Damien Leone
Damien Leone is an American filmmaker, film editor, and special effects artist. He is best known for writing and directing All Hallows' Eve, Terrifier, Terrifier 2, and Terrifier 3, each of which feature his character Art the Clown.
Career
In 2016, Terrifier was released. Among other credits, Leone wrote and directed the film, which eventually became a cult film and for which he was nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Makeup FX. In 2022, Leone returned for the sequel, Terrifier 2. Terrifier 2 was received favorably by critics and was a hit at the box office, grossing more than $15 million on a $250,000 budget. Leone was again nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award Best Makeup FX, for his work on Terrifier 2, which he later won.Leone next directed and wrote Terrifier 3 and co-produced Stream, both 2024 films for which he also provided special effects.Terrifier 4, which Leone has said could possibly be the conclusion of the franchise, is currently in the works.
Personal life
Leone grew up in the Great Kills section of Staten Island, New York.In October 2025, nearly ten years after the film's release, actress Catherine Corcoran, who appeared in the first Terrifier film, filed a federal lawsuit against Leone and producer Phil Falcone claiming both producers shortchanged her on promised residuals for the film and used her on-screen nudity without her consent. A lawyer for Leone and Falcone said, “Damien and Phil deny the claims in the complaint and will vigorously defend this lawsuit.”