If you’ve ever been to a horror convention, you’d know that most stars of our favorite horror films are very enthusiastic about meeting fans and celebrating the movies that they were a part of – no matter how small their parts might’ve been. But Robert Brian Wilson isn’t quite one of those actors.

It was over 30 years ago that Wilson starred in the slasher flick Silent Night, Deadly Night, which saw him donning a Santa suit and going on a gruesome killing spree. When it was released in 1984, the subject matter so outraged parents that the distributor pulled the movie from theaters, and Siskel & Ebert famously crucified the film for its depiction of an axe-wielding Santa Claus.

Given the controversial nature of the film, I suppose it’s not surprising that Wilson – in his early twenties at the time – didn’t quite embrace his first starring role. In fact, Silent Night, Deadly Night was to be the first and only feature film the young actor took part in, as he ended up quitting the business in the early 90s after a string of minor TV appearances.

Wilson’s whereabouts for the past couple decades have mostly been shrouded in secrecy, though the rumors were that he became a Born Again Christian and was thoroughly embarrassed about his involvement in Silent Night, Deadly Night. The only other information available was that he was married with three kids, and now runs a successful trade show business.

After disappearing completely from the public eye for over 20 years, Robert Brian Wilson (above, center) finally embraced his horror legacy earlier this month, taking part in an autograph signing at California horror shop Dark Delicacies. Wilson signed copies of the recent Silent Night, Deadly Night Blu-ray release for fans, appearing alongside producers Scott Schneid and Dennis Whitehead.

And it appears that the special event lit a fire under Wilson, as it wasn’t long after that he was officially announced to be appearing at this coming September’s HorrorHound Weekend – his first ever convention. Wilson will be on hand all three days of the con, from the 11th through the 13th, which is taking place in Indianapolis, Indiana. And that, my friends, is a beautiful thing.

Now if we can just get Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2′s Eric “Garbage Day” Freeman to join Wilson on the convention scene…