Dr. Sam Loomis: John Carpenter's "Halloween"

Actor:           Donald Pleasance
Year:            1978
Beard Type:  Psychiatrist Beard

Welcome to the second entry of Movie Beards in which I must precede the title of the movie with "John Carpenter's" because Hollywood cannot control itself.

Some might say, "But Donald Pleasance technically had a goatee in the original Halloween. However, Malcolm McDowell had a full beard in Rob Zombie's remake. You should talk about Rob Zombie's version of Dr. Loomis." 

To that I say: Shut up, dummy. Pleasance had a full beard in Halloween 6. 

The Psychiatrist Beard greying out on Dr. Loomis' chin provides its possessor with patience and persistence. Dr. Loomis had the patience to work with a blank, pale, emotionless six-year old murderer for 15 years, the latter seven of which were spent making sure Myers was completely incarcerated. Whether Dr. Loomis had a beard during that entire 15-year period is unclear.* But it's safe to say he damn well knew he needed one just in case Myers ever escaped.

The persistence component of the Psychiatrist Beard gives Loomis the power to scream crazy shit for five Halloween films. Dr. Loomis was the warning of impending doom. He was persistent even though nobody really wanted to believe him. He was also a sign of hope -- a slightly nutty, yet well-spoken and likeable character who wanted to make sure nobody in Haddonfield was hurt.

John Carpenter's Halloween still stands as one of the greatest and most effective horror films of all time. It also contains one of the most important moral lessons you will ever learn. Always trust a man with a beard. Always.


*Sorry Rob Zombie. Nobody likes your movie.