Moustapha Akkad (July 1, 1930 - November 11, 2005) was a Syrian-American director and producer. Akkad arrived in the United States with only $200, to pursue studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, and then at the University of Southern California, where he earned a master's degree in film. His determination and talent attracted the attention of director Sam Peckinpah, who became his mentor and facilitated his professional debut as a producer at CBS, paving the way for a remarkable and socially engaged career. Akkad is famous for producing the legendary "Halloween" horror film saga. Starting with Halloween (1978), he revolutionized the slasher genre in the United States and left a lasting mark on popular culture with the character of Michael Myers. He produced most of the sequels, for a total of eight films, expanding the legend of the psychopathic killer and cementing his name in the history of genre cinema.