Multi-hiphenate Joseph R. Masefield, who co-wrote the 1979 film “Don’t Go in the House” and directed the sound editor who directed Sam Raimi’s “The Evil Dead,” passed away on September 24th in Brooklyn, New York. He was 92 years old.
Born in 1933, Masefield was the director of the sound editor for The Evil Dead in 1981, Alone in the Dark in 1982, and Savage Dawn in 1985.
He also worked as a production manager for the early IMAX documentaries, “To Fly” and “Living Planet,” in 1976 and 1979, respectively. His scripted debut, “Don’t Go in the House,” was a horror film he wrote alongside Ellen Hamill and director Joseph Ellison. The film stars Dan Grimaldi and Robert Oss.
And Ruth Dardick. He continued in the “Central High Massacre” and “Don’t go home.”
In 1971, Masefield joined Costello Productions, where he directed and produced numerous educational and industrial films. In front of the camera, he appeared as an actor in 1963’s “Sin You Sinners” and 2010’s “White Irish Drinker.” Director of the latter, John Gray remembers Masefield as “a man of the power of nature, the Renaissance, and he not only loved film, but also loved the film business with fierce passion.”
At the end of his life, Mesfield had compiled a collection of his poems.
He is killed by his grandson Gabriel and his wife Sheila. He is survived by his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The funeral will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn.
