‘The Bear’ Star Jamie Lee Curtis (67) Shines at the Academy Museum Gala on a Night Celebrating the Man Who Made Her a Star

Few Hollywood partnerships are as legendary as the one between Jamie Lee Curtis and John Carpenter. Curtis made her film debut as Laurie Strode in Carpenter’s 1978 horror classic ‘Halloween’, a role that became her breakthrough and established her as a prominent scream queen.

The collaboration didn’t stop there. Carpenter also directed Curtis alongside Adrienne Barbeau and John Houseman in ‘The Fog’, a film seen as his welcome return to horror after the monumental success of ‘Halloween’.

This year, Carpenter has been at the center of the Academy Museum’s celebrations. On September 26, he hosted 3 nights of screenings of his films to mark the museum’s new large-scale exhibition, ‘The Horror Show’, including a special ‘Halloween’ screening with Curtis appearing in person alongside him.

The museum then honored the filmmaker and composer with the Luminary Award at its sixth annual gala, recognizing an artist whose contributions have expanded filmmaking’s creative possibilities. He shared the spotlight with fellow honorees Charlize Theron and Colman Domingo.

Jamie Lee Curtis arrives at the #AcademyMuseumGala https://t.co/jw0Ad8TRi2

— Variety (@Variety) October 18, 2026

So it was only fitting that Curtis turned up to celebrate. On October 17, she walked the carpet at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles. She wore a long-sleeved, floor-length gown in a shimmering bronze and gold finish, with soft gathered detailing across the bodice and a fitted silhouette that flowed to the floor.

Curtis paired the elegant look with her signature cropped silver hair, striking a confident pose with her hands on her hips. The understated sparkle suited the occasion perfectly. Carpenter himself was also on the carpet, attending alongside his wife, Sandy King.

Curtis has never been afraid to experiment with her style. At the 2022 Oscars, she sparkled in a deep-blue, chainmail-style Stella McCartney gown with a high neckline and long sleeves, and she later won her first Oscar wearing a tan, corseted gown she likened to pink champagne and sparkling apple cider.

During that same awards run for ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’, she accepted the SAG award for Best Supporting Actress in a dramatic red Ramona Keveža gown with a plunging neckline. She’s also known for her practical approach to fashion, having worn an off-the-rack Carolina Herrera gown by her friend Wes Gordon to a 2024 charity gala, joking to People that she buys her own clothes.

Jamie Lee Curtis is here at the Academy Museum Gala https://t.co/YkkHrFC6qx

— Deadline (@DEADLINE) October 18, 2026

The Academy Museum Gala raises funds for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, supporting its exhibitions, educational programs and public screenings. This year’s event, presented by Rolex, was co-chaired by Robert Rodriguez, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, with Taylor Swift set to perform.

Curtis joined a crowd packed with stars, including Sigourney Weaver, Jessica Lange and Rami Malek. Fittingly, the evening’s horror connections gave the night a special resonance for longtime fans of the genre.

Nearly 5 decades after ‘Halloween’ launched her career, Curtis remains one of the industry’s most beloved figures. Her journey has taken her from horror to comedies like ‘Freakier Friday’, in which she reunited with Lindsay Lohan, and all the way to an Academy Award.

Seeing her celebrate Carpenter’s honor added a heartfelt layer to an already glamorous night. It was a reminder of how one low-budget horror film helped launch both a legendary filmmaker’s reputation and one of Hollywood’s most enduring careers.

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