JACINTO MOLINA aka PAUL NASCHY
1934-2009 R.I.P.

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It is with true sadness that we must report to you, our readers, the passing of yet another great horror icon. Paul Naschy passed away this morning due to complications after a year long battle with Cancer. Naschy was a true friend on the silver screen and many of us grew up watching his films much like he did watching Chaney Jr. in FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN. A Universal release he saw as a child that inspired him to delve into horror movies. In fact, in several interviews he stated that when his mother asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, his answer was The Wolfman. In many ways, and lucky for us, his dream came true. After years of working as an artist for a record company designing covers and an active pursuit of weightlifting (for which he won many awards), he got his b

reak through his father who knew a few local filmmakers. Working his way up the corporate ladder, learning as he went, he finished his first screenplay, LAS NOCHES DEL HOMBRE LOBO (NIGHTS OF THE WEREWOLF). It met with much resistance from local producers, but finally was green lit and released in 1968 with himself playing the lead role (originally meant for Chaney himself who turned down the role). The movie became a success and Naschy was soon on his way to international stardom playing the famous werewolf Waldemar Daninsky in several outings along with other great monsters including vampires, mummies, hunchbacks, Jack The Ripper, Dr. Jekyll and even Satan himself. He will be sorely missed by all of us here at Cultcuts Magazine and I for one will sit down tonight, watch WEREWOLF SHADOW and truly miss my old friend Paul Naschy. - Mark Engle