Hal: Actually, I was very young. I wasn’t in school yet. My mom used to watch talk shows and soap opera's during the daytime. The talk shows would always have stand-up comedians on. I would listen and memorize the comedians act and scenes from the soap operas.
Then I would go into the bathroom and reenact them. I would face the mirror and I remember I was too young and short to actually see myself in the mirror and, I guess, I did this for years.
Because I still remember this day, I grew tall enough to see my hair in the bottom of the mirror. So, I always wanted to be an actor.
I didn’t start seriously until I was 16 years old in high school. Once I found it I was hooked.

Greg: Did you see yourself acting in horror films?

Hal: I didn’t originally. I thought I was going to New York and work on stage. I ended up going to Los Angeles instead and 'Night Of The Demons' was my second job or maybe third. I wasn’t sure I was going to do it and my wife talked me into it. I’m glad she did because, not only did I find a genre to work in, but I found a community to be a part of and that’s something I really appreciate.
I knew I really made it to Hollywood because we were auditioning in the Red Fox building. A lot of people may not know who Red Fox is anymore, but he was a very famous comedian and the star of the sitcom, 'Sanford and Son' And I thought that was the coolest thing ever.

Greg: What was your first horror film?

Hal: 'Night Of The Demons'

Greg: Did you do 'Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl O Rama' later on?

Hal: 'Sorority Babes' came right after 'Night Of The Demons'. Just a few weeks if I remember right. Linnea Quigley recommended me for the job and I went had a lunch meeting with Dave DeCoteau and the producer. By the time lunch was over they offered me the role and I was officially a horror film actor. Two in a row kind of does that.

Greg: As 'Sorority Babes' was released first Id like to ask your experience with that one as the role of the frat nerd Jimmie. What was it like doing it?

Hal: Working as an actor is always a lot of fun. You put out a lot of sweat equity to get there so when it happens, it’s the best thing ever. I really enjoyed the cast. Of course, I love Linnea. Everybody loves Linnea. But Brinke, Robin, Michelle, John, Andras, Cathy and Carla were awesome.
It was a lot like 'Night Of The Demons'. We were this group of young actors that were bashing together a film in the middle of the night. It was an adventure.
George Buck Flowers was in it. I had known George for a while at that point so it was great to be in a film with him.
We just kinda took over this bowling alley every night and made it happen. Very quickly too. We only shot for a couple weeks.

Greg: What was the most struggling scene to do on set?

Hal: Getting your head ripped off by a bowling ball cleaner is no mean feat. Especially, when they want to do a second take. No, I can’t really think of anything that was difficult.
David has made so many films. He could probably do it in his sleep so, it was pretty easy going.
And it’s always easier when you enjoy the people you’re working with.
I love working so, even when it’s tough. It’s easy because you love it.

Greg: Which memorable scene did you do that you enjoyed?

Hal: For me personally, it was the scene where the Imp grants by wish and I get a pile of gold. By that point, I had kind of been set loose to improv at Will. So, I thought it would be funny to show a different side of the character and talk about getting my hair and nails done. I don’t think David got the joke. But I thought it was funny as hell. It’s fun to kind of come out of left field and show the hidden part of the character and as far as I’m concerned, the weirder the better.

Greg: Robin Stille I heard was difficult to work with due to her drinking?

Hal: I did not have a problem with her. I do remember there was an issue, but it never really affected me. I’m sure it would’ve bothered me. I’m a stickler for artistic integrity and that’s the kind of thing that I would’ve gotten to me.

Greg: Now the film received a limited theatrical release. Did it play in places like Cineplex Odeon or Famous Players?

Hal: I don’t know. I remember my wife and I went to see it in a theater downtown. I think there were four of us in total in the theater. But I saw it on a big screen and I enjoyed it.

Greg: Sounds good. So it was in a regular theatre with other new movies that were out?

Hal: I don’t remember. It must’ve been with another film, but it was too long ago. It was a tiny, tiny theater. It was a legitimate movie theater. I just don’t know what kind of run it had.
I do remember that when they changed the name to 'Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-o-Rama'. I really hated the title and refused to put it on my résumé. I just use the original name, the Imp.
A while later, I ran into Linnea Quigley and she had just gotten back from England and told me that 'Sorority Babes' was the number one home video rental in the United Kingdom. So, I went home and put the new name on my résumé… Lesson learned.

Greg: Thats awesome! Now I want to hear about your role as Stooge in Night of the Demons. Tell me about what it was like doing that one?

Hal: Amazing! I think it was my second job so I was thrilled. Everybody’s heard the stories about the dressing rooms and how none of the actors wanted to stay in them because it was dark and cold and miserable so, we all hung out in this little courtyard together. We became a family of gypsies.
I had worked in the theater for several years at that point and was used to this idea of actors coming together, creating a bond and of course, when the shows over off you go to the next one.
But this was different. All, but a couple of us were very new to film so, we were all finding our way together. Luckily Linnea Quigley and Phil Tanzini both had a huge amount of experience. So I would look to them to see what they were doing and learn on the job.
Kevin Tenney is still the most chill director I’ve ever worked with. No matter what was going on. He was always calm cool and collected, keeping the ship moving forward. I saw him a couple of times have meetings behind the house that would’ve rattled anyone’s cage and Kevin never showed. In front of us he was always in charge and calm. That makes it a lot easier for us to work.
Filmmaking for production is always solving problems over and over again. An actor can’t worry about that. We have to focus and if we’re afraid the film is going to implode we just can’t do our job.
No I’m not talking about 'Night Of The Demons' specifically I’m talking about production in general. We have to stay focused while production runs around trying to put out all the fires. And it’s always amazing that they do. Every film that gets made is a success. Because it is a tough job for the entire crew.

Greg: Sounds awesome. Where was the Hull House filmed at?

Hal: It was in the Adams Normandy district near USC. They had plans to tear it down, before we started production and they gave the Art Department free rein to do whatever they wanted to the house.
It was a clean and beautiful craftsman home until 'Night Of The Demons' got a hold of it. The art department did all the distressing of the house and added a section of the building where the crematorium was. It was incredible, the amount of work they did, and the house was creepy as hell to be in, especially at night.

Greg: When you became a demon yourself being menacing how did you feel by performing like that?

Hal: I was the most unmenacing demon in the history of demons. Jim Quinn saved the day with his demon sounds but I love the make up and I love being the bad guy. So it was a blast.
I know everyone must get tired of me saying how wonderful I think everything is, but I do. I love creating and I love production. All of it. Finding ways around over and through all of the hurdles you run into while creating a role is the adventure. That’s part of what makes it so hypnotic. When you find some thing that works you get excited. And you want to do it again. So, there’s never any real problems that you can’t get past and enjoy doing it.
I did hate having the makeup removed though. That was not a lot of fun.

Greg: Was doing the film like a big party?

Hal: In a way, yes. It was still work and we were all very serious about doing a good job. But we had a lot of fun. We got yelled at a lot for making too much noise out in the courtyard.

Greg: Now this one got a wider theatrical release was there a red carpet premiere?

Hal: There was but I can’t remember where so I’m going to go with Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. It was a black tie affair. I think I’m right. I was in something that premiered there. It was a long time ago, man.

Greg: Did you get any feedback from fans?

Hal: I wanted to see it with an audience, so my wife and I went to a theater that it was running at and set toward the back and watched it. About halfway through the film, somebody in the audience turned around and pointed at me and then at the screen and said “That’s him”. It was pretty nerve-racking, but the audience was incredibly nice and I got a big round of applause at the end of the film and stayed and talked to a few people in the audience and they were wonderful.
Over the years. It is only gotten better. I think the reason this film resonates with so many people is that there’s so many characters, and the film gets beat up because the characters are all stereotypes, and they are. Because of that though there is someone for everyone to identify with. I think that’s the reason it sticks with people… That and lipstick.

Greg: I understand you do a convention circuit with your 'Night of the Demons' cast members. Whats it like doing that?

Hal: It’s like old home week. I really have great memories of all of them so, I really look forward to getting together with them. I wish we could do larger reunions. I keep trying to get everybody else to come on board. Hopefully, one day will do a full reunion.

Greg: Now you were in Tenney's next film 'Witchtrap' and thrid time working with Linnea. I remember you played a mysterious creepy type of role named Elwin. Tell us about doing that one.

Hal: 'Witchtrap' was crazy fun. We shot in northern California where Kevin had grown up. So it was a homecoming for him and all of his friends and his brother and everybody else he could wrangle up worked on the film.
We shot in this beautiful home that had an incredible antique collection. Jim Quinn was the male lead and I had already known him for a while from 'Night Of The Demons'. Kathleen Bailey was the female lead. I knew her from casting work and of course, I knew Linnea really well by then So, I was very comfortable. That’s always of the most important things for me, on any set, is to get comfortable.
When we were done somebody, somehow, lost all of the audio tapes and we had loop the entire entire film in post production. Kevin Tenney was very excited about all that.

Greg: Did you find this role more of a challenge since it's different than your previous roles in shows?

Hal: Not really, he was a weird guy and there was not a ton of dialogue so it required a lot of physicality but, I had done a lot of drama up to that point so, I kind of just rolled with it. The only thing I missed was I didn’t have any comedy to lean on. Every role has its own requirements. once you find the character you just try to live in it.

Greg: The film somewhat reminded me of the 'Amityville' flicks. Did you ever see those films and relate to performing this one?

Hal: I’ve seen a few 'Amityville' films. The original with James Brolin and Margot Kidder scared the crap out of me. I read the book before I saw the film and that didn’t help at all because I knew what was coming.
I didn’t relate 'Witchtrap' to the 'Amityville Horror'. I guess the origin stories are similar. It would be nice if we could’ve creeped anybody out as much as I was creeped out seeing that first film.

Greg: I definetely want to hear about your 2 episode guest appearance on 'Fear the Walking Dead' as Rancher Bob. Tell us about it all

Hal: Another great time. I fell in love with Mexico all over again. After I did 'Fear the Walking Dead' I returned to Mexico four times a year for several years after that. I used to go all the time back in the 80s and 90s. But I forgot how much I liked it. We shot on this massive ranch. I have no idea how big it was, but the property seem to go on forever. One of the coolest things about it for me was, I was a fan of the show. The first season they were in Mexico.
They shot all over Rosarita Beach and all through the Rosarita Beach Hotel. That’s where they housed us. So every corner, I turned another location for the show. It was fantastic. It was it was like doing a free tour of the locations.
The first day I was on the set was a massive scene between the farmers and the Indians. There was a huge stunt fight. That was one of the few times in my career that I got home from the set exhausted.

Greg: Are you in any upcoming horror films or TV you'd like to share with us?

Hal: Not right now. I’m just getting back to work. I had a family thing and I took a lot of time off.
Currently, I’m a disk jockey for KVBB 94.5 FM. They’re keeping me busy with a daily morning shift and on Fridays I do a two hour blues show called the Red House. Radio’s new for me but it’s a blast.
But there will be more film in television for sure. Keep an eye out. And I just like to say thanks to all the fans who show their support so often. You’ll never know how much it means to me.

Greg: Now heres some fun stuff: What are your favourite horror films?

Hal: 'The Exorcist'. I think it is one of the finest films ever made. If you ever run into somebody that says they don’t like horror films, set them down to watch the 'Exorcist'.
I just watched 'Carnival of Souls' night before last and I’m still tripping out. What a strange and atmospheric film.
The original 'Nosferatu' is one of my favorites.
Newer films: I loved 'Dog Soldiers' and all of the 'Ginger Snaps' films.
The list is too long. It’s like talking about 'Twilight Zone' episodes one just leads to the next.

Greg: If you were a horror film actor for a day whether he was alive or not whom would he be?

Hal: If I were going to be a horror film actor to for a day? Me! I’ve got more to do. If you’re asking me if I could meet a horror film actor for the day. I have to pick two Lon Chaney and Vincent Price. I need to add Max Schreck the most frightening horror actor ever.

Greg: What film or any kind of show were you in that you weren't proud of and would like to change?

Hal: None. You work just as hard on the bad ones as the good ones. You commit to them with every ounce of you. They’re all your children. It’s just that some of them deserve prison.
In all seriousness, I appreciate everything I’ve had the opportunity of work on. I wouldn’t change a minute of it.

Greg: Which one were you in that you cherish the most to this day?

Hal: Man, that’s hard to answer. Like I said you cherish them all. 'Night Of The Demons' is definitely brought me the most love. So I guess I’ll go with that. Nobody tattooed a picture of me from '21 Jump Street' on themselves.

Greg: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Hal: I had it. I had the love of the finest woman I have ever met and I had a pretty good career doing what I love. I’ve already experienced perfect happiness. I wish everybody in the world could experience half the joy I’ve had.

Greg: What are your ambitions in life?

Hal: To get back to life. I’m just starting to get back to acting. I’m also trying to decide where I’m going to live and a ton of other decisions. I’ve never really made the kind of choices I’m making now. It’s all very exciting and if it all goes south, I only have me to blame. It’s all pretty fun right now. It seems like everywhere I turn there’s another open door.