Scout Taylor-Compton

Early life

Taylor-Compton was born Desariee Starr Compton, on February 21, 1989, in Long Beach, California. Her mother is Mexican. Her father is a mortician.

Career

1998–2006: Early roles

In 1998, Taylor-Compton began her acting career with an appearance in the film A.W.O.L. with David Morse, and later in the short film Thursday Afternoon. She went on to have small roles in both television and film including Ally McBeal, ER, Frasier, The Guardian and The Division. She appeared in several student films, commercials for Fuji Film and the Disney Cruise Line, and various skits on The Jay Leno Show. In November 2000, Taylor-Compton made her stage debut as the title character in a production of Annie Warbucks at The Grove Theatre in Upland, California, and a stage production of Footloose at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center.

In 2001, she had a recurring role as Clara Forrester, the younger sister of Dean Forrester (Jared Padalecki) in the television series Gilmore Girls, appearing in a total of four episodes until 2004. Taylor-Compton was nominated for "Best Performance in a TV Series – Recurring Young Actress" for her portrayal of Clara. She made a comedic appearance in the film Four Fingers of the Dragon (2003) playing herself auditioning for a role in a fictional Kung Fu film. In 2004, she appeared in the teen comedy, Sleepover, her first large Hollywood film role. The cast of the film was nominated for "Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Ensemble Cast" at the Young Artists Award.

In 2005, she was briefly considered a missing person when her family had been unable to contact her for approximately two weeks. She was discovered to be alive and healthy on August 25, 2005, and had reportedly been in the company of an acquaintance during her absence.

Following Sleepover, she appeared in numerous television series including Hidden Howie, Unfabulous (2 episodes), Cold Case, That's So Raven, *Charmed *(appearing in 8 episodes between 2000 and 2006 as various Fairies), and Without a Trace (in which she portrayed a runaway teenager).

2007–2010: ''Halloween'' and breakthrough

In 2007, Taylor-Compton joined the cast of ABC's Friday Night Live. The same year, she starred in the drama Tomorrow is Today and the horror film Wicked Little Things. Tomorrow is Today features Taylor-Compton as Julie Peterson, a girl who saves the life of and befriends a hapless drifter. The film won over six awards at various festivals which included the California Independent Film Festival, the Garden State Film Festival, Method Fest Independent Film Festival, and the Rhode Island International Film Festival. She won "Best Actress" for her performance in the film at the Method Fest Independent Film Festival. Wicked Little Things was one of the films featured in After Dark's 8 Films to Die For and saw Taylor-Compton star as Sarah Tunny. Following these films, she appeared in Standoff and Close to Home.

In 2007, Taylor-Compton appeared in the film An American Crime which told the true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski, who had kept a teenage girl locked in the basement of her Indianapolis home in 1965. Taylor-Compton then returned to the horror genre as Laurie Strode in Rob Zombie's remake of the classic Halloween. She endured a long audition process, but as director Zombie explains, "Scout was my first choice. There was just something about her; she had a genuine quality. She didn't seem actor-y."

She starred in the television movie Love's Unfolding Dream, which premiered on November 24, 2007, and in the horror film April Fool's Day, a remake of the 1986 film, filmed in North Carolina, that had a DVD release of March 25, 2008. Taylor-Compton explained at the time on the starring in the role of Torrance: "I'll just be playing another wholesome 'good girl' that screams a lot." She also made another horror film, the 2009 film Life Blood, in which she had a cameo as Carrie Lain.

However, in an interview conducted in July 2007, Taylor-Compton did report that after completing April Fool's Day she wanted to stay away from roles in the horror genre for her next film projects. Although she has received many horror film scripts, she believes that she "need[s] to move on from horror. Just drift away a little bit and do something else so I don't get stuck in that" and although she "love[s] doing horror films" and are her "favorite", she'd "like to do other stuff in between." She has recently been influenced by the career of Scarlett Johansson, wanting to choose scripts and roles based on personal interest as she views Johansson does. Taylor-Compton went on to explain, "That's what I kind of want to do. I love just being passionate about something rather than just caring about the money or who's in the movie." In 2009, Taylor-Compton starred alongside Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci in Love Ranch. Then she appeared in the film Obsessed alongside Beyoncé Knowles. Taylor-Compton reprised her role as Laurie Strode in Halloween II (2009), a sequel to Rob Zombie's 2007 film.

In 2010, she appeared in The Runaways, where she played Lita Ford, alongside Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning and Stella Maeve.

2011–present: Subsequent roles

Taylor-Compton appeared in Takashi Shimizu's supernatural horror film Flight 7500 (2014), followed by a supporting role in the psychological thriller Return to Sender (2015) starring Rosamund Pike, Shiloh Fernandez, and Nick Nolte. Next, she co-starred opposite Jonathan Silverman and Jennifer Finnigan in the science fiction romantic comedy Andover (2017), portraying a graduate student working under a genetics professor who clones his deceased wife.

In 2021, Taylor-Compton starred in the thriller film An Intrusion, followed by the Western Apache Junction, for which she and co-star Stuart Townsend. Joe Leydon of Variety praised her and Townsend's performances, noting the two "are well-cast as archetypical Western characters while Trace Adkins again demonstrates commanding on-screen presence."

Taylor-Compton subsequently starred in the horror film The Long Night (2022) opposite Nolan Gerard Funk, Jeff Fahey, and Deborah Kara Unger. The same year, she appeared in the science fiction film Chariot, co-starring John Malkovich, Shane West, and Thomas Mann. The same year, she appeared in the independent horror film Allegoria.

On April 2, 2024, it was announced by Deadline Hollywood that Taylor-Compton's directorial debut Bring the Law had wrapped production, with its script written by Josh Ridgway from a story treatment by Daniel Figueirido. The film is produced by Daemon Hillin and Carolina Brasil, and its cast includes Mickey Rourke, Peter Facinelli, Nicky Wheelan, Brendan Fehr, Leah Pipes, and Taylor-Compton's Halloween co-star Danielle Harris. Also in 2024, Taylor-Compton starred opposite Taryn Manning and Kane Hodder in the horror film They Turned Us Into Killers. In 2025, she starred opposite Richard Dreyfuss in the thriller Into the Deep, playing an oceanographer who becomes stranded in the ocean among sharks.

Other ventures

In 2001, Taylor-Compton provided voice overs for I Am Sam, and continued with voice over work with appearances in The Core (2003) and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). The following year, she provided voice over work for the teen hero comedy Sky High. She sang the theme song "Jet Set" for the film Chicken Night (2001). In 2002, Taylor-Compton appeared briefly in the Will Smith music video for "Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head)" for the Men in Black II soundtrack. She appeared in the music video for "Sweet Valentine" by the band Born the Sky in 2007.

In 2003, Taylor-Compton took vocal lessons with Diane Gillespie and Vocal Power Institute, along with guitar, drums and keyboard lessons, and joined a theatre group called "Shenanigans," where she performed and took weekly tap and jazz lessons. She attended the Hollywood Pop Academy for additional vocal training.

In 2007, Taylor-Compton released her debut rock/pop album, in which she sang and played drums. She has cited Cyndi Lauper, Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Kelly Osbourne and Green Day as her musical influences. She worked with ERA Productions and punk-pop singer Vitamin C. While on the set filming Halloween (2007), Taylor-Compton received "a few pointers" about a music career from director Rob Zombie, who had also fronted the band White Zombie. She has stated that singing is a side project and "is just a little talent that I have on the side, and if it does something then I'll do that, but I'm not gonna give up acting."

In 2011, she played in a music clip for a cover of Adele's song "Someone like You" by Tony Oller along with Lucas Till.

On October 31, 2021, Taylor-Compton and Danielle Harris launched a podcast called Talk Scary to Me, in which they discuss the horror industry alongside their personal lives. In 2023, the podcast was added to Bloody Disgusting's podcast network, Bloody FM.

In 2022, she appeared in metalcore band Ice Nine Kills' music video for their song "The Shower Scene", based on the 1960 film Psycho.

In 2023, she voiced Julie Crawford in the Texas Chain Saw Massacre video game, as well as performing motion capture for all female victims.

Personal life

As a teenager, Taylor-Compton dated Andy Biersack from Black Veil Brides, who composed the song "The Mortician's Daughter" about her. On May 5, 2024 she married actor Tom O'Connell, with whom she has been since 2020.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

References

References

1. "Scout Taylor-Compton biography". [[Tribute (magazine).
2. "Scout-Taylor Compton". [[TV Guide]].
3. Carmona, Josh. (September 23, 2007). "Apple Valley actress, 18, stars in 'Halloween'". Daily Press.
4. Teixeira, Bianca. (November 27, 2015). "Scout Taylor-Compton Isn't Afraid Of Anything". [[Sharp (magazine).
5. "Scout Taylor-Compton". superiorpics.com.
6. "Actress Scout Taylor-Compton Found After Two-Week Disappearance". mtv.com.
7. Kilday, Gregg. (2007-04-09). "'Irish' shines for Method Fest".
8. Turek, Ryan. (September 2007). "Scout's Horror".
9. "March DVD Releases". videoeta.com.
10. (June 19, 2007). "Scout Taylor-Compton". MasiMedia.
11. (May 18, 2015). "Return to Sender". [[Time Out (magazine).
12. Williams, Ryan. (January 31, 2023). "Exclusive: Andover Examines Love, Death and Resurrection (Video)". [[MovieMaker]].
13. Vlessing, Etan. (December 13, 2019). "Keir Gilchrist, Scout Taylor-Compton Board Home Invasion Thriller 'An Intrusion'". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
14. Leydon, Joe. (September 23, 2021). "'Apache Junction' Review: Another Satisfyingly Old-Fashioned Oater From 'Badland' Helmer Justin Lee".
15. Banks, Richard. (January 12, 2022). "The Long Night Trailer: A Couple Fights Back Against A Twisted Cult".
16. (January 29, 2021). "John Malkovich, Thomas Mann, Shane West Star in 'The Chariot' Sci-Fi Comedy".
17. Hamman, Cody. (August 1, 2025). "Allegoria Review". [[JoBlo.com]].
18. Wiseman, Andreas. (April 2, 2024). "Mickey Rourke & Peter Facinelli Among Cast For Action-Thriller 'Bring The Law'; Film Bridge Handling Sales".
19. Squires, John. (January 4, 2024). "'Into the Deep' – Richard Dreyfuss Returns to Shark Attack Cinema in Upcoming Movie".
20. "Biography and Facts". celebritykidz.com.
21. (November 21, 2007). "Born The Sky, Sweet Valentine".
22. "Success Stories". hollywoodpopacademy.com.
23. "An interview with Scout Taylor-Compton". losangelesjournal.com.
24. (2007). "New 'Halloween' Heroine Scout Taylor-Compton". [[Première (magazine).
25. Barker, Lynn. (August 28, 2007). "Scout Taylor-Compton Turns Scream Queen".
26. (December 15, 2011). ""Someone Like You" (by Adele) - cover by Tony Oller".
27. Artz, Matt. (2021-11-01). "Danielle Harris and Scout Taylor-Compton Launch 'Talk Scary To Me' Podcast".
28. "Afternoon Delights: Talk Scary To Me Podcast".
29. Squires, John. (2023-10-31). "'Talk Scary to Me' – Danielle Harris and Scout Taylor-Compton's Podcast Joins the Bloody FM Network!".
30. "O'CONNELLS 5.5.24".
31. (2007-07-27). "SDCC 07: Taylor-Compton Plans 'April Fool's Day' Joke". bloody-disgusting.com.
32. Mr. Disgusting. (March 3, 2009). "A New Young Michael Myers Arrives in Haddonfield". [[Bloody Disgusting]].
33. Drake, Monica. (19 December 2019). "Actors Keir Gilchrist and Scout Taylor-Compton come to Lake Orion to shoot latest film". [[The Oakland Press]].
34. Squires, John. (December 14, 2023). "'They Turned Us into Killers' Exclusive Trailer – Scout Taylor-Compton Gets Bloody Revenge This January".
35. Navarro, Meagan. (December 16, 2024). "'Into the Deep' Trailer Pits Scout Taylor-Compton Against Sharks and Pirates".
36. Reyna, Leo. (March 11, 2025). "Netflix Finally Reveals Full Trailer for Devil May Cry in Major Anime Update".
37. (December 12, 2021). "Dead by Daylight Will Lose the Leatherface License, Texas Chainsaw Massacre Game Will Have Several Actors and Evil Dead The Game Snowy Map and Single Player News!".