‘Evil Dead II’ Co-Writer & ‘Hostel’ EP Dies Aged 67

Halloween season comes with a bittersweet beginning this year, as the horror community has lost multi-talented genre veteran Scott Spiegel. Deadline reports that Spiegel, best known for co-writing Evil Dead II and executive producing the Hostel films, has passed away at the age of 67. A frequent collaborator of Evil Dead mastermind Sam Raimi, Spiegel even cameoed in Spider-Man 2 as the guy on the rooftop who tries to take a slice of pizza before Spider-Man yanks it away. Years later, he also lent his voice to one of the Souls of the Damned in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Spiegel’s death was announced by special effects makeup artist Robert Kurtzman on August 31, 2025. Kurtzman wrote on his Facebook page

R.I.P to our friend and fellow monster lover…Scotty Spiegel, one if the funnieat people I’ve known. We all met on the set of Evil Dead 2 which he wrote and became instant friends. He was the first filmmaker to give our newly formed fx company KNB fx it’s first credit on his film INTRUDER. Over the years we worked together on From Dusk Till Dawn 2 , Hostel 3, and others. Scotty wrote one if my favorite guilty pleasures, the Clint Eastwood film The Rookie. So many good times especially the model kit building, movie nights back in the days with all our filmaking friends at Greg Nicotero’s home in the hills. Will miss your smile and the laughs.

See you on the other side brother.

Bruce Campbell, who was the face of the Evil Dead franchise for decades and was also a childhood friend of Spiegel’s, shared the post on X and wrote his own tribute, saying:

“This is a big personal loss. Scott Spiegel was a huge part of my formative years back in Michigan. From Sunday School to being stock boys together, to Evil Dead II, which Scott co-wrote, I can’t look in the rear view mirror without seeing this unique guy doing cheap gags. I’m grateful for the treasure trove of happy memories. Keep Shemping, Scott!

Scott Spiegel’s Life and Career

Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams holding a chainsaw in The Evil Dead
New Line Cinema

Scott Spiegel was born on Dec. 24, 1961, in Birmingham, Michigan. During his high school years, he met Raimi and Campbell; in 1987, at the age of 26, Spiegel co-wrote Evil Dead II with Raimi. By the 1990s, Speigel had moved out to Los Angeles and shared a house with Raimi and future Hollywood legends like Joel and Ethan Coen, Frances McDormand, Holly Hunter, and Kathy Bates. Spiegel is also instrumental in the career of director Quentin Tarantino, as he introduced the young aspiring filmmaker to producer Lawrence Bender, who later helped get Reservoir Dogs made.

In 2004, Spiegel founded the production company Raw Nerve alongside Eli Roth and Boaz Yakin. Spiegel was an executive producer on Hostel and Hostel II before directing Hostel III in 2011; prior to that, he also directed the 1999 direct-to-video film From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money. Spiegel originally directed the 1992 comedy The Nutt House, but was fired three weeks into production after a dispute with the film’s producer, Brad Wyman. Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and Ivan Raimi, who co-wrote the script, had their names removed from the film and were credited under pseudonyms.

Spiegel might not be a household name, but he played a significant role in numerous incredible careers. He’ll be greatly missed, and his connection to beloved films like Evil Dead II, Spider-Man 2, and Hostel means his legacy will live on for years. R.I.P. Scott Spiegel.

Evil Dead II

Release Date

March 13, 1987

Runtime

84 minutes

Director

Sam Raimi

Writers

Scott Spiegel

Producers

Alex De Benedetti, Irvin Shapiro

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