Horror director Anthony Hickox of Waxwork and Hellraiser III dies

10 October 2023 , 15:59

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Anthony Hickox was a prolific horror director (Image: Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Anthony Hickox has died at the age of 64.

The iconic horror director was prolific in the 1980s and 1990s, creating films such as Waxwork (1988) and Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992). He was also the director of hit movies such as Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1989), Warlock: The Armageddon (1993) and Full Eclipse (1993).

It's reported he was found dead in his home in Bucharest, Romania, by police, with friends reportedly having shared concerns about his whereabouts.

A close friend of Anthony's, InterTalent Rights Group CEO Jonathan Shalit, confirmed the news.

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Anthony Hickox has died aged 64 (Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

He was the director of Waxwork (Vestron Pictures)

According to Deadline, Jonathan said friends hadn't seen him for some time and raised their concerns with local police who sadly found his deceased body.

As well as his key directing roles in the 80s and 90s, Anthony went on to be an active filmmaker in recent years. In 2001, he directed Last Run, while two years later he directed Consequence. In 2020 Anthony was involved in the creation of Infamous Six.

Tributes poured in for him on social media as the news filtered through. Among those paying their respects was Hellraiser III writer Peter Atkins. Taking to Facebook, he wrote: "I’m deeply sorry to hear of the death of my friend and colleague of over thirty years, Anthony Hickox. We met in 1991 on Hellraiser III, which I wrote and he directed, and we wrote several scripts together over the next decade and a half."

The lengthy post continued: "Tony came from movie royalty — his dad was Douglas Hickox, director of Theatre of Blood, and his mum was the legendary Anne V. Coates, Oscar-winning editor of Lawrence of Arabia — and Tony himself will be remembered by his fans for his high-style and adrenaline-fueled approach to horror in movies like Waxwork and Warlock: The Armageddon, and remembered by his friends for his energy, his humor, and his refusal to ever let the party stop. My heartfelt sympathies to his siblings Jim and Emma, and to his family and loved ones. RIP, mate. Hopefully, Lemmy’s already poured you a drink and dealt you a hand."

On Twitter, fans also shared messages of condolence. One user wrote: "This is a blow. He made some of my favorite movies," after another had said: "I just heard the sad news that the brilliant Anthony Hickox has passed. Unbelievable. An under-appreciated talent who created some of the most entertaining, singular genre cinema of the 1990s. Unabashedly love your heroes while they’re here."

Anthony is survived by his son, his wife and his two siblings.

Jamie Roberts