Doug Bradley: The Icon Behind Pinhead, Hellraiser & The Cenobites | Horror Legend Revealed

In this interview with Doug Bradley at Astronomicon 2025, the iconic actor behind Pinhead from the Hellraiser franchise discusses various aspects of the series, his portrayal of the character, and his thoughts on the future of Pinhead.

The conversation begins with a light-hearted moment, where Doug Bradley learns he won a March Madness-style contest for horror characters, beating Dr. Pretorius from From Beyond in the final. The discussion shifts to the deeper themes of the Hellraiser franchise, where Bradley explains that Pinhead's character, originally Captain Elliot Spencer, is more than just a figure of desire and punishment; he is deeply tied to the horrors of war, particularly World War I. Bradley shares his perspective that Spencer's fascination with the Lament Configuration and becoming Pinhead was not just about curiosity but an escape from the hellish realities of war.

The interview delves into the complexities of Pinhead’s character, with Bradley revealing that, unlike typical horror villains, Pinhead’s motivations are far more intricate and psychological. He describes Pinhead as a character who is mournful, yearning to understand human desires and emotions on a deeper level. Bradley also touches on his views of the Hellraiser franchise's evolution, including his opinion on recent portrayals of Pinhead, particularly the 2022 Hulu remake. While he appreciates the new take on the character's design, he expresses some disappointment in the execution.

Finally, Bradley leaves the door open for a possible return to the role, although he remains realistic about the challenges and the physical demands of the character's prosthetics and makeup.

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Podcast art by Jayson Cessna - https://jaysoncessna.crevado.com
Episode design/video by Jason Mitchell
Intro/Outro music by Dusty Lane, created in LMMS.
Executive producer - Stepha Poulin
Audio Engineering by Mike Jones -   / bikerackrecords  
Movie sound clips provided by https://movie-sounds.org/horror-movie...

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