Q&A with Scream/Scream 2 Stuntman Lee Waddell

Photo courtesy of u/SamGFilms (*not a screen-used mask)

You may remember a Q&A we posted awhile back with the Scream: Resurrection stuntman who played Ghostface, well the Redditor (u/SamGFilms) also managed get a Q&A with Lee Waddell, one of the stuntmen from Scream and Scream 2 back in February. Check it out!

I did a Q&A with Lee Waddell, stuntman of Ghostface in Scream 1 and 2!
By u/SamGFilms
February 6, 2021

Hey everyone! This week, I did a Q&A with Lee Waddell, one of the stunt performers of Ghostface in Scream 1 and 2.

He is an actor/stunt performer who starred in movies such as The Terminator, The Return of Swamp Thing, Leather Jackets, Batman Returns, The Mask, The Lost World: Jurrasic Park, Good Burger, Spider-Man, and X-Men: First Class.

Some may be saying, wasn't Dane the stunt performer who did EVERYTHING in Scream 1 and 2? That's where you are wrong because, in Scream 2, they wanted to separate the stunt performers wearing the Ghostface outfit so people couldn't think it is one consistent person/killer. They separated it between a couple of stunt performers, of which Dane was one of them, and so was Lee.

In Scream 1, Tony Cecere, Lee Waddell, and Dane Farwell were the stunt guys of Ghostface. In Scream 2, Chris Durand, Lee Waddell, Dane Farwell, Ted Barba, Kurt Bryant, TJ White, Chris Doyle, Allen Richardson, and Rick Barker were the stunt performers of Ghostface.

In Scream 1, Lee did the infamous opening scene with Drew Barrymore while killing Casey and killed Principal Himbry. He also was Ghostface in the bush and at the supermarket spying on Sidney. In Scream 2, he killed the two cops in the car scene, drove the car into the railing, and killed Hallie. He also did a couple more, which he can't remember.

Please let me know what you think of my questions I asked him.

1. How did you get into stunts?

I started as an extra, so I could meet stunt coordinators and hustle into doing stunts.

2. What stunts do you mainly specialize in?

My specialties were fire 🔥 and water.

3. How was it like to wear the Ghostface costume with the mask and robe?

The wardrobe was pretty lightweight. It was so easy to move around. The mask was hot with poor visibility at best! I have one of the originals from the movie. I'll never part with it.

4. What scenes did you do in Scream 1

I did the opening sequence with Drew Barrymore (Casey Becker) and worked with Henry Winkler (Principal Himbry) when he gets killed, plus a few more.

That's so cool knowing you have the original mask from the movie. It must have been an honor being such an iconic character, and you were in that iconic first scene of the film, so it must have been great!

It was, but at the time, you don't realize what it was to become, so I was doing my job and having fun. 🤩

5. Any other scenes you remember doing for Scream 1?

I do remember when I was chasing Drew that I was always worried about tripping over the wardrobe, lol.

6. What scenes did you do in Scream 2

Driving the car into the K-rail at speed was a pretty good hit, lol!!

7. Any other scenes you remember doing in Scream 2?

Lol, I would have to watch it again. I did quite a few in the sequel. I did a scene where Ghostface punched through a car window.

8. Did you have a favorite scene to shoot out of your experience as Ghostface?

I like the opening sequence in Scream 1.

9. Do YOU like scary movies? What's YOUR favorite scary movie?

Yes. One of my favorites is John Carpenter’s The Thing.

10. Did you have a favorite kill performing out of your experience as Ghostface?

I enjoyed working with Drew. She’s a pro!

11. What was the most challenging scene to shoot as Ghostface?

I drove a car into a barrier with that mask on. It was difficult to see anything. That wall hurt.

12. How was it like to play the killer, especially in a horror production?

Since I wasn’t doubling anyone that was playing the killer, I didn’t have any references to bring out for that character.

13. Did you have a favorite actor or actress working with from that experience?

Drew Barrymore was my favorite!

14. How was it like to work with Neve Campbell? She's one of, if not the best Scream Queen of the genre!

I didn’t work with Neve (Sidney Prescott) too much. She was pretty low-key.

15. How was it like to work with the great but sadly late Wes Craven?

I loved working with Wes. I did a few of his shows. Great sense of humor. Very relaxed. He was sure of the shots he was getting. Class act!

16. Do you remember any of the scenes the other stunt performers (Dane Farwell, Chris Durand, Ted Barba, Kurt Bryant, etc.) did for Ghostface?

Dane played Ghostface beside me. Dane played Ghostface a lot. Chris Durand doubled one of the male leads (Jerry O'Connell), but I don't remember which one. And no about Ted or Kurt. I don’t recall what scenes they were in.

17. Are there any stunt performers or coordinators that inspire/continue to inspire you?

There’s so many super talented stunt performers it’s hard to say.

18. What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about stunt performers?

People think stunt performers are daredevils. It’s quite the opposite. It is very calculated, well-rehearsed, etc.

Q&A originally published at r/Scream

Here are some confirmed photos of Lee as Ghostface in Scream...




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