Wesley Earl "Wes" Craven (born August 2, 1939) is an American film director, writer, producer, and actor, perhaps best known for his work on many thriller/horror films, particularly slasher films. He is the creator of the famed A Nightmare on Elm Street, Wes Craven's New Nightmare, and also co-wrote A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors with Bruce Wagner, featuring the iconic Freddy Krueger character. Craven has also directed the entire Scream series, featuring Ghostface.