Wesley Earl Craven (August 2, 1939 – August 30, 2015) was an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and editor, who was known for his pioneering work in the horror genre, particularly slasher films, where he mixed horror cliches with humor and satire. The cultural impact and influence of his work have dubbed him a “Master of Horror”.

Amongst his prolific filmography, Craven was best known for creating the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise (1984–2010) and directing the first four films in the Scream franchise (1996–2011), both of which hold a significant standing in popular culture. He also directed cult classics The Last House on the Left (1972) and The Hills Have Eyes (1977), the horror comedy The People Under the Stairs (1991), and psychological thriller Red Eye (2005). His other notable films include Swamp Thing (1982), The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), Shock…Read more on Wikipedia