Wesley Earl Craven (August 2, 1939 – August 30, 2015) was an American film director, writer, producer, and actor. He was known for his pioneering work[1][2][3] in the genre of horror films, particularly slasher films, where his impact on the genre was considered prolific and influential.[4][5] Due to the success and cultural impact[6] of his works in the horror film genre, Craven has been called a "Master of Horror".[3][7][8][9][10]