Clive Barker

Clive Barker is a highly respected English author, film director, and artist, who is best known for his work in the fantasy and horror genres. Barker was born in Liverpool, England in 1952 and was educated at Dovedale Primary School, Quarry Bank High School, and Liverpool University. It was at Liverpool University that he developed an interest in philosophy and his picture now hangs in the entrance hallway to the Philosophy Department.

Barker's career as a writer took off in the mid-80s with his short horror stories, which gained him a lot of attention. He later moved on to fantasy and urban fantasy with novels such as Weaveworld. Barker is perhaps best known for his direction of the horror film Hellraiser, which was based on his novella The Hellbound Heart. The character Pinhead from Hellraiser has become iconic in the horror genre. In addition, Barker's short story The Forbidden was adapted into the Candyman film series.

In addition to his work in literature and film, Barker is also a distinguished video game designer and visual artist. He has received The Davidson/Valentini Award at the 15th GLAAD Media Awards for his contributions to promoting equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. Barker is openly gay and has been a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights throughout his career.

Barker's writing style is known for its graphic violence, sexual content, and exploration of taboo subjects. He has a keen interest in movie production and has written and directed several films, including Hellraiser, Nightbreed, and Lord of Illusions. He has also worked as an executive producer on the film Gods and Monsters.

Barker's visual art is another significant aspect of his career. He is a prolific painter and illustrator, often illustrating his own books. His paintings have been featured on the covers of his collections of plays, as well as on the covers of the second printing of the original UK publications of his Books of Blood series.

In recent years, Barker has faced some health challenges, including surgery to remove polyps from his throat and a coma caused by blood poisoning. However, he has remained active in his career and continues to be a major figure in the horror and fantasy genres. Barker currently lives in Beverly Hills, California.