‘A Walk Down Elm Street’

Celebrate this Friday the 13th with one of Hollywood’s scariest monsters — unmasked.

Robert Englund, famed for his role as Freddy Krueger, the sadistic killer with the flame-charred face and knife-blade-fingered glove in the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” series, has written his first book, “Hollywood Monster: A Walk Down Elm Street with the Man of Your Dreams” in collaboration with Alan Goldsher.

The memoir, released last month, is a witty and touching collection of stories and photographs that recount Englund’s personal behind-the-scenes filmmaking experiences as well as those in Hollywood over the past 35 years, from his role as Willie on 1984’s “V” to the mad man roles he has today.

“In retrospect, Hollywood has been good to me,” he said. “I wanted to give fans an affectionate, positive memoir and [convey] that although our dreams don’t always turn out the way we’d hoped, they can leave us pleasantly surprised.

“It’s also a perfect valentine to fans, as both the ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ and ‘V’ series’ are celebrating their 25th anniversary.”

Englund, who lives in Laguna Beach, will sign copies of his new book at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Latitude 33 Bookshop, 311 Ocean Ave.

Laced with humor, light-hearted self-deprecation and newly revealed “Nightmare” trivia, Englund describes his early acting days; his audition with director Wes Craven and the birth of Krueger; relationships with fellow actors like veterans Henry Fonda and Susan Sarandon and then-soon-to-be famous Johnny Depp; on-set blunders and grueling makeup applications; and the “unexpected” wave of popularity that made his career.

“None of us expected [‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’] to be the iconic phenomenon that it became,” he said. “My career has been sort of this wonderful, happy accident.

“That role has opened a lot of doors for me.”

A genre that is universally transferable, horror has afforded Englund many working opportunities in Europe, where he continues to take on projects and enjoys frequent travel.

His 72nd film, “Night of the Sinner,” wrapped in Italy last year, and he is now embarking on a new web series, “Fear Clinic,” in which he plays Dr. Andover, a mad psychiatrist who cures phobias.

“Working with all of these young actors keeps me young,” he said. “I just keep going.”

For more information about Englund’s projects, visit www.RobertEnglund.com.