Aside from risking life and limb doing stunts, Kane also had a few small acting roles and earned a reputation for working well under heavy prosthetic make-up. These factors would then lead him to a role that would make Kane Hodder a worldwide celebrity.

Paramount was doing another Friday the 13th movie, The New Blood (part 7), and director and special effects artist, John Buechler, had a good idea who would make the perfect Jason. John had worked with Kane before on the movie Prison and pushed to have Kane hired. Not only can Kane work in awkward and uncomfortable prosthetic make-up, as he did in Prison, but as a stuntman he could do all his own stunts. Since there would be a lot of stunt work involved with the Jason character in part 7, hiring Kane would be to the production’s advantage because they wouldn’t need to hire both a stuntman and an actor to play Jason –Kane could easily do both. With Kane now behind the hockey mask, Jason Voorhees wasn’t just a characterless killer anymore, but he was both physically and mentally more intimidating. Unable to act with voice or facial expressions, Kane only had body movement and “one eye” to work with, so he came up Jason’s signature moves and mannerisms, and he did it so effectively you could actually see the look of annoyance to sheer rage from Jason through the mask. So it’s no wonder everyone from the production to the longtime Friday the 13th fans thought, “Yep….that’s the Jason we’ve been waiting for.”

After his debut in The New Blood, Kane reprised the role of Jason in three more F13 movies, but despite his popularity with the fans and putting his heart and soul into the character more than any other actor before him (and now after), Kane was denied the role in Freddy vs. Jason. But no matter who else is behind the hockey mask and picks up the machete, Kane Hodder is still the quintessential Jason Voorhees we’ll ever see.

Since Jason X, Kane is keeping himself busy doing what he loves. When he’s not beating up Ben Affleck’s father in the movie Daredevil, making cameo appearances in other horror movies, and working as the stunt coordinator on Rob Zombie’s The Devil’s Reject, Kane is appearing at conventions around the world and meeting with fans. Although an intimidating figure on screen, fans who have met Kane find him to be very amiable and down to earth.

We may not see Kane back again as Jason Voorhees anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean we won’t see him again hacking people up. Next on Kane’s agenda is playing Victor Crowley in the horror film Hatchet, and you guessed it –he plays the killer.


 

In his spare time Kane likes to read, hike, play with his kids, and hit the gym. He usually doesn’t do anything too wild on his days off because he does enough of that at work.

Kane’s all time favorite movie is The Exorcist.

Some of Kane’s favorite music is ICP and Rob Zombie. Kane was fortunate enough to work with his favorites by being the stunt driver in ICP’s Another Love Song video and the stunt coordinator for Zombie’s movie The Devil’s Reject.

Kane has an interest in haunted buildings or places, and every chance he gets when he’s away on location he likes to check out the local haunted sites.

John Buechler was the director of F13 part 7 and recommended Kane Hodder. John had worked with Kane before and knew how well Kane performs in awkward and uncomfortable prosthetic make-up. Of course, Kane being a stuntman was a big bonus too. Since there would be a lot of stunt work involved with the Jason character in part 7, hiring Kane would be to the production’s advantage because they wouldn’t need to hire both a stuntman and an actor to play Jason –Kane could easily do both. After doing such an impressive job as Jason Voorhees, Kane was asked back.

Why wasn’t Kane in Freddy vs. Jason?

It certainly wasn’t because Kane didn’t want to do it. A matter of fact, he couldn’t wait to kick Freddy's butt. To Kane’s surprise, the production just dropped him out of the blue and put out a casting call to replace him. Ouch…talk about a knife in the back. The production’s lame excuses were Kane was too tall, too short, or they wanted someone with more sensitive eyes or moved more gracefully, blah, blah, blah. There were even rumors put out to justify their actions that Kane was difficult to work with or wanted more money -all of which is not true. Frankly, in my opinion, I think it’s because the filmmakers wanted to make a wimp out of Jason, so they needed an actor who wouldn’t protest on how Jason was going to be portrayed. On the other hand, Kane cares how Jason is perceived and would never make a pussy out of him or make Jason appear weak. I think the director Ronny Yu knew that, so that’s probably why he didn’t want Kane as Jason. Well, whatever the ridiculous reason, it was a poor decision on their part and now thanks to the filmmakers of Freddy vs. Jason, they took one of the greatest slashers of horror film history, after a reign of over 20 years and ten films, and turned him into a clumsy characterless goon who looks more like Herman Munster with a hockey mask than an invincible killing machine. Despite the fans cries for the return of Kane Hodder, there are no plans of Kane reprising his role as Jason in the possible Freddy vs. Jason sequel.

How can I get an autograph picture from Kane?

How can I contact Kane?

Jason X: Behind the Machete 
Jason X: Interview & Review

Kane Hodder: The Man Behind the Mask of Terror
Voorhees House Interview: Kane Hodder
USAToday...Meeting the Man Behind the Mask
 

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