'Chucky' Filmmaker John Lafia Dies by Suicide at 63
Editor's Note
If you experience suicidal thoughts or have lost someone to suicide, the following post could be potentially triggering. You can contact the Crisis Text Line by texting “START” to 741741.
Horror filmmaker John Lafia died by suicide at 63, according to Deadline, on April 29. His family confirmed the news in a statement, saying, “It is with great sadness we announce that loving father, film and television writer, director, producer and musician John J. Lafia passed away.”
Lafia was best known as a co-writer for the1988 horror movie “Child’s Play.” According to his collaborators, Tom Holland and Don Mancini, Lafia coined the name Chucky and the film’s most popular line: “Hi, I’m Chucky, wanna play?” Lafia was also a co-writer and director on the 1990 follow-up, “Child’s Play 2.”
“We’re devastated to hear of the passing of our friend John Lafia. He was a crucial part of the ‘Chucky’ family from the very beginning,” Mancini said in a statement provided to Variety, adding:
John was an incredibly generous artist. He let me tag along with him to every meeting, and shadow him on set; he taught me more about filmmaking during the production of that movie than several semesters in film school. John was also one of the most naturally curious and constantly creative people I ever met, someone who was always taking pictures, and jotting down ideas.
RIP @JohnLafia LOVE YOU ALWAYS pic.twitter.com/mtOqemlqmq
— Don Mancini (@RealDonMancini) May 2, 2020
Fans, friends and colleagues reacted to his death on social media and shared condolences.
Incredibly sad to learn of the passing of John Lafia, who co-wrote the original CHILD'S PLAY (which gave me recurring nightmares), directed CHILD'S PLAY 2 (the scariest/best film in the series), and also helmed the wonderfully bonkers and oft-overlooked MAN'S BEST FRIEND. #rip pic.twitter.com/K4O1BGk1S7
— William Bibbiani (@WilliamBibbiani) May 2, 2020
Child’s Play 2 terrified me as a kid, but I couldn’t get enough. Such a well-crafted scarefest with some iconic Chucky zingers. That classroom scene traumatized me most, actually, and Kyle is a badass. Rest in peace, John Lafia. pic.twitter.com/yI9u4sS4Sd
— Jason Scott: Hey All You Cool Cats + Kittens! (@JasontheScott) May 2, 2020
John believed in me when many people did not. And, it is thanks to John that I met the love of my life. Sir, you will be very missed, and you are loved. May you find what you are looking for ???????? Thank you ???????? / #johnlafia, Espero sepas cuanto te queríamos ???? Descansa en Paz pic.twitter.com/XgFmwgjXA9
— Katie Barberi (@katiebarberi) May 3, 2020
Dec 2018 in my kitchen. So sorry to report that John Lafia – director of Child’s Play 2 – took his own life this week. Don Mancini said – “Devastated by this news. John was a crucial part of the Chucky family from the very beginning. He co-wrote the or… https://t.co/TcbI6GEbiQ pic.twitter.com/3d1Q2dOFjw
— Christine Elise (@celisemccarthy) May 2, 2020
Sad to learn that John Lafia, one of the writers of Chucky (Child’s Play/ Sw: Onda Dockan), has passed at 63 following depression. That scary doll has nothing on that horrendous thing .-(
— Mikael Pawlo ???? (@mpawlo) May 2, 2020
If this news is hard for you, know you are not alone — and there is help for people who feel suicidal. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text “START” to 741-741. Head here for a list of crisis centers around the world.
Header image via sculpies/Getty Images
Renée Fabian was the features editor at The Mighty. She has also written for The Washington Post, VICE, Healthline, Talkspace, The Fix, The Establishment, The Culture Trip, and GRAMMY.com, among others. Renée was named a 2019 AHCJ Comparative Effectiveness Research fellow, a 2020 USC Center for Health Journalism California fellow, and holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and a master's degree in psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles. You can follow her on Twitter @ryfabian.
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