Casey Becker
The first to answer the call, but ultimately silenced by the mask.
Casey Becker is a fictional character from the Scream franchise, first appearing in the 1996 film Scream, as its false protagonist. The character was created by Kevin Williamson and originated by American actress Drew Barrymore. A fictionalized version of Casey was subsequently portrayed by Heather Graham in the Stab film within Scream 2. Steve Orth, her boyfriend, is the first character killed on-screen in the franchise, with Casey following shortly after, in what has been called "one of the most famous scenes of all time."
- Character Name
- Casey Becker
- Portrayed By
- Drew Barrymore
- First Appearance
- Scream (1996)
- Status
- Deceased
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Casey Becker is a Woodsboro teenager and the girlfriend of Steve Orth, a football player. After receiving a taunting and threatening phone call, she is ordered to answer horror film trivia questions to save the life of her boyfriend, Steve Orth (portrayed by actor Kevin Patrick Walls). When Casey answers incorrectly, Steve is disemboweled on her porch and she is asked another question to save her own life. When she refuses to answer, Ghostface chases her down and kills her, leaving her disemboweled and hanged from a tree, where she is discovered by her mother Mrs. Becker. Note: Casey's exact age is not explicitly stated in the film's canon.
In Their Own Story
Casey Becker first appears in Scream for the initial twelve minutes of the film. In 1997's Scream 2, the second installment of the Scream franchise, the character appears in a film-within-a-film titled Stab. Archival footage of Heather Graham as Casey in Stab from Scream 2 is reused in Scream 4 as part of the viewing at a theme party. The character Casey also appears briefly in Scream VI in a recreation of the first Stab movie made by character Richie Kirsch. In October 2020, Barrymore unofficially revived the character for a short video skit titled What if Casey Becker from Scream Lived? on The Drew Barrymore Show in which she gets texts from the killer on her cell phone, but ignores him.
Reader's Guide
Screenwriter Kevin Williamson created the character when he started the script for Scream (1996). Initially, filmmakers did not think to cast a well-known actress for Casey's part, as the character dies in the opening of the film. Drew Barrymore was initially cast as lead character Sidney Prescott (eventually played by Neve Campbell), but opted to take the role of Casey instead to break the trope of high-profile actresses never dying in horror films. Barrymore stated: "In the horror film genre, my biggest pet peeve was that I always knew the main character was going to be slugging through at the end, but was going to creak by and make it. What I wanted to do is to take that comfort zone away. I asked if I could be Casey Becker so we would establish this rule does not apply in this film." Casey's scenes were shot over five days, independent from the rest of the movie. At first, Dimension Films studio did not appreciate the dailies of this scene and almost fired director Wes Craven until they saw the footage cut together and were impressed. In the Japanese dubbed version of the film, voice actress Megumi Hayashibara dubs Barrymore's lines. In Scream 2 (1997), Casey is played by Heather Graham.
Did You Know?
- Casey Becker was created by screenwriter Kevin Williamson when he started the script for Scream (1996).
- Drew Barrymore was initially cast as lead character Sidney Prescott but opted to take the role of Casey instead to break the trope of high-profile actresses never dying in horror films.
- Casey's scenes were shot over five days, independent from the rest of the movie.
- In the Japanese dubbed version of Scream, voice actress Megumi Hayashibara dubs Drew Barrymore's lines as Casey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Casey Becker?
Casey Becker is a high school student at Woodsboro High, portrayed by Drew Barrymore in the 1996 film Scream. She serves as the opening victim who introduces the franchise's signature blend of meta-horror and self-aware dialogue.
What role does Casey play in the story?
As the catalyst for the original murders, she is the first character to answer the killer's phone call and survive an initial home invasion. Her struggle establishes the rules of survival that later protagonists must face throughout the Woodsboro killings.
How does Casey Becker's story end?
Despite her resourcefulness in evading the masked killer for a significant portion of the film, she is eventually cornered and killed on her porch. Her death marks a tragic subversion of the 'final girl' trope that was common in slasher films at the time.
Why is Casey Becker important to the Scream franchise?
Her scene set the tone for the entire series by deconstructing horror clichés while delivering genuine tension. Although she appears briefly, her impact remains profound as she defined the meta-commentary style that characterizes all subsequent films.
Is Casey Becker alive in later movies?
No, Casey Becker is deceased and does not appear in any sequels or spin-offs following her death in the first film. Her legacy lives on through the franchise's continued exploration of horror tropes she helped popularize.
More in Characters & Killers
Elsewhere in the Scream universe
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