Top 10 Nightmare on Elm Street Autographs
When it comes to horror franchises, few are more iconic than A Nightmare on Elm Street. Mixing gory scares with a dash of comedy and a classic villain in Freddy Krueger, Wes Craven’s creation helped establish “the rules” of modern horror, particularly slashers.
The films have appeared on cards over the years, but nothing recently since the advent of autographs as a key chase element. So for card collectors looking for signatures from the films’ stars, they have to look elsewhere. Here are some of the biggest names, both on Elm Street and in Hollywood who have been a part of the franchise in some way and have certified autograph cards.
10. Zack Ward, Freddy vs. Jason
Zack Ward’s face is one you don’t forget, especially if you’ve had A Christmas Story on repeat over the holidays for the past 20-plus years. Ward plays Scut Farkus, the bully.
He became a part of the Elm Street franchise with Freddy vs. Jason. That showdown has no cards but Ward’s signature is in both 2005 Inkworks Charmed Conversations and 2011 In the Game Canadiana.
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9. Kyle Chandler, Freddy’s Nightmares
If you don’t remember the Nightmare on Elm Street TV series, you’re probably not alone. It’s one of the lesser known corners of the franchise. In retrospect, the biggest name to appear on the show was Brad Pitt. But he doesn’t have a certified autograph card, so that’s the extent of his mention here.
He might not have the same level of star power, but Kyle Chandler has put together quite a career in the last few decades, perhaps most notably for playing Coach Taylor on Friday Night Lights.
Chandler’s lone autograph card can be found in 2005 Topps King Kong.
For Friday Night Lights fans, Chandler’s on-screen partner on the show was played by Connie Britton who was in the 2010 reboot. She has several autograph cards including some for roles on 24 and American Horror Story.
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8. Yaphet Kotto, Freddy’s Dead: Final Nightmare
Yaphet Kotto was no stranger to movie franchises. The actor had key roles in both Alien and James Bond’s Live and Let Die. Kotto’s entrance into the Nightmare-verse came in 1991’s Freddy’s Dead, the first last film for the slasher series.
As far as autograph cards go, Kotto signed for Rittenhouse’s 2006 James Bond Dangerous Liaisons and 2007 Complete James Bond. A decade later, his signature appeared on several cards in 2017 Upper Deck Alien.
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7. Kelly Rowland, Freddy vs. Jason
Some may debate whether Freddy vs. Jason is canon for the franchise, but that’s a discussion for another place. If it has Freddy, it’s fair game for these couple of pages. That said, if one can get a member of Destiny’s Child onto the list, it’s going to happen.
The singer, actress and reality competition host has several autographs in 2015 Panini Americana.
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6. Lisa Wilcox, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
Lisa Wilcox starred as Alice, one of the leads in both A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master and the follow-up A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child. That puts her in rare company for getting major spots in multiple films in the franchise’s original run.
A season three appearance on Star Trek: The Next Generation has yielded three Rittenhouse autograph cards from the actress thus far: 2010 Women of Star Trek, 2015 Star Trek: TNG Portfolio Prints and 2017 Star Trek 50th Anniversary.
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5. Katie Cassidy, A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
Although she’s one of the leads in the 2010 reboot, Katie Cassidy is likely best known to most collectors for playing Laurel Lance on TV’s Arrow. She has several signed cards from Cryptozoic’s run with the show as well as one for The Flash Season 2.
Cassidy’s first autograph card from 2014 Cryptozoic Supernatural Seasons 1-3 is her most notable though, but not necessarily for a good reason. The one included in packs was actually “signed” with a rubber stamp. Cryptozoic was able to get authentic autographs out to collectors, though.
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4. John Saxon, A Nightmare on Elm Street
John Saxon’s acting career spanned seven decades, resulting in several notable turns. In the span, he racked up a resumé of nearly 200 roles in both TV and movies. Enter the Dragon, Black Christmas and Gunsmoke are just a few.
For horror fans, Saxon is likely best recognized for playing Lt. Thompson, Nancy’s dad, in the original Nightmare on Elm Street as well as returning for the third, The Dream Warriors.
Saxon’s autograph cards include Rittenhouse’s 2004 Six Million Dollar Man Seasons 1 and 2 and 2013 Complete Bionic Collection. His signature also appears in both the 2008 and 2011 Donruss Americana releases.
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3. Jackie Earle Haley, A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
So he’s no Robert Englund and that’s okay. Jackie Earle Haley was in a tough spot taking the mantle of Freddy Kreuger in the 2010 reboot. It was going to be near impossible to match his predecessor.
But Haley has some other memorable roles as well. There’s Rorschach in 2009’s Watchmen adaptation, his Oscar-nominated work in Little Children and, of course, Kelly Leak, the chain-smoking, motorcycle-riding member of The Bad News Bears.
It’s that iconic role that landed him an autograph card in 2013 Panini Golden Age.
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2. Johnny Depp – Glen Lantz, A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street might not be Johnny Depp’s most memorable role, but the original film was an important part on his road to Hollywood superstar. Playing Glen, the boyfriend of the film’s “final girl,” Nancy, it was his first of many big screen appearances.
Fast forward a couple of decades later, in the midst of his run as, arguably, the biggest name in the industry, Depp’s signature finally found its way onto a trading card courtesy of 2005 Artbox Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Depp made his way back to the Elm Street franchise with a brief spot in 1991’s Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare.
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1. Robert Englund – Freddy Krueger
Wes Craven might be the mastermind behind A Nightmare on Elm Street, but Robert Englund is the heart and sole of the franchise. Starring as Freddy Krueger at every turn except the 2010 reboot, he made us cringe, cower and laugh, not to mention push our bodies to the limit staying up late and avoiding sleep. Simply put, Englund is a horror icon.
Although Englund made himself a household name by donning the striped sweater and deadly glove, he’s had a prolific career with roles in dozens on movies and TV shows over the decades. His lone autograph card, found in 2003 Inkworks Charmed Power of Three, came as a result of a single-episode guest spot on the show.
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