# Scout Taylor-Compton

Scout Taylor-Compton (born Desariee Starr Compton; February 21, 1989) is an American actress. She has frequently worked in the horror genre, most notably as Laurie Strode in the 2007 remake of Halloween and its 2009 sequel. Outside of horror, she portrayed musician Lita Ford in the biographical drama film The Runaways (2010).

## 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. Taylor-Compton says she "grew up in that whole horror genre and visiting my dad at the mortuary. I have no problem with that stuff. Whether it was a coffin or my dad bringing his work home."

## Career

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).
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.
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.

### Other work

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.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1998 | Thursday Afternoon | Anna | Short film |
| 1998 | 6/29 | Girl #2 | Short film |
| 2001 | Chicken Night | Penny | Short film |
| 2001 | A Window That Opens | Katherine Jane | Short film |
| 2003 | 7 Songs | Molly | |
| 2003 | Four Fingers of the Dragon | Herself | Short film |
| 2003 | Afterschool Delight | Scout | Short film |
| 2004 | 13 Going on 30 | Tiffany | |
| 2004 | Sleepover | Farrah James | |
| 2006 | The Honeyfields | Mary Beth | Short film |
| 2006 | Tomorrow Is Today | Julie Peterson | |
| 2006 | Wicked Little Things | Sarah Tunny | |
| 2006 | A.W.O.L | PTA Kid | Short film; uncredited |
| 2007 | An American Crime | Stephanie Baniszewski | |
| 2007 | Halloween | Laurie Strode | |
| 2008 | April Fool's Day | Torrance Caldwell | Direct-to-video |
| 2009 | Obsessed | Samantha | |
| 2009 | Smile Pretty | Nasty | |
| 2009 | Halloween II | Laurie Strode | |
| 2009 | Love at First Hiccup | Anya Benton | |
| 2009 | Life Blood | Carrie Lane | Direct-to-video |
| 2010 | The Runaways | Lita Ford | |
| 2010 | Love Ranch | Christina | |
| 2010 | Triple Dog | Liza Narn | |
| 2011 | 247°F | Jenna | |
| 2012 | The Silent Thief | Elise Henderson | |
| 2013 | Wet and Reckless | Sonya 'Turbo' | |
| 2014 | Flight 7500 | Jacinta Bloch | |
| 2015 | Tag | Rae | |
| 2015 | Return to Sender | Crystal | |
| 2016 | Cured | The Possessed | Short film |
| 2017 | Get the Girl | Jade | |
| 2017 | After Party | Julia | |
| 2017 | Dirty Lies | Stacey | |
| 2017 | Ghost House | Julie | |
| 2017 | Andover | Emma Grady | |
| 2017 | Feral | Alice | |
| 2017 | Diverted Eden | Detective Fini | |
| 2018 | Cynthia | Robin | |
| 2018 | Randy's Canvas | Cassie | |
| 2018 | Edge of Insanity | Rylee Summers | |
| 2019 | The Lumber Baron | Mary Catherine Rimsdale | |
| 2019 | The Lurker | Taylor Wilson | |
| 2019 | Eternal Code | Charlie | |
| 2020 | Star Light | Bebe | |
| 2020 | Getaway | Maddy | |
| 2020 | Penance Lane | Sherry | |
| 2020 | Stay Home | Scout | Short film |
| 2021 | Grey Café | Jean Grey | Short film |
| 2021 | Blood Positive | Billie | Short film |
| 2021 | Room 9 | Star Bedford | |
| 2021 | Apache Junction | Annabelle Angel | |
| 2021 | An Intrusion | Detective Savannah Simpson | |
| 2021 | A Stalker in the House | Alexa | |
| 2022 | The Long Night | Grace |
| 2022 | Chariot | Lauren Reitz / Oliver | |
| 2022 | Allegoria | Ivy | |
| 2023 | The Best Man | Hailey | |
| 2023 | Bury the Bride | June | |
| 2023 | Captive | Ashley | |
| 2023 | A Creature was Stirring | Liz | |
| 2024 | Model House | Annie | |
| 2024 | They Turned Us Into Killers | Star Bedford | |
| TBA | Bring the Law | — | Director; post-production |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | Ally McBeal | Young Georgia | Episode: "Over the Rainbow" |
| 2000 | Charmed | Thistle | Episode: "Once Upon a Time" |
| 2001 | ER | Liz Woodman | Episode: "A Walk in the Woods" |
| 2001–2004 | Gilmore Girls | Clara Forester | 4 episodes |
| 2003 | Frasier | Gym Girl | Episode: "Trophy Girlfriend" |
| 2003 | Audrey's Rain | Young Marguerite | Television film |
| 2003 | The Lyon's Den | Girl Fenderson | Episode: "Things She Said" |
| 2003–2006 | Charmed | Fairy | Recurring role; 7 episodes |
| 2003–2004 | The Guardian | Tiffany Skovich / Sharon Diamond | Episodes: "The Line" and "The Bachelor Party" |
| 2004 | The Division | Katrina "Trina" Merril | Episode: "The Kids Are Alright" |
| 2004 | Class Actions | Lydia Harrison | Television film |
| 2004–2005 | Unfabulous | Molly | Episodes: "The Pink Guitar" and "The Partner" |
| 2005 | Hidden Howie: The Private Life of a Public Nuisance | Madison | Unknown Episodes |
| 2005 | Cold Case | Leah (1993) | Episode: "Wishing" |
| 2005 | That's So Raven | Lauren Parker | Episode: "Goin' Hollywood" |
| 2006 | Without a Trace | Emily Grant | Episode: "White Balance" |
| 2006 | Standoff | Tina Bolt | Episode: "Peer Group" |
| 2007 | Close to Home | Grace Hendricks | Episode: "Fall from Grace" |
| 2007 | Bones | Celia Nash | Episode: "Soccer Mom in the Mini-Van" |
| 2007 | Love's Unfolding Dream | Belinda Tyler | Television film |
| 2008 | The Governor's Wife | Hayley Danville | Television film |
| 2010 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Renata Clarke | Episode: "Internatal Combustion" |
| 2010 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Angela Rush | Episode: "Full Throttle" |
| 2010 | Chase | Unknown | Episode: "Havoc" |
| 2011 | CSI: NY | Emmy Thomas | Episode: "Do or Die" |
| 2011 | Breakout Kings | Starla Roland | Episode: "Fun with Chemistry" |
| 2011 | Halloween Wars | Herself / Guest Judge | Episode: "Underworld" |
| 2012 | Grey's Anatomy | Angie | Episode: "If Only You Were Lonely" |
| 2014 | Major Crimes | Becka Wilshaw | Episode: "Zoo Story" |
| 2015–2016 | Nashville | Erin | Recurring role, 7 episodes (season 4) |
| 2016 | Rosewood | Christa | Episodes: "Forward Motion & Frat Life" and "Spirochete & Santeria" |
| 2021 | A Daughter’s Deceit | Cassie / Cat Quinn | Television film |
| 2022 | Triple Threat | Alex / Raina / Trinity | Television film; also known as Framed by My Sister |
| 2025 | Devil May Cry | Lady | Voice |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2023 | The Texas Chain Saw Massacre | Julie Crawford | Voice and motion capture |