Horror icons are often known for blood-curdling screams, sinister stares, and spine-chilling roles—but some of them have also stepped into much gentler territory. Whether lending their voices to animated characters or appearing in family-friendly comedies, these stars have proven they’re not just masters of mayhem.
The shift from R-rated terror to PG-rated charm can be surprising, especially when it’s an actor best known for haunting your nightmares. But versatility is part of what makes a great performer, and these horror veterans have embraced the challenge of showing their softer sides.
From cult slashers to psychological thrillers, their scary filmographies are packed with unforgettable roles. Yet somewhere along the way, they also managed to entertain kids, comfort parents, and maybe even make a few fans forget the horrors that made them famous.
Vincent Price
Vincent Price is the absolute master of villainy in the horror genre, and he should always be remembered as such. The owner of two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, he brought to life hits such as “House on Haunted Hill,” “House of Wax,” “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Masque of the Red Death,” and many more. Still, in a secondary role, his short but iconic performance in “Edward Scissorhands” is worthy of remembrance. Price also worked in the animated “The Thief and the Cobbler,” but this one is rated G.
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis will always be remembered as Laurie Strode in the “Halloween” franchise, but she’s also had a surprising presence in family-friendly films. Her most famous PG role came in Disney’s “Freaky Friday,” where she played a mother who magically swaps bodies with her daughter after eating enchanted fortune cookies. Curtis has also appeared in “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” “Haunted Mansion,” and “Christmas with the Kranks,” proving she can shine outside the horror genre.
Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell, the definitive final boy, became world-famous for leading the “Evil Dead” franchise, but he also ventured into the PG-13 world with several notable films. His most famous role in this category is in “Sky High,” and he has also lent his voice to animated pictures like “Cars 2” and “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.”
Neve Campbell
Is there a more famous female face in slasher horror than that of Neve Campbell? While the actress has given her all to the “Scream” franchise, she has also starred in films made for all audiences, such as “The Lion King 2”.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
It could even be argued that Sarah Michelle Gellar’s PG films are more popular than her forays into horror. While she is widely known for playing the role of Helen Shivers in “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” her work in “Scooby-Doo,” “Star Wars Rebels,” “Small Soldiers,” and the 2007 “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” is arguably just as recognized.
Toni Collette
If Toni Collette weren’t already a certified horror actress due to “The Sixth Sense” alone, her grueling performance in “Hereditary” would be enough to spark a debate over whether she is the absolute queen of the contemporary genre. Nevertheless, the star has also appeared in family films, such as “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” and “Blinky Bill the Movie”.
Sissy Spacek
Sissy Spacek’s performance in Brian De Palma’s “Carrie” is certainly one to remember. From the moment she appears on screen to the final scene in which she takes revenge for the mistreatment inflicted by her classmates, the actress captivates viewers as they watch in astonishment as the victim transforms into the avenger. However, outside of Stephen King’s story, Spacek has also appeared in family films such as “Four Christmases” and “Hot Rod.”
Tim Curry
Tim Curry is, among all the actors and actresses on this list, the one who has worked the most in the family-friendly genre of movies. Despite playing the terrifying Pennywise in “It” and becoming an iconic figure in musicals with “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” he has also appeared in “Home Alone 2,” “Annie,” “Oliver Twist,” and many animated titles like “FernGully: The Last Rainforest,” “The Wild Thornberrys,” and “The Cat Returns.”
Florence Pugh
Despite being widely known for portraying Dani in “Midsommar,” Florence Pugh is also diversifying her career into the PG range of films, especially in voice acting, such as in “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and Studio Ghibli’s latest masterpiece, “The Boy and the Heron.”
Boris Karloff
Probably the most iconic figure in horror to have ever existed, Boris Karloff cemented his place in Hollywood history by starring in many of the films that built the genre as we know it today. “Frankenstein,” “The Mummy,” “The Black Cat,” and “Terror” are just a few of them. Nevertheless, he also delivered a notable performance in one of the best-known children’s tales: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!,” the 1966 animated television special in which Karloff voiced both the narrator and the Grinch.
John Krasinski
The actor who reached A-list status thanks to “The Office” has a career filled with films that are friendly for all audiences. From one of his latest involvements in this area, “If,” to hits like “Monsters University,” “Monsters vs. Aliens,” and “Shrek the Third,” he has certainly become a PG master. However, since directing and starring in “A Quiet Place,” the industry has seen him as an actor capable of doing horror as well—and they’re not wrong, as that first movie sparked a popular franchise that is bound to keep growing.
Sigourney Weaver
Aside from being the most famous female face in sci-fi thanks to her contributions to the “Alien” franchise, Sigourney Weaver has long enjoyed working in PG films. For instance, some of her works in this field include “Finding Dory,” “WALL-E,” and “A Monster Calls.”
Jeff Goldblum
Turning from human to a repulsive fly in David Cronenberg’s 1986 hit, one might think it’s impossible to remember Jeff Goldblum outside of that morbid transformation. But that’s far from the case, as the actor has starred in plenty of films that allow audiences to sleep well at night: “The Boss Baby,” “Isle of Dogs,” and “Thor: Love and Thunder” are just a few of them.
Kathy Bates
Kathy Bates has one of the most diverse careers in Hollywood, having worked in nearly every genre. However, she is mostly known for bringing the eerie Annie Wilkes to life in “Misery.” The performance is certainly one to remember, but her work in family-friendly films doesn’t fall behind. “Annie,” “Midnight in Paris,” and “Charlotte’s Web” are just a few examples of her involvement in this area.
Christopher Lee
Is there any story or genre that Christopher Lee hasn’t tackled? That question is answered when considering the difficulty of naming just one of his works as the best known. While he is widely recognized for Terence Fisher’s “Dracula,” the A-lister has also starred in PG-13 films like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “The Last Unicorn,” and “Hugo,” among many others.
Matthew Lillard
It’s not hard to guess that Matthew Lillard loves the horror genre. As if his legendary performance as Stu Macher in the “Scream” franchise weren’t enough, he has now become the villain in the new “Five Nights at Freddy’s” movie franchise, which is poised to become the next big thing in contemporary genre universes. In between, he didn’t stray too far from the scares, as he became the very lovable Shaggy in all the “Scooby-Doo” projects since the 2002 movie.
Bill Skarsgård
It is an undeniable fact that Bill Skarsgård is the new official face of horror. His portrayal of Pennywise and Nosferatu has proven that he is willing to take on any character, no matter how iconic it is or how spectacular the actors were who portrayed them first. On the other hand, it seems that he is not opposed to participating in more family-friendly projects, as he did with “Eternals.”
Milla Jovovich
The forever main face of the “Resident Evil” big-screen iterations, Milla Jovovich was born to play Alice Abernathy. While she will always be remembered for this role, the actress has also branched out into PG films, as is the case with “Zoolander,” “The Fifth Element,” and “Bringing Up Bobby.”
Jenna Ortega
While Jenna Ortega is still very young, it’s clear from her most well-known roles that she is the next face of the genre. Dubbed “Gen Z’s scream queen,” she has made a mark in “Scream VI,” “Wednesday,” “X,” and “Beetlejuice.” Nevertheless, the actress started in some of the most family-friendly films, such as “Iron Man 3,” and voiced one of the main characters in the animated series “Elena of Avalor” from 2016 to 2020. She also starred in the Disney family comedy show “Stuck in the Middle.”
Mia Goth
Mia Goth, who has been gaining praise from both hardcore and casual horror fans for her performances in “X,” “Pearl,” and “MaXXXine,” has primarily worked in gripping thrillers and dramas throughout her career. However, there is one exception: “Emma,” where she plays one of the main roles in a dramedy led by Anya Taylor-Joy.