Leigh Whannell
Personal Info
Known for
Writing
Gender
Male
Birthday
1977-01-17 (48 years old)
Place of Birth
Melbourne, Australia
Leigh Whannell
Biography
Leigh Whannell (/ˈli ˈwɑːnɛl/; born 17 January 1977) is an Australian filmmaker and actor. He has written multiple films that were directed by his friend James Wan, including Saw (2004), Dead Silence (2007), Insidious (2010), and Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013). Whannell made his directorial debut with Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015) and has since directed three more films, Upgrade (2018), The Invisible Man (2020) and Wolf Man (2025).
Whannell and Wan are the creators of the Saw franchise. Whannell wrote the first installment, co-wrote the second and third installments, was the producer or executive producer for all the films, and appeared as the Adam Stanheight character in three of the installments. He was also the writer of the Saw video game (2009) and co-writer of the film Cooties (2014).
Description above from the Wikipedia article Leigh Whannell, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Acting
TrollFace
as Guy (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2025)
Wolf Man
as Dan (voice)
(2023)
Insidious: The Red Door
as Specs
(2020)
(2018)
Insidious: The Last Key
as Specs
(2018)
Aquaman
as Cargo Pilot
(2017)
78/52
as Self
(2017)
Keep Watching
as Matt
(2017)
The Bye Bye Man
as Larry Redmon
(2015)
Insidious: Chapter 3
as Specs
(2015)
Lavalantula
as Darren
(2015)
(2014)
Cooties
as Doug
(2014)
The Mule
as Gavin Ellis
(2013)
Insidious: Chapter 2
as Specs
(2013)
The Pardon
as Clement Moss
(2013)
Crush
as David
(2013)
Raze
as Security Guard
(2012)
The Debt Collector
as Donovan
(2011)
Insidious
as Specs
(2011)
Dick Elves
as Larry
(2010)
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
as Jatt (voice)
(2010)
Saw 3D
as Adam Stanheight (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2009)
The Last Supper
as Phillip
(2008)
Dying Breed
as Matt
(2008)
Doggie Heaven
as Neil
(2008)
Not Quite Hollywood
as Self
(2007)
The Making of Dead Silence
as Self
(2007)
(2007)
Death Sentence
as Spink
(2006)
Saw III
as Adam Stanheight
(2005)
Full Disclosure Report
as Adam Faulkner-Stanheight
(2005)
Hacking Away at Saw
as Self
(2005)
Saw II
as Adam Stanheight (voice) (uncredited)
(2004)
Saw
as Adam Faulkner-Stanheight
(2004)
One Perfect Day
as Chris
(2003)
The Matrix Reloaded
as Axel
(2003)
Saw
as David
(2003)
Razor Eaters
as Nick D.
(2002)
The PhanDom Menace
as Himself
(1998)
Stygian
as Clown / Punk Kid
Crew
The Green Hornet and Kato
Director
Saw XI
Characters, Executive Producer
(2026)
Insidious: The Bleeding World
Characters, Producer
(2025)
Wolf Man
Director, Executive Producer, Screenplay
(2023)
Saw X
Executive Producer, Characters
(2023)
Insidious: The Red Door
Producer, Characters, Story
(2021)
Spiral: From the Book of Saw
Characters, Executive Producer
(2020)
The Invisible Man
Story, Director, Executive Producer, Screenplay
(2018)
Insidious: The Last Key
Writer, Characters, Producer
(2018)
Home Shopper
Story, Executive Producer
(2018)
Upgrade
Director, Writer, Executive Producer
(2017)
Jigsaw
Executive Producer, Characters
(2016)
Knife of the Party
Executive Producer
(2015)
Insidious: Chapter 3
Director, Writer, Characters
(2015)
(2014)
Cooties
Executive Producer, Story, Writer
(2014)
The Mule
Writer, Executive Producer
(2013)
Insidious: Chapter 2
Screenplay, Story, Characters
(2011)
Insidious
Writer
(2010)
Saw 3D
Executive Producer, Characters
(2009)
Saw VI
Characters, Executive Producer
(2009)
The Last Supper
Executive Producer
(2008)
Saw V
Characters, Executive Producer
(2008)
Doggie Heaven
Screenplay
(2007)
Saw IV
Executive Producer, Characters
(2007)
Dead Silence
Writer, Story
(2006)
Saw III
Screenplay, Story, Executive Producer
(2006)
The Scott Tibbs Documentary
Characters
(2005)
Saw: Rebirth
Characters
(2005)
Saw II
Executive Producer, Writer, Characters
(2004)
Saw
Story, Screenplay
(2003)
Saw
Executive Producer, Writer