Interview of Randy's with Damien Reaper
Interview of 2008
This will be your 11th year of playing Damien Reaper. Describe the thoughts that went into creating the character. Did you play any other characters before this (or any 'generic' type ghouls)?
-I was always Damien Reaper, never played anybody really I changed my look to fit the room
That's how you keep a character going is changing your look. Keep it fresh.
2) Damien made his first appearance inside the halls of the Dungeons of Delhi. How did you become involved with the haunt?
-Back In the summer 1998 I knew a guy who is now known as The Creep He worked one year prior to my evolvement he was there for a few years off in on before being kicked out for doing something he didn't do. But that 1 year kicked it off. Also Gary Horn and Steve Harmon took me there a year before and yes I got scared I was 15 years old and never seen a guy get shocked to death in front of my eyes.
3) In addition to being an actor at the Dungeons, you also aided in construction and put together a website for the event. What aspect of building the haunt did you find to be the most fun?
-Well the website had to have been done there was not really interesting in doing one at 1st I had webtv like yourself which is a great 1st site for any new person to web design, Then I did the one with Tripod which Is now Damien's website damienreaperx0.tripod.com. All I did really was help paint and Get rooms together. I was a horrible builder I took a nail trying to make a door out of drywall. But I was their everyday.
4) What are some of your favorite memories of your time spent at the Dungeons? Out of all the people you came in contact with, who are the ones that stand out in your mind?
-Well years ago I loved being outside entertaining the crowd with Fatso, Jake Rouse (Buddy the Bum, John Colleta (Toxic Lou),Dave Krull (The Great Ape man), Tyler Jero (Michael Myers), Dave Espich (Frankenstein/Herman Munster) we did great,Even the 1st year with The Creep we did a fight between us two and I remember him choke slamming me on the ground and my back still hurts.
That 1st scare I remember I was laying in the coffin and 2 girls walked in as I rose up with eyes back
I was in Love with the bussiness. And that same year the wooden brace for the coffin collapsed while I was in it ,scared the damnation out of me, And my 2nd year In the door room getting hit by the door in the face.
5) In 2007 you moved from the Dungeons to the Dent Schoolhouse. Was it difficult going from being the best known actor at the Dungeons to being just one of many notable characters at Dent?
-I never felt I was the best known actor I was just a weird guy who screamed at people ,I didn't realize how big I was till I worked with Dent and USS Nightmare in 2006 when both haunts told me I was a legend or icon I was blown away I had no clue what Damien Reaper meant to other people. But with the cast that has
Bludzo T Clown, Charlie McFree, Bubba,Booner, Suicidal Addams, Baby Zuez and list keeps going I knew
Damien Reaper and Fatso would fit because they wore like us ,...Hungry to make an Impact. And I love everybody there like a 2nd Family. So It wasn't hard at all a little weird that 1st day I was officially a Dent-Icon but It gave me a new chapter in my career.
6) What do you enjoy most about working at Dent?
The Cast and Crew they makes me want to come in and give everything I have. Seeing Josh's new rooms that look like a movie sets,Chuck's Jokes, Bud's make-up and Randy Patterson's Leader of a Motley Crue of nutcases, Leslie is our Haunt Den Mother .It's being Home every time I'm there.
7) What advice would you give an aspiring haunt actor as far as creating their own unique character?
-I think 1st off you have to be an unique person to do what we do ,Like I'm Big and I have long hair and can roll my eyes back in my head. I was always interesting with Scary movies, WWE,Metal, I'm a rebel that doesn't do drugs,Death,After life .So Be yourself though that clown or zombie and amp them to 100. And have fun what you do and work hard to get that scare and get your name and character out there. Talk to haunt reviewers and
get on Massager Board. Do videos of ourselves doing your character and you'll see your becoming well known.
Over the years you've put together an extensive back-story for Damien Reaper. What's the current version of the history behind the character?
-Well Damien's has had a couple of them but the one I've been using and fit the best of what Damien Reaper goes back to his childhood after seeing his father leave his mother to become a priest ,then later finding his mother dead in there kitchen then at age working as The Caretaker at The Dent schoolhouse On Oct,30th He was brutally beaten up by punk teens that trashed his graveyard. Then his soul went down to Hell
after making a deal with The Devil, He trained in Black Magic and used a Neimad (A diamond with an demon's eyes in the middle giving him the power to return and met up with Charlie and others to trap in The Dent Schoolhouse till the end of time .
9) What does Damien like to do when he isn't lurking in the Schoolhouse's graveyard? Is Damien considering a new career after dancing in the Schoolhouse's queue line video?
-Well I have been doing youtube video with (Skare13 Films) and will be starting a pod cast with Fatso and Baby Zuez of the haunt world,Horror ect. I loved dancing in that (Under the Gun Pro)video even If I dance poorly It was Damien Reaper dancing and I knew that you and haunt fans and other reviewers would get a kick out of it. I hoping to do a Damien Reaper a slashed video, And I'm going to try to write an Origin movie like the new Halloween,Texas Chainsaw and Friday did but without the million dollar budget again with (Skare13wayne on youtube)-If any wants to check them out. I'm hoping I'll be casted in the next in-line video. Saturday Night Fever would be fun.
10) At times, both at Dent and at the Dungeons, your father has pitched in and acted alongside you. Most people think he's an even crazier actor than Damien! Having a father-son actor team is fairly unique in the area. What's it like working alongside him, and has he always been such a big fan of Halloween?
-I think he is Crazy and when he is around me we both become a hell of a team. He told me he used to work for WAIF haunted house in the late 70's early 80's. The apple doesn't fall far from the haunted tree, Both parents are into Horror/Rock music ect big time. My Father played The Grey Ghost at Dent last year and will return again this year. He is someone who I trust to get the job done in a scare. He makes sure there attention is on him while I get ready for the next group. He's turning 50 this October and has had his hip replaced and He's faster than I am and Stronger than I am but We are both very smart and know how to work a room and people.
11) You've always been very big on giving credit to your fellow cast members and helping to publicize their characters. What local haunt actors do you admire? Who really stands out, not just at the Schoolhouse but at the haunts you have time to visit in October?
-I haven't been to many other haunts Rat Lady and The Captain and his daughter Anna from USS Nightmare what I have seen in picture New Blood and Mad Matt from DOD, Pumpkinseed from Sandy land, Bug Boy from Mt. Healthy, At the schoolhouse though (Our Back bone actors)Charlie Mcfree, Bludzo T Clown,The Nurse,Big Jim ,Rellik, Fruit Loop,Dr.Helldrake,Suicidal Addams, Bethany Addams,Skittles, Ruffles,Molly Lovett, Emilia Sangre, Bubba, Booner, Boiles,Calliope of course Fatso and Dr. Creep. And actors like The bus driver, Annabelle,Spot the Clown,Jasper and Jinx,Crazy jane the list is growing.
12) Your grandfather recently passed away. What influence did he have on you growing up?
Oh, Lordy He was my idol He was the guy Did everything to help someone,He always made me laugh
Every single day I saw him. He was WW2 vet, I lived with him,my grandmother ,Brother Randy,
Mother and Uncle my whole life and Our house and Family has changed allot It's very very very hard for me. We wore the house Clowns. Everyday he would ask me how much my weight was and how old I was. He ate the weirdest crap Ice Cream on Pizza or Peanut butter Hamburger. I miss him allot.
13) What does Damien have to say to anyone who dares to visit him at the Dent Schoolhouse this fall?
You want to know Meat bag! What you'll getting is Damnation! Skulls bleeding Ass Kicking Soul Taking
Ball Busting Dead man!