Who Plays Kurt Barlow In Salem’s Lot

Max’s 2024 adaptation of Salem’s Lot includes a terrifying slew of new vampires for the titular town to contend with, including the creatures’ horrifying leader, Kurt Barlow. The new Stephen King movie adaptation is based on his 1975 vampire novel of the same name, which introduced a terrifying villain who would later appear in some of the author’s other stories. The 2024 Salem’s Lot movie is now the third time that an actor has taken on the role of Kurt Barlow on-screen, with the previous two iterations appearing in the 1979 and 2004 miniseries adaptations.

Similar to horror movies like Jaws, Beetlejuice, or even Halloween, Salem’s Lot follows the tactic of reserving its main villain for opportune moments in the film’s more adrenaline-pumping story. Kurt Barlow has very little screen time in the latest adaptation, with the Max Original movie instead making the most of the terrifying moments when he does appear with the characters of Salem’s Lot (2024). Savoring the villain’s screen time works favorably in the movie to rouse audience anticipation for the horrifying leader’s arrival, with this success, in large part, being due to Kurt Barlow’s makeup and prosthetics-covered actor.

Alexander Ward Plays Kurt Barlow In Salem’s Lot 2024

Alexander Ward Has Played Vampires Prior To Salem’s Lot

The villainous Kurt Barlow is played by Alexander Ward in Salem’s Lot (2024). The character doesn’t get a proper introduction until his human familiar, Richard Straker, finds an innocent sacrifice to “welcome” him to Jerusalem’s Lot and begin his vampiric takeover. Unlike those who die and are turned throughout the course of the movie, the ancient vampire is far more powerful, sleeps in a coffin in the Marsten House basement, and has a more deadly, less human appearance with his teeth, eyes, and general physical transformation.

Alexander Ward is now the third actor to play Kurt Barlow in an adaptation of Salem’s Lot, following Reggie Nadler in the 1979 miniseries and Rutger Hauer in the 2004 miniseries. Before the release of his role as the main vampire in Salem’s Lot, Ward previously appeared in SpongeBob SquarePants as the live-action vampire Nosferatu, Candela Obscura as Edgar Lycoris, Vampire: The Masquerade – LA by Night as Jasper, Westworld as the Lead Drone and Harriet, and American Horror Story season 5 as the “Addiction Demon.” Clearly, Salem’s Lot isn’t Ward’s first foray into horror and vampire character acting.

How Salem’s Lot 2024’s Kurt Barlow Compares To Past Stephen King Adaptations

The 2024 Version Is More Similar To The 1979 Miniseries’ Vampire

The new Kurt Barlow has a very similar design to the vampire seen in Salem’s Lot (1979). However, Alexander Ward’s Kurt Barlow is spruced up with the advances of modern filmmaking technology, making his creepy eyes, vampiric snarl, and close-up appearance during attacks all the more terrifying. The 2024 Salem’s Lot version of Barlow maintains the pale complexion, bald head, razor-sharp teeth, glowing eyes, and general Nosferatu-inspired look of the 1979 vampire. Meanwhile, the 2004 miniseries’ Kurt Barlow had a more natural human appearance, though still with glowing eyes and sharp teeth.