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Fred Olen Ray

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Fred Olen Ray (born September 10, 1954) is an American film producer, director and screenwriter of more than 200 low- to medium-quality feature films in many genres,[1] including horror, science fiction, action/adventure, erotic thrillers, crime dramas, and holiday films.[2]

Ray is the head of Retromedia, which releases DVDs of both his own productions and archival films.[3] He has also worked for other well-known independent studios and on a few occasions for major Hollywood studios. He has been cited as an inspiration for many independent filmmakers. He loaned a 16mm camera to Quentin Tarantino so he could make My Best Friend's Birthday.[4]

Aside from his work in the film industry, Ray was also a professional wrestler. His wrestling name was Fabulous Freddie Valentine.[5]

Early life

Ray was born September 10, 1954, in Wellston, Ohio, to a family originally from West Virginia. As a teenager, he regularly read Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine. Being a fan of horror and science fiction films such as Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein and the AIP movies of the 1950s and 1960s, Ray started making his own movies at the age of fourteen.[6] At age seventeen, he self-published three issues of the amateur fantasy-film fanzine Dagon in 1972.

Career

Early work and The Brain Leeches (1970s)

After serving in the United States Navy, Ray began working at a local television station in Orlando, Florida. He first appeared in a small role in the 1975 film Shock Waves, which starred Peter Cushing and John Carradine.[7] Ray then began directing independent films during his free time using station equipment, starting with The Brain Leeches (1978), produced on a budget of $298.[8][9] Ray also co-wrote the screenplay with political essayist Brad Linaweaver, and the two later collaborated on additional films.[10]

1980s

Ray's next film was shot on a budget of $15,000. Lessons learned from The Brain Leeches allowed Ray to keep production cost to a minimum, while using the bulk of the budget to attract a recognized Hollywood name to the project. Alien Dead was shot featuring an elderly Buster Crabbe, cinema action hero of the 1930s and 1940s, and star of three Flash Gordon serials from 1936 to 1940. With the success of that film, Ray decided to move to Hollywood to be close to the film industry. He was interested in working in make-up and special effects, "probably from all of those years of reading Famous Monsters magazine", he later said. He found out "it soon became apparent that you would always be between jobs and I was looking for something that would actually earn me a living. I think I became a director because that was the fastest way to get a film made on the independent side of things."[6]

Ray succeeded in raising money for a low-budget horror film, Scalps (1983), which featured cameos from Carroll Borland and Forrest J. Ackerman. The Tomb (1986) stars Cameron Mitchell and John Carradine. Ray switched to action films with Armed Response (1986), which stars David Carradine and Lee Van Cleef. Ray had affection for this movie because "it had a great cast and was one of the first times I had more than two nickels to rub together."[6] He then turned to science fiction: Deep Space (1987) and Cyclone (1987). Beverly Hills Vamp (1988) was a horror comedy with Eddie Deezen.

1990s

After Alienator (1989) he was reunited with Deezen for Mob Boss (1990), another comedy. He entered sword and sorcery movies with Wizards of the Demon Sword (1991) and made the more popular Bad Girls from Mars (1991). During this time he published his book, The New Poverty Row: Independent Filmmakers as Distributors (1991).[11]

Ray co-directed Scream Queen Hot Tub Party (1991) with Jim Wynorski, starring Kelli Maroney, shot in one day.[12] Ray moved into erotic thrillers with Inner Sanctum (1991) starring Tanya Roberts. It was a hit and Ray would make others in that genre, including Inner Sanctum 2, Mind Twister (1994) and Possessed by the Night (1994).

Evil Toons (1992) is a comedy-horror, which was followed by another effort co-directed with Wynorski, Dinosaur Island (1994). Witch Academy (1994) was the last of his "scream queen" movies.[12] After Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold (1995), he made Fugitive Rage (1996), Friend of the Family II (1996), Inferno (1997), Hybrid (1997), and The Shooter, which has been referred to as Ray's best film.[5] Dear Santa (1998) is a family film and Billy Frankenstein (1998) is a comedy.

2000s to present

In 2001, he made the film Critical Mass. He later said he was a "Critical Mass kind of guy. I like to shoot things and blow stuff up. I also like comedies. Don't like erotic thrillers."[6][13]

He established a DVD company called Retromedia. Ray made a film called Bikini Airways "on a lark and it did really well", said Ray. This led to a series of Bikini films.[12][14]

In 2007, he reflected on his career: Template:Blockquote

Budgetary constraints notwithstanding, Ray has, on occasion, been able to attract A-list actors to appear in his films. Two-time Academy Award nominee Peter Fonda played Marshal Kane in the 2010 Ray film American Bandits: Frank and Jesse James,[5] while Golden Globe Award winner Christian Slater appeared in Ray's 2012 film Hatfields and McCoys: Bad Blood.[15] One reviewer described American Bandits as perhaps "the most boring Jesse James film ever made".[5]

In 2017, he received a "Living Legend Award" at the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival.[16]

In 2019, he produced and released Boggy Creek: The Series, with director Henrique Couto at the helm.[17]

Books

  • Grind Show - Weirdness as Entertainment (1993)
  • The New Poverty Row: Independent Filmmakers as Distributors (2011), Template:ISBN
  • Hell-Bent for Hollywood: A Director's Journey (2024), Template:ISBN

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
2022 Piranha Women Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No
2020 Dying for a Daughter Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2016 Trial Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Sniper: Special Ops Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Accidental Switch Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2014 After Midnight Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Christmas in Palm Springs Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
House of Secrets Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
2013 All I Want for Christmas Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
Abner, the Invisible Dog Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
2012 Collision Course Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Baby Dolls Behind Bars Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Hatfields and McCoys: Bad Blood Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Busty Housewives of Beverly Hills Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Nicholas Medina
2011 Super Shark Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Together We Can Find a Cure Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Little Witches Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Nicholas Medina
Lady Chatterly's Ghost Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Knock Outs Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2010 Housewives from Another World Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No
Twilight Vamps[18] Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Bikini Frankenstein[19] Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Nicholas Medina
Bikini Royale 2 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No
American Bandits: Frank and Jesse James[5] Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2009 Silent Venom Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Dire Wolf Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
2008 Solar Flare Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Bikini Royale Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No
2007 The Girl from B.I.K.I.N.I. Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No
2006 Bikini Pirates, aka Ghost of the Pirate Queen[20] Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No as Nicholas Medina
2006 Ghost in a Teeny Bikini Template:Yes Template:Yes VOD
2008 Bikini Girls from the Lost Planet Template:Yes Template:Yes VOD
2005 Glass Trap Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Ed Raymond
Bikini Round-Up Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No as Nicholas Medina
2004 Tomb of the Werewolf[5] Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No as Sherman Scott
Bikini a Go-Go Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No as Nicholas Medina
Sherman Scott
The Bikini Escort Company Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Bill Carson
Nicholas Medina
Sherman Scott
Genie in a String Bikini Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Nicholas Medina
Bikini Chain Gang[5] Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Bikini Cavegirl (also known as Teenage Cavegirl)[5] Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No as Nicholas Medina
Sherman Scott
2003 Final Examination Template:Yes Template:No Template:No Ed Raymond
Bikini Airways Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
2002 Southern Discomfort: Wrestling on the Indie Circuit Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Freddy Valentine
13 Erotic Ghosts Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Roger Collins
Nicholas Medina
Peter Stewart
2001 Venomous Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Ed Raymond
Air Rage Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Ed Raymond
Mach 2 Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
ACW Wrestling's Wildest Matches Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes as Sherman Scott
Freddie Valentine
Kept Template:Yes Template:No Template:No Uncredited
Stranded Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
2000 Submerged Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Sideshow Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Critical Mass Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Ed Raymond
Special Envoys Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
1999 Invisible Mom II Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
Fugitive Mind Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
The Kid with X-ray Eyes Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Counter Measures Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
Active Stealth Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Scandal: On the Other Side Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Nick Medina
1998 The Prophet Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Sherman Scott
Mom, Can I Keep Her? Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
Billy Frankenstein Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Dear Santa Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Peter Stewart
Mom's Outta Sight Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
1997 Illicit Dreams 2 Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes as Roger Collins
The Shooter[5] Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Ed Raymond
Inferno Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Bikini Hoe-Down Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes as Roger Collins
Nicholas Medina
Hybrid Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
Invisible Dad Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No
Little Miss Magic Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Masseuse 2 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No as Peter Daniels
Maximum Revenge Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Bill Carson
Night Shade Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes as Nicholas Medina
Rapid Assault Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Sherman Scot
1996 Invisible Mom Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
Friend of the Family II Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Nicholas Medina
Fugitive Rage Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
Over the Wire Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Nicholas Medina
Masseuse Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Peter Daniels
1995 Sorceress Template:No Template:No Template:Yes
Droid Gunner Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
Bikini Drive-In Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes as Randy Rocket
Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
Star Hunter Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes as Sam Newfield
The Wasp Woman Template:No Template:No Template:No as Tex
Witch Academy Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
1994 Inner Sanctum 2 Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
Possessed by the Night Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No
Dinosaur Island Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
Mind Twister Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
1993 Dinosaur Girls Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
1992 Evil Toons Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
1991 Haunting Fear Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Spirits Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Inner Sanctum Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
Scream Queen Hot Tub Party Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Bill Carson
Wizards of the Demon Sword Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
1990 Bad Girls from Mars Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Sherman Scott
Mob Boss Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
1989 Terminal Force Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
Alienator Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
1988 Warlords Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
The Phantom Empire Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers[5] Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Dr. S. Carver
Beverly Hills Vamp Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
1987 Commando Squad Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
Cyclone Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No
Deep Space Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Evil Spawn Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
1986 Demented Death Farm Massacre Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Reshoots
Armed Response Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Prison Ship Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
The Tomb Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
1985 Biohazard Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
1983 Scalps Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No
1980 Alien Dead Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Fred Ray
1978 The Brain Leeches Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Fred Ray
Brian Wolfe

Television

TV Movies

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
2004 Haunting Desires Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No as Nicholas Medina and Sherman Scott
2007 Nuclear Hurricane Template:Yes Template:No Template:No n/a
Bewitched Housewives Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No as Nicholas Medina
Super Ninja Doll Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Nicholas Medina and Sherman Scott
Girl with the Sex-Ray Eyes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No as Nicholas Medina and Sherman Scott
An Accidental Christmas Template:Yes Template:No Template:No n/a
2008 Polar Opposites Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Bikini Royale Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Nicholas Medina
Voodoo Dollz Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Nicholas Medina
Tarzeena, Queen of Kong Island Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Nicholas Medina
2009 Reptisaurus Template:No Template:No Template:Yes n/a
2010 Turbulent Skies Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Bikini Jones and the Temple of Eros Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Nicholas Medina
2011 Bikini Warriors Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Nicholas Juan Medina
Lady Chatterley's Daughter Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Nicholas Juan Medina and Mark Reynolds
Bikini Time Machine Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Nicholas Juan Medina
Sexual Witchcraft Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes as Nicholas Juan Medina
2012 Dirty Blondes from Beyond Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Nicholas Medina
Jersey Shore Shark Attack Template:No Template:No Template:Yes n/a
A Christmas Wedding Date Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2013 Holiday Road Trip Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
All I Want For Christmas Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
2014 A Perfect Christmas List Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2015 Eyewitness Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
A Prince for Christmas Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
The Christmas Gift Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2016 A Mother's Revenge Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Unwanted Guests Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
A Christmas in Vermont Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2017 The Twin Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
Stage Fright Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Deadly Vows Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Framed by My Fiancé Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
2018 Witness Unprotected Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Fiancé Killer Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
Deadly Shores Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
A Wedding For Christmas Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
A Christmas In Royal Fashion Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2019 Sister of the Bride Template:Yes Template:No Template:No Uncredited
One Fine Christmas Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes n/a
Baking Christmas Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
A Christmas Princess Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2020 A Mother's Secret Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
A Royal Christmas Engagement Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
2021 The Killer in My Backyard Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
2022 A Royal Christmas on Ice Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes

TV Series

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
2000 Emmanuelle 2000 Template:Yes Template:No Template:No as Nicholas Medina, Episode: Emmanuelle's Sensual Pleasures
2002 Sexy Urban Legends Template:Yes Template:No Template:No 2 Episodes
2006–2007 Dante's Cove Template:No Template:No Template:Yes Supervising Producer
2007–2009 The Lair Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Creator, Executive Producer
2018–2020 The Bay Template:No Template:No Template:Yes Co-executive producer
2019 Boggy Creek - The Bigfoot Series Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Executive Producer

See also

  • Sam Newfield, a filmmaker who uses the "Sherman Scott" and "Peter Stewart" pseudonyms.
  • Brad Linaweaver, science fiction writer, publisher, and frequent Ray collaborator.

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Fred Olen Ray

This article incorporates text from the Wikipedia article "Fred Olen Ray", available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License.Retrieved 2026-03-03.

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  11. ↑ 2007 Audio Interview at Your Video Store Shelf Template:Webarchive
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