This is some sad news to hear, made all the sadder by the fact that we’re so close to Valentine’s Day. It has been reported that Paul Kelman, who played the character Tom “T.J.” Hanniger in the 1981 slasher classic My Bloody Valentine (watch it HERE) has passed away at the age of 72. Many fans, friends, and family members have been posting tributes to him and sharing memories of him on Facebook, making it clear that he was a great person.
Kelman didn’t rack up many credits during his acting career, but he managed to land a role in one of the coolest horror movies of the ’80s when he was cast in My Bloody Valentine. His other credits include the 1971 prison movie Caged Men, the 1981 comedy Gas, and the 1988 rock ‘n roll horror flick Black Roses.
Directed by George Mihalka from a screenplay by John Beaird (and a story by Stephen Miller), My Bloody Valentine had the following synopsis:
Twenty years ago, a tragic accident in a mine on St. Valentine’s Day took the lives of five miners. The disaster occurred while supervisors left their posts to attend the town’s annual Valentine’s Day dance. The only survivor, Harry Warden, was confined to a mental institution after the ordeal. On the disaster’s first anniversary, he returned to the town for bloody revenge. That was nineteen years ago, and memories have dimmed. Young lovers T.J. (Paul Kelman) and Sarah (Lori Hallier) and friend Axel (Neil Affleck) are among the townspeople attending another Valentine’s party. Then, a box of Valentine candy arrives, containing an ominous message and a blood-soaked heart. Before the night is over, terror will strike again and again and again…
That synopsis doesn’t mention it, but T.J., Sarah, and Axel happen to be in a love triangle, allowing Kelman to play some good scenes of relationship drama in between the film’s moments of gory murder. He gave a strong performance in My Bloody Valentine, making me wish he had done more movies over the years.
A lot of horror fans will be watching My Bloody Valentine to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a couple weeks, and there’s going to be a level of sadness to the viewings this year now that Kelman is no longer with us.