Crispin Hellion Glover: Actor, Auteur, and Iconoclast

Crispin Hellion Glover is a distinctive American artist, renowned for a career spanning film, filmmaking, writing, and publishing. Known for his portrayals of the wonderfully eccentric and unconventional, Glover has cultivated a deeply individualistic and influential body of work across various mediums.

Spotlight on the Screen

As an actor, Glover has created an indelible roster of characters, blending intense physicality with a unique and often unsettling screen presence. His filmography includes breakout performances such as:

  • George McFly in the blockbuster classic Back to the Future (1985)

  • The troubled Layne in the cult-favorite drama River's Edge (1986)

  • The Thin Man, the silent, unnerving villain in the Charlie's Angels films (2000, 2003)

  • The title character in the unsettling remake of Willard (2003)

  • The Knave of Hearts in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland (2010)

  • Mr. World in the Starz television series American Gods (2017–2021)

He has also made memorable appearances in films like David Lynch's Wild at Heart, Oliver Stone's The Doors (as Andy Warhol), and Jim Jarmusch's Dead Man.

A Visionary Behind the Camera

Beyond acting, Glover is a committed independent filmmaker. Using the funds earned from his mainstream acting roles, he has self-financed and directed the highly experimental and often surreal "It" Trilogy:

  • What Is It? (2005)

  • It Is Fine! Everything Is Fine. (2007)

  • No! YOU'RE WRONG. or: Spooky Action at a Distance (2025)

These films defy traditional distribution. Instead, Glover tours with them, presenting a distinctive "Crispin Hellion Glover's Big Slide Show" before each screening, followed by an in-depth Q&A with the audience.

Author and Publisher

Through his company, Volcanic Eruptions, Glover publishes his books, which are works of found art—old 19th-century texts meticulously reworked with his own drawings, collages, and altered phrases to create new, surreal narratives. Titles include Rat Catching and Oak Mot.

Crispin Glover remains an enigmatic, multi-talented force in art and cinema, consistently challenging corporate convention and prioritizing his personal artistic vision.