John Carpenter is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, composer, and musician. He has shown his wide range of skills, making him a household name in the American entertainment industry. John Carpenter is known as the Horror King for his perfection in the genre. His movie credits include Assault on Precinct 13, Halloween, The Fog, Escape from New York, The Thing, etc.
As of April 2023, John Carpenter’s net worth is estimated at $40 million. He earned this fortune from his long-lasting and successful career in the industry. As mentioned, John is a highly-talented person who succeeded in almost everything he set out to do.
John Carpenter is one of the best entertainers of this century. His career spans decades, and his achievements speak for themselves. But who is he? Read on for detailed information about his net worth, biography, family, relationships, career, and more!
John Carpenter Wiki & Biography
John Howard Carpenter is still alive and 75 years of age as of May 2023. He was born on January 16, 1948, in Carthage, New York, United States, but his family relocated to Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 1953.
John Carpenter showed great interest in films at an early age. He knew what he wanted to do and be right from the start. This passion pushed him into the film industry even before starting high school.
He started making short horror films in 1962 under 8 mm film. After he graduated from high school, John joined Western Kentucky University. His father, Howard Ralph Carpenter, was the head of the music department at the institution.
However, John Carpenter transferred to the University of California in 1968 to study Cinematic Arts. His talent in the field emerged when he was in his second year. By then, John co-wrote, edited, and composed the score for “The Resurrection of Broncho Billy.”
This short film won the Oscar in the category of Best Live-Action Short Subject. It also became the best CINE Golden Eagle for Student Film.
Following the success of his first-ever film credit, John Carpenter dropped out of college to concentrate on his first feature film.
| Full Name/Real Name: | John Howard Carpenter |
| Nick Name/Stage Name: | John Carpenter |
| Birth Place: | Carthage, New York, United States |
| Birthday: | January 16, 1948 |
| Zodiac Sign: | Capricorn |
| Net Worth | $40 million |
| Age (How Old): | 75 |
| Weight: | 80 kg |
| Height (How Tall): | 1.83 m (6′ 0″) |
| Currently Live In： | Unknown |
| Debut: | 1962 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Religion: | Unknown |
| Ethnicity: | Unknown |
| College: | Western Kentucky University
University of Southern California |
| Profession: | Film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, film score composer, and musician |
| Social Media Accounts: |
|
John Carpenter Wife, Family And Relationships
Little is known about John Carpenter’s family. We searched all possible sources and could not find anything about his siblings. But there is little information about his parents.
John’s father, Howard Ralph Carpenter, was a music professor and head of the music department at Western Kentucky University. His mother is Milton Jean née Carter, and little is known about her. The family moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 1953, where John grew up.
John Carpenter’s personal life is also private, but we know he has been in two marriages. His first relationship with Actress Adrienne Jo Barbeau did not work out.
John and Actress Adrienne Barbeau met on the set of his television movie, Somebody’s Watching Me and tied the knot on January 1, 1979. Like John, Adrienne is an American actress, singer, and author. She rose to fame in the 1970s.
However, their relationship didn’t last forever, as the two divorced in 1984. But the reason for their separation remains a top secret, but they were blessed with one son, Cody Carpenter.
John and his son Cody share a strong bond. His only son and child introduced him to video games. He stated that they often play together and enjoy some of the famous games of this generation, including “God of War,” “Dishonored,” and “Assassin’s Creed III.”
Cody Carpenter grew up to follow in his father’s footsteps. The son of the renowned film director is also a musician and a composer. He and his father have collaborated on various projects, but he also has some solo works.
John Carpenter’s second marriage happened in 1990. He tied the knot with Sandy Ann King. Sandy is an integral part of his career and empire. As expected, she is also a filmmaker. Mouth of Madness, Village of the Damned, Vampires, and Ghosts of Mars are credited to her.
Sandy is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Storm King Productions. She also heads its division, Storm King Comics.
| Father Name | Howard Ralph Carpenter |
| Mother Name | Milton Jean née Carter |
| Brother Name | Unknown |
| Sister Name | Unknown |
| Girlfriend | N/A |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife Name | Adrienne Jo Barbeau (married 1979, divorced 1984)
Sandy Ann King (married 1990) |
| Children | Cody Carpenter |
Physical Appearance
John Carpenter has an American height of 6 feet. He weighs about 176 pounds, but this is subject to debate.
John is identified by his white hair, white skin, and wrinkles on his face and neck. His white mustache and recessed hairline also sum up his physical appearance.
He has a charming personality. He is often seen wearing his clear sunglasses with black frames. John’s outfit is casual, mostly wearing a black T-shirt and a coat if it’s cold outside.
Career
John Carpenter started his career in 1962. As mentioned, he co-wrote, edited, and composed the score for an award-winning short film, “The Resurrection of Broncho Billy.” He also wrote and directed an 8-minute Captain Voyeur in 1969.
However, his first breakthrough as a director was in 1974. John directed a science-fiction comedy Dark Start, which he co-wrote with Dan O’Bannon. His other early successful films include Halloween (1978), The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981), and Starman (1984).
The Fog (1980) – Official Trailer
John achieved a lot throughout his career as an actor, director, and filmmaker. He wrote and directed many award-winning horror, science-fiction, and thrillers. And due to his mastery of the genre, he is nicknamed The Horror Master.
The following are some of his filmography credits:
| Year | Title |
| 1974 | Dark Star |
| 1976 | Assault on Precinct 13 |
| 1978 | Halloween |
| 1980 | The Fog |
| 1981 | Escape from New York |
| 1982 | The Thing |
| 1983 | Christine |
| 1984 | Starman |
| 1986 | Big Trouble in Little China |
| 1987 | Prince of Darkness |
| 1988 | They Live |
| 1992 | Memoirs of an Invisible Man |
| 1994 | In the Mouth of Madness |
| 1995 | Village of the Damned |
| 1996 | Escape from L.A. |
| 1998 | Vampires |
| 2001 | Ghosts of Mars |
| 2010 | The Ward |
John Carpenter also tried music and was incredibly successful in it. In an interview in 2016, John admitted his father’s work as a music teacher inspired him to make music. He composed most music soundtracks of his films.
He shifted his focus from filmmaking to composing songs in 2016. This saw him dropping solos and EPs with his son, Cody, and godson, Dave Davies.
John is credited with the following:
- Lost Themes Remixed – 2015
- Classic Themes Redux EP – 2016
- Lost Cues: The Thing – 2020
- Skeleton “b/w” Unclean Spirit – 2020
Halloween theme soundtrack by John, Cody, and Davies
John Carpenter’s Awards nd Honors
John has received many awards for his outstanding performance and contributions to the film industry. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- George Pal Memorial Award in 1996
- Best Special Effects in 1976
- Best Music for Vampires in 1999
- Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 and 2011
- Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival’s Critics Award
- Fantasporto Critics’ Award for In the Mouth of Madness.
- CableACE Awards (Writing a Movie or Miniseries for El Diablo)
- Fright Meter Awards (Best Score for Halloween)
- New Generation Award for Halloween
John Carpenter Net Worth Summary
John Carpenter’s net worth is about $490 million as of April 2023. He earns this from his long-lasting career in the film industry. John has been a successful actor, director, filmmaker, film score composer, voice actor, screenwriter, and musician. He is incomparable to other actors such as L.Q. Jones and Ray Buffer.
Most of his films have been successful and generated a lot of revenue. He earned $10K as a director of the movie Halloween in 1978, but his salary has significantly increased. John Carpenter now earns about $5.95 million annually.
