showed how movies could become interactive.
Lafia also directed many TV shows and movies. He directed episodes of Babylon 5. He also made TV movies like The Rats and Chameleon 3: Dark Angel.
One of his biggest TV projects was the miniseries 10.5 (2004). He wrote, directed, and produced this show. It was about a huge earthquake. 10.5 was very popular, with over twenty million viewers. He also worked on its sequel, 10.5: Apocalypse (2006).
Music Journey
Before becoming a filmmaker, John Lafia was involved in the music scene in Los Angeles. He released his early music under the name John J. Lafia. His first album, Prayers, came out in 1984. He also had songs on other music collections.
Lafia was featured on a spoken word album in 1983. He recorded music with producer Ethan James. In 2008, he started focusing on music again. He created a short rock opera called The Ballad of Frank and Cora in 2013. In 2019, a special collection of his music from 1980 to 1985 was released. He continued to make new music in his studio in Silver Lake, California.
His Passing
John Lafia passed away on April 29, 2020, at the age of 63. He is remembered by his children and his former wife.
What He Worked On
Movies He Directed or Wrote
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Other | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Space Raiders | Yes | Set dresser | ||
| 1984 | Repo Man | Yes | Leadman | ||
| 1988 | The Blue Iguana | Yes | Yes | Yes | Executive music producer |
| 1988 | Child's Play | Yes | |||
| 1990 | Child's Play 2 | Yes | |||
| 1993 | Man's Best Friend | Yes | Yes | ||
| 1995 | Bombmeister | Yes |
TV Shows and Movies
TV series
| Year(s) | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-1989 | Freddy's Nightmares | Yes | 2 episodes | ||
| 1991 | Dark Justice | Yes | 2 episodes | ||
| 1996 | The Adventures of Sinbad | Yes | Episode "Still Life" | ||
| 1997 | Babylon 5 | Yes | 3 episodes | ||
| 1998 | Ghost Stories | Yes | Episode "Underground" | ||
| 2002 | The Dead Zone | Yes | Episode "Quality of Life" | ||
| 2004 | 10.5 | Yes | Yes | 2 episodes / cameo as "Irate Man" | |
| 2006 | 10.5: Apocalypse | Yes | Yes | Co-Executive | 2 episodes / performing song "Understanding" |
| 2014 | Jack's Jacuze | Associate | 4 episodes |
TV movies
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Monster | Yes | |||
| 2000 | Chameleon 3: Dark Angel | Yes | |||
| 2002 | The Rats | Yes | |||
| 2003 | Code 11-14 | Story | Executive | ||
| 2006 | Firestorm: Last Stand at Yellowstone | Yes | Cameo as "Irate Man #2" |
Video Game He Directed
- Corpse Killer (1995)
His Music Albums
- English as a Second Language: Odyssey Girls (1983) – composer, producer
- Prayers (1984) – composer, performer
- LA Mantra 2: Queen of the Nile (1984) – composer, performer
- Phantom Takes: The Moth (1985) – composer, performer
- Voices from North America: The Confession (1986) – composer, performer
- John Lafia 1980–1985 (2019) – composer, performer
