Feud Exclusive: John Waters Portrays William Castle; Daughter Terry Castle Reacts; Never-Before-Seen Images of Joan Crawford

Steve Barton |

Apr 12, 2017

This past Sunday on FX’s show “Feud,” which tells the tale of the legendary rivalry between Hollywood royalty Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, we saw one acclaimed filmmaker portraying another!

That’s right… John Waters played none other than the great William Castle during a memorable scene in which Joan Crawford (Jessica Lange) came running into a premiere of Castle’s 1964 film Strait-Jacket, swinging an ax to the audience’s delight!

We recently reached out to Castle’s daughter, Terry, to get her take on Waters’ portrayal.

John Waters Feud

She tells us, “I was thrilled, delighted, tickled pink to see John Waters play Dad in Ryan Murphy’s ‘Feud.’ So much so that I have even called John ‘Dad.’ He is a bit thinner, but here’s to conceptual casting! Here’s a photo of me and Joan Crawford. I’m the one with the terrified expression sitting on Joan’s lap.”

Castle continues, “I was supposed to be in Strait-Jacket. I was to play a young Diane Baker and witness my mother whack off my father’s and his lover’s head. I practiced for a month. Day came, went to the set, took one look at Joan, and freaked. Dad had to get another, much braver actress. I left the set in tears!”

“The set was also freezing cold,” Castle reveals. “Colder than most sets. Dad told me that Joan required the subzero conditions–it kept her face taut.”

Left to Right: Joan Crawford, Terry Castle, Georgie Castle

In Strait-Jacket, after a twenty-year stay at an asylum for a double murder, a mother (Crawford) returns to her estranged daughter, where suspicions arise about her behavior.

Check out some never-before-seen images of Joan and the Strait-Jacket gang courtesy of Castle’s private collection, including imagery of the original promotional ax items given out to the audience in the scene in “Feud.”

“Feud” airs Sunday nights on FX. Check your local listings.