Wesley Earl Wes Craven August 2 1939 August 30 2015 was a prolific and influential American film director writer producer and occasional actor known for his pioneering work in the horror genre and particularly in the teen slasher subgenre Among his bestknown works are such landmark films as The Last House on the Left 1972 The Hills Have Eyes 1977 A Nightmare on Elm Street 1984 and the Scream series 19962011