RIP John Lafia: CHILD’S PLAY Co-Scribe & Sequel Director Has Passed Away at 63

Featured Image: John Lafia (L) and Don Mancini (R)

This afternoon brings news that original Child’s Play co-writer and Child’s Play 2 director John Lafia has passed away at the age of 63. Variety reports the cause of death as suicide.

His other directing credits include the TV series Freddy’s Nightmares, TV movie The Rats and the live-action video game Corpse Killer. Lafia’s last project was the TV movie Firestorm: Last Stand at Yellowstone in 2006, starring Scott Foley and Richard Burgi.

If you or someone you know might be at risk of suicide, please call 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  It provides free and confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week for people in suicidal crisis or distress.

Child’s Play creator Don Mancini shared some kind words on Facebook:

Devastated by this news. John was a crucial part of the Chucky family from the very beginning. He co-wrote the original CHILD’S PLAY script along with director Tom Holland and myself, and John directed CHILD’S PLAY 2 — the consensus favorite film among Chucky fans. John was an incredibly generous artist. He let me tag along with him to every meeting, and shadow him on set; he taught me more about filmmaking during the production of that movie than several semesters in film school. John was also one of the most naturally curious and constantly creative people I ever met, someone who was always taking pictures, and jotting down ideas. Much love to Beverly, and to John’s children Kane and Tess, of whom he was so proud.

All of us here at Dread Central send our sincerest condolences to Lafia’s fans, friends, and family.

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