Horror fans are mourning the loss of Josh Becker, a Detroit-born filmmaker and one of the early creative forces behind The Evil Dead. Becker passed away at the age of 67, leaving behind a legacy deeply woven into the DNA of indie horror.

Becker’s journey began in junior high, shooting scrappy Super 8 films with childhood friends Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell. That early partnership followed them into the woods of Tennessee, where Becker worked on lighting, sound, and various behind-the-scenes duties for the original Evil Dead. He kept a meticulous production journal during filming—now preserved on Evil Dead Archives for fans to read in full.

He returned as a “fake shemp” in Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness, and even popped up for an uncredited cameo in Raimi’s Darkman, further cementing his place in the Raimi/Campbell creative universe.

Beyond the Deadite mayhem, Becker was an accomplished writer and director. He frequently reunited with other Evil Dead alumni on projects like Xena: Warrior Princess, Running Time, Alien Apocalypse, Thou Shalt Not Kill… Except, Lunatics: A Love Story, Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur, and Jack of All Trades.

Becker was also an author, penning several books—including The Complete Guide to Low-Budget Feature Filmmaking, which features an introduction by longtime friend and collaborator Bruce Campbell.

“As a writer, Josh enjoys making movies with stories, themes, irony, and conflict. As a filmmaker, he favors a well-planned, fiscally responsible approach to telling stories,” Campbell wrote. “As a person, he’s encyclopedic, bright, and brutally honest. What’s not to love?”

A true indie horror original, Becker’s influence continues to echo through every filmmaker who ever grabbed a camera and dared to make something wild.