David Howard Thornton

Actor, Executive

Birthdate: Nov 30, 1979

Birthplace: Huntsville, Alabama, USA

David Howard Thornton is an actor for the big screen, theater, and voiceover in YouTube and video formats. He has made his biggest impact playing the bloodthirsty killer Art the Clown in the Terrifier series of slasher-horror movies. Thornton’s first movie credit was as a voice actor in the English dub of Japanese director Keiichi Hara’s anime version of the historical manga, Miss Hokusai (2015), released in North America by GKIDS.

Thornton made his debut on-screen film performance as Art the Clown in filmmaker Damien Leone’s slasher cult hit, Terrifier (2016), which Thornton followed up with Leone’s hit sequel Terrifier 2 (2022) and Terrifier 3 (2024), co-starring Lauren LaVera and Samantha Scaffidi, and released by Cineverse after premiering at Fantastic Fest. Thornton joined the ensemble (shot on separate screens during the COVID-19 pandemic) of director/co-writer Marcus Slabine’s horror movie, The Dark Offerings (2021), and then starred in the title role of director/co-writer/producer Steven LaMorte’s The Mean One (2022), an unauthorized slasher version of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, released to poor business and reviews by Atlas Film Distribution.

David Howard Thornton appeared in director/co-writer/producer Michael Leavy’s slasher-horror movie, Stream (2024), made by the team behind the Terrifier franchise, with co-stars Jeffrey Combs, Tim Reid, Dee Wallace, Tony Todd, and Tim Curry. Thornton starred in director/co-writer/producer Steven LaMorte’s Screamboat (2025), the horror version of Walt Disney’s Steamboat Willie character (the precursor for Mickey Mouse, and officially in the public domain on January 1, 2024) and released by Iconic Events Releasing and DeskPop Entertainment.

Thornton co-starred in director/writer Frank Merle’s fantasy-thriller, Namaka (date to be announced), with Jamie Kennedy, Ash Tsai, and Jason Markoff, followed by Thornton starring in director/writer Michael Pickle’s high school horror movie, The Dead Place (date to be announced). Then Thornton led the cast of director/writer Mitchell Slan’s horror movie about a streamer and a masked killer, Rough Cut (date to be announced), with Kimberly J. Brown and Kayla Cromer.

Personal life

David Howard Thornton was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama by his parents. Thornton’s height is 6’ 2”.

Known For

David Howard Thornton Movies

actor

Collapse

Previous (8)

  • 2025 |
    The Evolution of Horror Cinema Worldwideas Horror Film Expert
  • 2025 |

    Screamboat

    asScreamboat Willie
  • 2024 |

    Terrifier 3

    asArt The Clown
  • 2024 |

    Stream

    asPlayer 2
  • 2023 |
    The Horror We Make
  • 2023 |

    Terrifier

    asArt the Clown
  • 2022 |

    The Mean One

    asThe Mean One
  • 2022 |

    Terrifier 2

    asArt the Clown

Facts About David Howard Thornton

Multimedia: David Howard Thornton has acted in several media, including as a voice actor on web series and video games, as well as reviving his screen killer clown character Art the Clown on Ice Nine Kills’ video, “A Work of Art.”

Frequently Asked Questions

When was David Howard Thornton born?

How tall is David Howard Thornton?

Who is David Howard Thornton’s wife?

What movies and TV shows has David Howard Thornton appeared in?

David Howard Thornton: Biography, Movies, Net Worth & Photos