From Slasher Icon to Cat Dad: How Nick Castle Shares His Home with ‘Michael Meowers’
When you hear the name Nick Castle, you probably picture the silent, masked figure of Michael Myers stalking the halls in the original 1978 horror classic Halloween. But what you might not picture is Nick, the grinning, warm-hearted guy who adopted a sleek black cat and named him “Michael Meowers.” The transformation from horror icon to devoted pet parent is sweet, unexpected—and really quite heart-warming.
Nick launched his career in Hollywood wearing the mask of the Shape, earning his place in horror history. Yet off-screen he chose a life far from terror, embracing creativity, direction, writing and family. And somewhere along the way, Michael Meowers crept into the picture. In a 2019 tweet, Nick shared: “We just got a new cat from the pound. We got him to do some killin’! Mouse killin’. I’ve named him MICHAEL MEOWers.”
The image of a horror legend leaning down to pet a house-cat named in tribute to his most famous role is almost delightfully ironic. But for Nick, it’s genuine. The cat arrived from a shelter, tasked unofficially with the rodent control mission, and Nick documented how Michael Meowers quite literally hunted his first pests. It’s a playful wink to his past, yes—but also shows how unexpectedly tender life can be.
Living with a cat whose name evokes one of horror’s greatest figures might raise eyebrows, yet there’s no darkness here. Instead there’s connection. Nick has shared photos of Michael Meowers sprawled on the couch, pouncing on toys, play-wrestling with his sibling cat Pico, and in one comedic moment, showing what Nick called “Brazilian jujitsu grappling techniques” mid-wrestle. The juxtaposition is vivid: the man who became a force of nature onscreen, now enjoying quiet evenings at home, listening to his cat’s gentle purrs.
In interviews, Nick has sometimes spoken of his monster role as that of an “elemental force” rather than a person. And so it seems fitting that his feline companion—named Michael Meowers—would embody that same sense of stealth and presence, though in a much friendlier way. In fact, one article noted that Nick himself remarked on his cat’s hunting instincts, nodding at the parallel between Michael’s stalking in the film and the cat’s sleek, predatory movements—though, again, within the safety of home.
What strikes me most is how this little story speaks volumes about reinvention and the life beyond a role. For many, Nick Castle is Michael Myers—and always will be. But for Nick, and for those lucky enough to glimpse the man behind the mask, the story is richer. He’s a creative, a friend, a husband (yes, he married fellow filmmaker and producer Helen Chalmers), and apparently a cat dad who loves sharing goofy, joyful moments online. The adoption of Michael Meowers feels like a statement: you can be known for one thing, but still carve a world that surprises you.
Today, Michael Meowers has become something of a mini-celebrity himself among horror fans. There’s fan-art, there are photos, tweets of the cat wearing a collar, casually lounging in shadows, or cheekily attacking someone’s leg. Nick’s social-media shares hint at a subtle pride—not in the fearsome legacy of his film role but in the warm, fuzzy, everyday life of a beloved pet. The same hands that once held a prop knife now scratch behind the ears of a soft black cat named after a horror icon.
In this way, Nick Castle reminds us that life is full of layers. The mask, the scream, the silent stalker in the film—that was one chapter. The comfortable home, the purring cat named Michael Meowers, the laughter, the shared rodent-hunting jokes—that’s another, and I think it’s just as meaningful. Because fame fades, roles end, but the quiet moments at home—those last.
So if you ever scroll through your feed and come across a photo of a sleek black cat with the name “Michael Meowers” in the caption, you can smile. You’re seeing a little piece of horror-history nostalgia paired with a soft, everyday human story about love, pets, comfort—and finding joy where you might least expect it. And for Nick Castle, that seems just perfect.
