# David DeCoteau

David DeCoteau /də koʊtoʊ/ (born January 5, 1962) is an American film director and producer.

## Early life

David DeCoteau was born on January 5, 1962, in Portland, Oregon, where he was raised. DeCoteau was an only child and was adopted at birth. His father was of Native American heritage.
DeCoteau's mother died of cancer when he was eight years old. As a teenager, DeCoteau developed a love for film, and worked as a theater projectionist beginning at age fifteen.

## Career

He has worked professionally in the movie business since he was 18. He got his start through Roger Corman, who hired him in 1980 as a production assistant at New World Pictures. In 1986, DeCoteau directed and produced his first feature film for Charles Band.
He is the founder of Rapid Heart Pictures, where his films include A Talking Cat!?! and the 1313 series. He has said of his working methods, "I always wanted to make what I could sell. So I just promised myself that I would not be set in my ways. If somebody said, ‘Look, we need a horror film, we need a creature feature, we need a Western, we need a period costume drama,’ I was able to put it together pretty quickly."
Throughout his career DeCoteau has been credited under a variety of pseudonyms: Ellen Cabot, Julian Breen, Victoria Sloan, Richard Chasen, Jack Reed, Martin Tate, Joseph Tennent, and Mary Crawford. DeCoteau revealed that he originally did not want his name to be associated with films that did not turn out as intended.
DeCoteau has directed 102 motion pictures between 1986 and 2014.

## Personal life

He resides in British Columbia and Los Angeles. DeCoteau is gay.

## Acting credits
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1983 | Angel | Jean Jacket Criminal in Line-Up | Uncredited |
| 1983 | Games | Dick McCabe | Uncredited |
| 1984 | Good Men Go Bad | | |
| 1989 | Robot Ninja | Russ Mazzola | |
| 1990 | Crash and Burn | ILU Member | Uncredited |
| 1993 | Beach Babes from Beyond | City Worker | Uncredited |
| 2003 | Leeches! | Franklin / Walkie Talkie Voice | Uncredited |
| 2008 | Gingerdead Man 2: Passion of the Crust | Self | |
| 2013 | I Am Divine | Self | |
| 2014 | Trophy Heads | Juicy Stand Customer | |
| 2014 | Bigfoot vs. D.B. Cooper | Pilot | Voice role; credited as Ellen Cabot |
| 2015 | Evil Bong 420 | Self | |
| 2016 | Evil Bong: High 5 | Self | |
| 2017 | The Disaster Artist | David DeCoteau | Uncredited |
| 2017 | Puppet Master: Axis Termination | Flamboyant Nazi #1 | |
| 2019 | Weedjies: Halloweed Night | Party Guest | |
| 2020 | Tales of the Uncanny | Self | |

## Filmmaking credits

| Year | Film | Director | Producer | Cinematographer | Writer | Notes |
| 1987 | Creepozoids | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 1988 | Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| 1988 | Nightmare Sisters | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| 1988 | Lady Avenger | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| 1988 | Assault of the Killer Bimbos | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1989 | Murder Weapon | Yes | Yes | No | No | as Ellen Cabot |
| 1989 | Robot Ninja | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1989 | Ghost Writer | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1989 | Assault of the Party Nerds | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1989 | American Rampage | Yes | No | No | Yes | |
| 1989 | Dr. Alien | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| 1989 | Deadly Embrace | Yes | Yes | No | No | as Ellen Cabot |
| 1989 | Ghetto Blaster | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1990 | The Girl I Want | Yes | Yes | No | No | as Ellen Cabot |
| 1990 | Linnea Quigley's Horror Workout | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1990 | Steel and Lace | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1990 | Crash and Burn | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1990 | Ghoul School | No | Yes | No | No | Uncredited |
| 1990 | Skinned Alive | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1990 | Puppet Master II | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1991 | Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| 1991 | Trancers II | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1991 | Zombie Cop | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1991 | Beasties | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1991 | Shock Cinema Vol. 1 | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1991 | Shock Cinema Vol. 2 | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1991 | Shock Cinema Vol. 3 | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1991 | Shock Cinema Vol. 4 | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1991 | Sorority Babes in the Dance-A-Thon of Death | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1992 | Reanimator Academy | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1992 | Redneck County Fever | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1992 | Nightmare Asylum | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1992 | Humanoids from Atlantis | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1992 | Chickboxer | No | No | No | Yes | |
| 1992 | Zombie Rampage | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1993 | Naked Instinct | Yes | Yes | No | No | as Ellen Cabot |
| 1993 | Beach Babes from Beyond | Yes | No | No | No | as Ellen Cabot |
| 1994 | Test Tube Teens from the Year 2000 | Yes | No | No | No | as Ellen Cabot |
| 1995 | Young Blood, Fresh Meat | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| 1995 | Beach Babes 2: Cave Girl Island | Yes | Yes | No | No | as Ellen Cabot |
| 1995 | Prehysteria! 3 | Yes | No | No | No | as Julian Breen |
| 1996 | Bikini Goddesses | Yes | Yes | No | No | as Ellen Cabot |
| 1996 | Huntress: Spirit of the Night | No | Yes | No | No | Uncredited |
| 1996 | Not Again! | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1996 | Petticoat Planet | Yes | Yes | No | No | as Ellen Cabot |
| 1997 | Prey of the Jaguar | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1997 | The Journey: Absolution | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1997 | Skeletons | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 1997 | Leather Jacket Love Story | Yes | No | No | Yes | |
| 1997 | Lurid Tales: The Castle Queen | Yes | No | No | No | as Ellen Cabot |
| 1998 | Shrieker | Yes | No | No | No | as Victoria Sloan |
| 1998 | Curse of the Puppet Master | Yes | No | No | No | as Victoria Sloan |
| 1998 | Talisman | Yes | No | No | No | as Victoria Sloan |
| 1998 | Frankenstein Reborn! | Yes | No | No | No | as Julian Breen |
| 1999 | The Killer Eye | Yes | No | No | No | as Richard Chasen |
| 1999 | Teenage Alien Avengers | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1999 | Witchouse | Yes | No | No | Yes | as Jack Reed |
| 1999 | Totem | Yes | No | No | No | as Martin Tate |
| 1999 | Retro Puppet Master | Yes | No | No | No | as Joseph Tennent |
| 2000 | Ancient Evil: Scream of the Mummy | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 2000 | Voodoo Academy | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2000 | Prison of the Dead | Yes | No | No | No | as Victoria Sloan |
| 2001 | The Brotherhood | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| 2001 | Micro Mini Kids | Yes | No | No | No | Uncredited |
| 2001 | Final Stab | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 2001 | The Brotherhood II: Young Warlocks | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 2002 | The Frightening | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| 2002 | The Brotherhood III: Young Demons | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 2002 | Wolves of Wall Street | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2003 | Leeches! | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 2003 | Speed Demon | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 2004 | Ring of Darkness | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2004 | Tomb of Terror | Yes | No | No | No | Segment 3: "Evil Never Dies" |
| 2004 | The Sisterhood | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2005 | The Brotherhood IV: The Complex | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2005 | Possessed | Yes | No | No | No | as Jack Reed |
| 2005 | Killer Bash | Yes | No | No | Yes | TV movie |
| 2005 | Witches of the Caribbean | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2005 | Frankenstein & the Werewolf Reborn! | Yes | No | No | No | as Julian Breen |
| 2006 | Beastly Boyz | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | TV movie |
| 2007 | Grizzly Rage | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2007 | The Raven | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | TV movie |
| 2007 | House of Usher | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| 2008 | Playing with Fire | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2009 | The Invisible Chronicles | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2009 | The Brotherhood V: Alumni | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2009 | The Brotherhood VI: Initiation | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| 2009 | Alien Presence | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2009 | Stem Cell | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2009 | The Pit and the Pendulum | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2009 | Nightfall | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2010 | Puppet Master: Axis of Evil | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2010 | Body Blow | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | TV movie |
| 2011 | 1313: Wicked Stepbrother | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2011 | 1313: Actor Slash Model | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2011 | 1313: Boy Crazies | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2011 | 1313: Haunted Frat | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2011 | 1313: Nightmare Mansion | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | AKA: A Dream Within a Dream |
| 2011 | 1313: Giant Killer Bees | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2011 | Christmas Spirit | Yes | Yes | No | No | TV movie |
| 2011 | Monty | No | No | Yes | No | Short film |
| 2012 | The Magic Puppy | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | TV movie; AKA: A Halloween Puppy; as Mary Crawford |
| 2012 | 1313: Cougar Cult | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2012 | 1313: Bigfoot Island | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2012 | Snow White: A Deadly Summer | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2012 | 1313: UFO Invasion | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2012 | 1313: Bermuda Triangle | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2012 | 1313: Billy the Kid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2012 | 1313: Hercules Unbound! | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2012 | 1313: Night of the Widow | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2012 | 1313: Frankenqueen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2012 | 2: Voodoo Academy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2012 | Immortal Kiss: Queen of the Night | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2013 | Santa's Summer House | Yes | No | Yes | No | as Mary Crawford |
| 2013 | A Talking Cat!?! | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | as Mary Crawford |
| 2013 | An Easter Bunny Puppy | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | as Mary Crawford |
| 2013 | Badass Showdown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2013 | A Talking Pony!?! | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2013 | My Stepbrother is a Vampire!?! | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2013 | Bonnie & Clyde: Justified | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2013 | Hansel and Gretel: Warriors of Witchcraft | Yes | No | Yes | No | |
| 2014 | 3 Scream Queens | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2014 | Doc Holliday's Revenge | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2014 | 3 Wicked Witches | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2014 | 666: Kreepy Kerry | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2014 | 666: Devilish Charm | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2014 | 90210 Shark Attack | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2014 | Bigfoot vs. D.B. Cooper | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2014 | Spidora | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 2014 | Knock 'Em Dead | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2014 | Stranded | No | No | No | No | |
| 2016 | The Wrong Roommate | Yes | Yes | No | No | TV movie |
| 2016 | The Wrong Child | Yes | Yes | No | No | TV movie |
| 2016 | Sorority Slaughterhouse | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2016 | Asian Ghost Story | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2016 | Bloody Blacksmith | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2016 | A Husband for Christmas | Yes | Yes | No | No | TV movie |
| 2016 | 666: Teen Warlock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | TV movie |
| 2016 | Evil Exhumed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2017 | Deadly Lessons | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | TV movie |
| 2017 | Swamp Freak | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2017 | The Wrong Crush | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| 2017 | Blood Dynasty | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 2017 | The Ugly Christmas Sweater | No | Yes | No | No | TV short |
| 2017 | Runaway Christmas Bride | Yes | No | Yes | No | TV movie |
| 2017 | Delivering Christmas | Yes | Yes | No | No | TV short |
| 2017 | Runaway Christmas Bride | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| 2017 | A Royal Christmas Ball | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2017 | A Christmas Cruise | Yes | Yes | No | No | TV movie |
| 2017 | The Wrong Student | Yes | Yes | No | No | TV movie |
| 2017 | The Wrong Man | Yes | Yes | No | No | TV movie |
| 2017 | My Christmas Grandpa | Yes | Yes | No | No | TV short |
| 2017 | Femaliens: Seduction of the Species | Yes | No | No | No | as Ellen Cabot |
| 2017 | Witness Protection | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2018 | The Wrong Cruise | Yes | Yes | No | No | TV movie |
| 2018 | The Wrong Friend | Yes | Yes | No | No | TV movie |
| 2018 | Puppet Master: Mlitzkrieg Massacre | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2018 | The Wrong Teacher | Yes | Yes | No | No | TV movie |
| 2018 | Bunker of Blood: Chapter 5: Psycho Slideshow | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2018 | Bunker of Blood; Chapter 6: Zombie Lust: Night Flesh | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2019 | My Mother's Stalker | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2019 | The Wrong Stepmother | Yes | Yes | No | No | TV movie |
| 2019 | The Wrong Boy Next Door | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2019 | The Wrong Mommy | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2019 | The Wrong Tutor | Yes | Yes | No | No | TV movie |
| 2019 | The Wrong Cheerleader | Yes | Yes | No | No | TV movie |
| 2019 | Carole's Christmas | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2019 | Christmas Matchmakers | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2020 | The Wrong House Sitter | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2020 | The Wrong Wedding | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2020 | The Wrong Stepfather | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2020 | The Wrong Cheerleader Coach | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2020 | Christmas Together | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2020 | A Christmas for Mary | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2021 | The Wrong Real Estate Agent | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2021 | The Wrong Fiancé | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2021 | The Wrong Mr. Right | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2021 | The Wrong Prince Charming | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2021 | The Wrong Valentine | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2021 | Deceived by my Mother-In-Law | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2021 | Mommy's Deadly Con Artist | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2021 | Sinister Stepfather | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2021 | The Wrong Cheer Captain | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2021-2022 | Keeping up with the Joneses | Yes | No | No | No | 7 episodes |
| 2022 | The Wrong Blind Date | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2022 | The Wrong High School Sweetheart | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2022 | Killer Design | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2023 | Honeymoon in Paradise | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2023 | If I Can't Have You | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2023 | As Luck Would Have It | Yes | No | No | No | 3 episodes |
| 2023 | A Christmas Intern | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2024 | The Wrong Life Coach | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |
| 2024 | Tall, Dark, and Dangerous | Yes | No | No | No | TV movie |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref |
| 2008 | GayVN Awards | Hall of Fame | — | Won | |