Leigh Whannell

Australian actor, screenwriter and producer Leigh Whannell is best known-some might say notorious-for his horror collaborations with director James Wan, most notably the original "Saw" (2004) and the "Insidious" films. After a few Aussie TV roles in his youth, he appeared briefly in the sci-fi sequel "The Matrix Reloaded" (2003) and became intent on writing his own film with Wan. The result was the bloody and unexpected hit "Saw," which made a huge return on its small budget, prompting a slew of sequels. Whannell co-penned "Saw II" (2005) and "Saw III" (2006) and served as an executive producer on the films. He later moved on to co-writing "Dead Silence" (2007) with Wan, but the movie wasn't successful critically or commercially. In 2010, Whannell and his go-to collaborator reunited for the supernatural film "Insidious." The eerie and unsettling tale, which featured Whannell as a paranormal investigator's assistant, was a huge hit. In 2013, he returned for "Insidious: Chapter 2," which was well received, and once again showcased his clear talents as both a screenwriter and supporting actor.