William Castle said that older actors could thank television for the resurgence in their careers

Castle praised television.

Columbia Pictures

We owe a lot to television. Frequently demeaned as the "boob tube," TV was once widely regarded as a waste of a pastime. Today, television shows are frequently held to the same standards as award-winning films, sometimes even eclipsing them in terms of quality.

William Castle had an additional compliment for television. Castle is widely regarded today for his work in the film industry, having directed projects like House on Haunted Hill (1959) and 13 Ghosts (1960). However, Castle also directed a handful of television episodes on shows like The Man Called X and The Californians.

During an interview with The Buffalo News, Castle praised television, stating that plenty of older actors in Hollywood owed their career resurgence to the medium.

"Strangely enough, television, which is credited with killing them off, is responsible for creating millions of new fans for the oldtimers," said Castle. "The old movies on TV are introducing them to young people who never saw them in pictures the first time around."

Sure enough, actors like Joan Crawford and Bette Davis enjoyed a revival in their careers. Crawford was cast in Castle's 1964 Strait-Jacket, where she played a seemingly paranoid woman who had previously been charged with the murder of her husband and his lover.

These older Hollywood actors were able to take advantage of their increased visibility, like Crawford did when she agreed to star in Castle's latest horror picture.

"I guarantee if they work in one of my shockers, they'll never have to worry about working again," said the director.