These Owls May Keep You Up at Night: Temple Alumni in Movies, TV and Podcasts That Thrill
Whether it’s with a work of horror, science fiction, mystery or other speculative fiction, these genre-bending Owl storytellers will satisfy your thirst for a thrill.
By Matt Michaels
 
            Owls are natural storytellers, and the ones featured here are no exception. Just in time for Halloween, we’ve put together a list of Temple alumni who have made their mark in the world of speculative fiction, including horror, thrillers, the supernatural, superheroes, science fiction and more.
From the big screen to podcasts and everything in between, these creative Owls are bringing bold, imaginative stories to life. Whether you’re in the mood for something spooky, suspenseful, or completely otherworldly, this list has you covered. Explore our list of genre-bending Owls below.
 
                            Photo: Stephen Cognetti
Photo: Stephen Cognetti
Stephen Cognetti, TFM '04
Stephen is most known for directing the popular Hell House LLC movies. The most recent film in the franchise, Hell House LLC: Lineage, will be available on Shudder on October 30, 2025. He also released his first non-Hell House LLC film earlier this year, titled 825 Forest Road. Read more about Stephen's journey in our new profile here.
 
                            Photo: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images
Photo: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images
Gary Dauberman, TFM '02
Gary’s career has largely been focused on the horror genre, with writing and/or executive producing roles on films such as Annabelle, Annabelle: Creation, It, The Nun, It: Chapter Two and The Nun II. He added directorial duties for both Annabelle Comes Home and 2024's Salem’s Lot. His most recent duties were writing and producing 2025's Until Dawn, and he'll be producing the upcoming sequel to 2019's The Curse of La Llarona, The Revenge of La Llarona.
 
                            Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images
Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images
Colman Domingo, 
Former Owl
Colman has had an exciting past few years, culminating in his Oscar nomination for Sing Sing in 2025. He's no stranger to the horror genre though, with his roles in Fear the Walking Dead, Lucifer and The Twilight Zone, as well as 2021’s Candyman remake. He'll next be seen in the new adaptation of Stephen King's The Running Man, out November 14, 2025.
 
                            Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Brian Duffield, Former Owl
Brian has worked on Divergent: Insurgent and Cocaine Bear, and is no stranger to the horror genre, writing for Quarantine, Underwater, Love and Monsters and The Babysitter. He made his directorial debut with No One Will Save You, which premiered in 2023 on Hulu. His latest genre projects were producing on 2025's Borderline, and writing for the upcoming Predator: Badlands.
 
                            Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for US-Ireland Alliance
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for US-Ireland Alliance
Adam McKay, CLA ’90
Adam may be most known for directing comedies like Anchorman, Step Brothers and The Big Short, but he also boasts producing duties on genre movies Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Fresh and The Menu.
 
                            Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Netflix
Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Netflix
Monica Moore-Suriyage, TFM ’14
Monica broke out with her short film, Black In Red Out, which led her to being featured in Horror Noire, appearing alongside Jordan Peele. Her horror short, La Ciguapa Siempre, earned 2023 Oscar award consideration after winning Best Narrative Short at the 2021 Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival.
 
                            Photo: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for Disney
Photo: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for Disney
Benjamin Norris, TFM ’12
Benjamin Norris has appeared on such hits like Never Have I Ever, Superstore and Abbott Elementary, but genre fans know him best for his current role on Disney+’s Andor as Bardi.
 
                            Photo: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
Danielle Pinnock, TFM ’10
You may have seen Danielle on CBS’s Young Sheldon or heard her voice on animated projects for Cartoon Network, Dreamworks and Netflix. Her spookiest role is her current one, as singer Alberta Haynes on the CBS hit comedy Ghosts.
 
                            Photo: Victor Boyko/Getty Images for Air Mail/Warner Brothers Discovery
Photo: Victor Boyko/Getty Images for Air Mail/Warner Brothers Discovery
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, 
TFM ’09
You may have seen or heard the now Academy Award-winning Da’Vine in films like The Holdovers, The Lost City, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and Dolemite Is My Name, or series like The Last O.G., Ultra City Smiths and The Idol. Her current role in the genre is playing Detective Williams on Only Murders in the Building.
 
                            Photo: Tyler Sablich/LinkedIn
Photo: Tyler Sablich/LinkedIn
Tyler Sablich, KLN ’14
Tyler launched his podcast, Corn Syrup: A Horror Podcast, in July 2020, with friend Michael Keenan. The two review horror films, interview actors and rank popular horror movies. Their logo was designed by fellow Owl Christian Hochstelter, ENG ’14.
 
                            Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Jill Scott, EDU ’96
Jill Scott is most known for her singing career, but she has a lengthy acting career as well, in movies like Why Did I Get Married? and series like Girlfriends and Being Mary Jane. For genre fans, she appeared in a 2012 episode of sci-fi drama Fringe and had a recurring role on Black Lightning.
 
                            Photo: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
Ben Semanoff, TFM ’01
Ben has directed for numerous television shows, like Ozark, Tulsa King and Yellowjackets, as well as more horror-oriented series like Stranger Things, The Outsider, One Of Us Is Lying, Candy and I Know What You Did Last Summer. His latest project is directorial duties on Netflix's Black Rabbit.
 
                            Photo: Dan Trachtenberg/Instagram
Photo: Dan Trachtenberg/Instagram
Dan Trachtenberg, TFM ’03
Dan is best known for his work in the horror genre, working on episodes of Black Mirror, The Boys, The Lost Symbol and the upcoming season of Stranger Things. He made his directorial debut on 2016’s 10 Cloverfield Lane and also directed 2022’s Prey. His next project is Predator: Badlands, in theaters November 7, 2025.
 
                            Bobbie Weiner, CLA '67
Known around Hollywood as “Bloody Mary”, Bobbie has had an illustrious career as a makeup artist. Her biggest claim to fame is turning 200 extras on the set of 1997’s Titanic into drowned, frozen corpses. She’s also no stranger to the horror genre, with makeup duties on 1993’s Pumpkinseed II: Blood Wings, and even creating her own comic book, titled The Tales of Bloody Mary in 2010.
 
                            Jesse Williams on Temple's campus for a discussion in 2019.
Jesse Williams on Temple's campus for a discussion in 2019.
Jesse Williams, TFM ’03
Jesse is most known for Grey’s Anatomy, but he has also appeared in other shows like Power, Little Fires Everywhere and Station 19. He has guested on Only Murders in the Building, but his most memorable role in the genre may be 2012’s The Cabin in the Woods. His latest project is the action thriller series, Hotel Costiera, currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

