In his final screen appearance, the late Jack Weston joined robot Johnny Five aboard the SciFi/Comedy Short Circuit 2 (1988). Though he's no longer with us, Weston was born on this day in 1924. [Source: IMDB.com]
With all of Barry Foster's time in the entertainment business, I honestly thought I'd find more SciFi in his resume than a guest spot aboard the series Doomwatch. Huh. Though he's no longer with us, Foster was born on this day in 1927. [Source: IMDB.com]
Even if only for a few good laughs, Tony Steedman (above center) traveled through time as 'Socrates' with two knuckleheads in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989). Though he's no longer with us, Steedman was born on this day in 1927. [Source: IMDB.com]
Writer, director, producer, and actor Melvin Van Peebles has seemingly done it all. His genre credentials are light: work aboard Last Action Hero (1993) and a role aboard the 1997 television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining still count for something 'round here. Van Peebles was born on this day in 1932. [Source: IMDB.com]
It takes a big man to stand up to Arnold ... and perhaps Wilt Chamberlain is just the man! The basketball legend suited up opposite the bodybuilder aboard Conan The Destroyer (1984). Though he's no longer with us, Chamberlain was born on this day in 1936. [Source: IMDB.com]
There's no doubt in my mind that to a certain generation of viewers the venerable Clarence Williams III will always be 'Lincoln Hayes,' one of the undercover agents serving TV's Mod Squad. Thankfully, he made appearances in genre work -- such as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine -- so that I can feature him here. Though he's no longer with us, Williams was born on this day in 1939. [Source: IMDB.com]
The music from composer Basil Poledouris certainly fueled more than a fair share of cinematic memories, and some of his best efforts provided accompaniment to such properties as Conan The Barbarian (1982), Conan The Destroyer (1984), Red Dawn (1984), TV's Misfits of Science, Amerika (TV miniseries), Robocop (1987), Cherry 2000 (1987), Robocop 3 (1993), and Starship Troopers (1997). Though he's no longer with us, Poledouris was born on this day in 1945. [Source: IMDB.com]
The beautiful Callan White went all "plain Jane" to play one of the leaders of a androgynous people aboard "The Outcast," an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. White was born on this day in 1953. [Source: IMDB.com]
Kim Cattrall did a pretty impressive job stepping into the Trek franchise as Valeris, a Spock protege who served as his 'foil' in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Fans embraced the character, likening her back to The Wrath of Khan's even more popular Saavik. Unfortunately, the character was pretty much a one-off creation, and, so far as this Trek fan knows, we've never heard from her since. Ms. Cattrall was born on this day back in 1956.
Voice actress Susan Eisenberg has been tasked with bringing Wonder Woman to verbal life aboard the Injustice 2 video game. She's also played the Amazon princess in Justice League, Justice League Unlimited, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010), Justice League: Doom (2012) and beyond. Eisenberg was born on this day in 1964. [Source: IMDB.com]
Adult film temptress Trinity Loren leaves behind a resume rich in nearly two hundred and fifty different screen projects, most of them (ahem) pornographic in nature. (Not that there's anything wrong with it!) As tends to happen with some of these films, storytellers poke fun at mainstream properties in order to perhaps give a greater sense of legitimacy to skin flicks and, thus, increase their business. Fans might recognize her (or the sum of her body parts) from some features as Wet Dream On Elm Street (1988), Dreams In The Forbidden Zone (1988), and Class Of Nuke 'Em High II: Subhumanoid Meltdown (1991). Though she's no longer with us, Loren was born on this day in 1964. [Source: IMDB.com]
Who knew Carrie-Anne Moss could look so good under all of that black patent leather? Apparently, the creators of The Matrix did, and they cast her as Neo's kinda/sorta mentor, partner, co-conspirator, and lover in their hugely successful franchise. Hats off to them for making such a wonderful choice. Moss was born on this day back in 1967.
The dreamy Barbara Ann Moore has gravitated more to mainstream projects, but she did appear in Cyber Bandits (1995) for Cyberfilms, Inc. Moore was born on this day in 1968. [Source: IMDB.com]
A truly big guy, Nathan Jones chewed scenery as the villainous 'Rictus Erectus' aboard Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). Jones was born on this day in 1969. [Source: IMDB.com]
Recently, veteran character actor Marc Evan Jackson (above right) turned up in a role aboard Kong: Skull Island (2017). Jackson was born on this day in 1970. [Source: IMDB.com]
The dreamy Kristi Angus braved the Final Frontier only to find it housed the villainous Jason Voorhees in Jason X (2001). She also appeared aboard Kraken: Tentacles of the Deep (2006). Angus was born on this day in 1971. [Source: IMDB.com]
Although it may only have been briefly, the lovely Alicia Witt dealt in the Apocalypse that is AMC's The Walking Dead. As far as genre projects, she's also booked time aboard Dune (1984), Twin Peaks, Gen13 (2000), The Twilight Zone, The Librarians, and Supernatural. Witt was born on this day in 1975. [Source: IMDB.com]
Serbian actress Sloboda Micalovic maintains an incredible roster of appearances aboard some international television programs, most of which appear to be either period pieces or conventional dramas. Still, genre fans might know her from appearances in On the Milky Road (2016) or the Apocalypse-themed SciFi/Short-Film Poslednji Putnik (2019). Micalovic was born on this day in 1981. [Source: IMDB.com]
WWE Superstar Eve Torres battled no less than Supergirl in the role of 'Maxima' for an episode of the superhero drama. Torres was born on this day in 1984. [Source: IMDB.com]
It may sound a bit sexist, but when you look as luscious as Laura Haddock does you're going to find work in Hollywood and beyond. So it's a huge plus that she's got actual acting chops! She continues to amaze on the Starz Network hit Davinci's Demons (great program), and she's had small roles in both Captain America: The First Avenger as well as Guardians of the Galaxy. Haddock was born on this day in 1985 ... just more proof of how the 80's rule!
Latino actor Carlos Pratts provided some of voice tracks for Wolfenstein: The New Order (2014), a video game about the Nazis winning in World War II. Pratts was born on this day in 1986. [Source: IMDB.com]
One of model/actress Elarica Johnson's earliest roles was a small part in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. She was also seen briefly in Blade Runner 2049. Johnson was born on this day in 1989. [Source: IMDB.com]
The fabulous Annet Mahendru found herself wrapped up in what may've been an extraterrestrial mystery aboard Fox TV's The X-Files. Mahendru was born on this day in 1989. [Source: IMDB.com]
Save the cheerleader, save the world. Well, that's pretty easy to do when the cheerleader looks something like the lovely Hayden Panettiere from NBC's Heroes. Panettiere was born on this day in 1989. [Source: IMDB.com]
Sorry, folks, but I didn't get into the Harry Potter films. (Read the first book, and it bored me to tears. Saw the first movie, and it had the same result.) Still, kudos to those who helped in bringing it to bold cinematic life, of which was the young Rob Knox. Though he's no longer with us, Knox was born on this day in 1989. [Source: IMDB.com]
When his alien spacecraft crashes down to Moscow and he's left to fend for himself amongst the humans, Rinal Mukhametov learns more than he bargained for about life and love aboard Fedor Bondarchuk's Attraction (2017). Mukhametov was born on this day in 1989. [Source: IMDB.com]
In his youth, Jesse James Rutherford enjoyed a guest spot aboard "Marauders," an episode of UPN's Star Trek: Enterprise. Rutherford was born on this day in 1991. [Source: IMDB.com]
The talented RJ Mitte dipped his toes into the realm of Science Fiction with a starring role aboard The Recall (2017). Mitte was born on this day in 1992. [Source: IMDB.com]
If you've been watching Falling Skies since it began, then you've been able to watch the young Maxim Knight grow into quite the talented li'l Thespian. He plays Matt Mason, part of a family resisting the tide of an alien invasion hell bent on wiping out mankind. Knight was born on this day in 1999.
On this day in 1963 (in Denmark), Walt Disney's Son Of Flubber took the skies again in a SciFi/Comedy sequel delight. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Professor Ned Brainard's discovery of flubber hasn't quite brought him - or his college - the riches he thought. The Pentagon has declared his discovery to be top secret and the IRS has slapped him with a huge tax bill, even if he has yet to receive a cent. He thinks he may have found the solution in the form of flubbergas, which can change the weather. It also helps Medfield College's football team to win a game. At home, his wife Betsy is jealous of the attention lavished on him by an old high school girlfriend."
"Professor Ned Brainard's discovery of flubber hasn't quite brought him - or his college - the riches he thought. The Pentagon has declared his discovery to be top secret and the IRS has slapped him with a huge tax bill, even if he has yet to receive a cent. He thinks he may have found the solution in the form of flubbergas, which can change the weather. It also helps Medfield College's football team to win a game. At home, his wife Betsy is jealous of the attention lavished on him by an old high school girlfriend."
On this day in 1980 (in Australia), Saturn 3 married Science Fiction to Horror by way of exploring a very dangerous incident of Artificial Intelligence. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Two lovers stationed at a remote base in the asteroid fields of Saturn are intruded upon by a retentive technocrat from Earth and his charge: a malevolent eight-foot robot."
"Two lovers stationed at a remote base in the asteroid fields of Saturn are intruded upon by a retentive technocrat from Earth and his charge: a malevolent eight-foot robot."
On this day in 1980 (in Australia), The Final Countdown began ticking its way down ... theatrically, that is. The SciFi feature starred Martin Sheen and Kirk Douglas, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A modern aircraft carrier is thrown back in time to 1941 near Hawaii, just hours before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor."
"A modern aircraft carrier is thrown back in time to 1941 near Hawaii, just hours before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor."
On this day in 1982, the animated SciFi feature Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure Of All premiered on U.S. television. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Flash Gordon, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov travel to the planet Mongo to fight the evil emperor Ming the Merciless."
"Flash Gordon, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov travel to the planet Mongo to fight the evil emperor Ming the Merciless."
On this day in 1988 (in Japan), hearts collided with the home video release of the SciFi/RomCom Cherry 2000. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"In 2017, a rich man travels to the ends of the earth to find that the perfect woman is always under his nose. When successful businessman Sam Treadwell finds that his animatronic wife, Cherry 2000 has shorted out, he hires sexy renegade tracker E. Johnson to find her exact duplicate. Their journey to replace his perfect mate leads them into the treacherous and lawless region of Zone 7, under the tyrannical overlord Lester. During their journey, Treadwell learns the hard way that the perfect woman is made not of computer chips and diodes, but of real flesh and blood."
"In 2017, a rich man travels to the ends of the earth to find that the perfect woman is always under his nose. When successful businessman Sam Treadwell finds that his animatronic wife, Cherry 2000 has shorted out, he hires sexy renegade tracker E. Johnson to find her exact duplicate. Their journey to replace his perfect mate leads them into the treacherous and lawless region of Zone 7, under the tyrannical overlord Lester. During their journey, Treadwell learns the hard way that the perfect woman is made not of computer chips and diodes, but of real flesh and blood."
On this day in 1992 (in Portugal), Deceit turned up the romantic heat at the box office. The feature starred Samantha Phillips and Scott Paulin, and here's the premise as listed on IMDB.com:
"Two outer-space aliens visit Earth with the intention of blowing it up, but they meet a hot blonde and decide to postpone the planet's destruction in order to try to score with her."
"Two outer-space aliens visit Earth with the intention of blowing it up, but they meet a hot blonde and decide to postpone the planet's destruction in order to try to score with her."
On this day in 1997 (in Hungary), Star Trek: First Contact brought the crew of the Enterprise-E and the Borg to the silver screen. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"In the twenty-fourth century, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E has been ordered to patrol the Romulan Neutral Zone by the Federation to avoid interference with their battle against the insidious Borg. Witnessing the loss of the battle, Captain Jean-Luc Picard ignores orders and takes command of the fleet engaging the Borg. But the Borg plan to travel back into the twenty-first century through a vortex with the intention to stop Earth's first contact with an alien race (the Vulcans). Following the Borg sphere, Picard and his crew realize that they have taken over the Enterprise in order to carry out their mission. Their only chance to do away with the Borg and their seductive Queen is to make sure that Zefram Cochrane makes his famous faster-than-light travel to the stars."
"In the twenty-fourth century, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E has been ordered to patrol the Romulan Neutral Zone by the Federation to avoid interference with their battle against the insidious Borg. Witnessing the loss of the battle, Captain Jean-Luc Picard ignores orders and takes command of the fleet engaging the Borg. But the Borg plan to travel back into the twenty-first century through a vortex with the intention to stop Earth's first contact with an alien race (the Vulcans). Following the Borg sphere, Picard and his crew realize that they have taken over the Enterprise in order to carry out their mission. Their only chance to do away with the Borg and their seductive Queen is to make sure that Zefram Cochrane makes his famous faster-than-light travel to the stars."
On this day in 1997 (in New Zealand), The Relic opened its big prehistoric mouth and tried to take a bite out of the box office. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A detective is puzzled after recent spate of deaths involving decapitations. He visits a museum when a new victim is found murdered in the same way. In the museum, he encounters an evolutionary biologist who herself is puzzled after discovering a mutated beetle that possesses both insect and reptilian DNA. The detective finds a common link between the murders, hypothalamus missing from the brains of the victims. Together they both try to defeat a monster/killer who is on a killing spree."
"A detective is puzzled after recent spate of deaths involving decapitations. He visits a museum when a new victim is found murdered in the same way. In the museum, he encounters an evolutionary biologist who herself is puzzled after discovering a mutated beetle that possesses both insect and reptilian DNA. The detective finds a common link between the murders, hypothalamus missing from the brains of the victims. Together they both try to defeat a monster/killer who is on a killing spree."
Definitely one of the best comic book properties to come out the 1990's, Blade enjoyed its U.S. theatrical debut on this day in 1998. The feature starred Wesley Snipes as the 'Daywalker,' and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A half-vampire, half-mortal man becomes a protector of the mortal race, while slaying evil vampires."
"A half-vampire, half-mortal man becomes a protector of the mortal race, while slaying evil vampires."
A star is born! On this day in 2004, the SciFi/Telefilm Raptor Island took a bite out of crime. The feature starred Lorenzo Lamas and Steven Bauer, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A team of terrorist-fighting Naval officers in the South China Sea finds their struggle against the enemy taking a backseat to the fight of their lives when an horde of creatures thought to be extinct for millions of years descend upon them."
"A team of terrorist-fighting Naval officers in the South China Sea finds their struggle against the enemy taking a backseat to the fight of their lives when an horde of creatures thought to be extinct for millions of years descend upon them."
A star is born! On this day in 2010, the SciFi/Telefilm Lake Placid 3 gave us yet one more thrill ride of genetically-enhanced alligators. The feature starred Colin Ferguson and Yancy Butler, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Killer crocodiles and their offspring terrorize residents of a small community."
"Killer crocodiles and their offspring terrorize residents of a small community."
On this day in 2013, The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones enjoyed its U.S. theatrical debut. The Fantasy feature starred Lily Collins and Robert Sheehan, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"When her mother disappears, Clary Fray learns that she descends from a line of warriors who protect our world from demons. She joins forces with others like her and heads into a dangerous alternate New York called the Shadow World."
"When her mother disappears, Clary Fray learns that she descends from a line of warriors who protect our world from demons. She joins forces with others like her and heads into a dangerous alternate New York called the Shadow World."
On this day in 2015, American Ultra gave audiences another look at secret government activities with a blend of Science Fiction and Comedy. The feature starred Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A stoner - who is in fact a government agent - is marked as a liability and targeted for extermination. But he's too well-trained and too high for them to handle."
"A stoner - who is in fact a government agent - is marked as a liability and targeted for extermination. But he's too well-trained and too high for them to handle."
On this day in 1981 (in the Netherlands), Battlestar Galactica aired "The Lost Warrior." Officially, this served as the fourth episode in the program's only season on original broadcast television, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Apollo crashes on the Wild West like planet Equellus after being pursued by four Cylon fighters. Taken in by a widow named Vella and her son Puppis, Apollo takes on crime boss La Certa and Red-Eye, a Cylon centurion turned formidable gunfighter who killed Vella's husband Martin."
"Apollo crashes on the Wild West like planet Equellus after being pursued by four Cylon fighters. Taken in by a widow named Vella and her son Puppis, Apollo takes on crime boss La Certa and Red-Eye, a Cylon centurion turned formidable gunfighter who killed Vella's husband Martin."
On this day in 1992 (in France), The Ray Bradbury Theater aired "The Anthem Sprinters." Officially, this served as the fourth episode in the program's sixth (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"An American author on a visit to Dublin stops by a pub where he is caught up in the excitement over a local sporting event known as "anthem sprinting." In this challenge runners compete to see who can get out of the theater fastest during the pause between the end of the film and the start of the Irish national anthem and this time the stakes are the American's first edition of Joyce versus the pub's Sean O'Casey autographed playbill."
"An American author on a visit to Dublin stops by a pub where he is caught up in the excitement over a local sporting event known as "anthem sprinting." In this challenge runners compete to see who can get out of the theater fastest during the pause between the end of the film and the start of the Irish national anthem and this time the stakes are the American's first edition of Joyce versus the pub's Sean O'Casey autographed playbill."
On this day in 1998, Stargate: SG-1 aired "Secrets." This served as the ninth episode to the long-running program's second season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"Whilst O'Neill and Carter head to Washington to be decorated by the President and find a security leak, Jackson and Teal'c go to Abydos (after they unbury their stargate) to see Sha're's father. They arrive to tell him that they have been unsuccessful in finding Sha're, only to discover that she is already on Abydos. But they find that she is pregnant by Apophis and the baby holds the secrets of the Goa'uld."
"Whilst O'Neill and Carter head to Washington to be decorated by the President and find a security leak, Jackson and Teal'c go to Abydos (after they unbury their stargate) to see Sha're's father. They arrive to tell him that they have been unsuccessful in finding Sha're, only to discover that she is already on Abydos. But they find that she is pregnant by Apophis and the baby holds the secrets of the Goa'uld."
On this day in 2001 (in the United Kingdom), Star Trek: Voyager aired "Virtuoso." Officially, this served as the thirteenth episode in the program's sixth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A snugly condescending but highly mathematical alien race inexplicably finds The Doctor's singing voice completely and uniquely enthralling. Offering him a new career as a singing sensation strokes his self-inflated ego and makes him consider leaving Voyager, arguing that Captain Janeway treats him like technology more than as a person."
"A snugly condescending but highly mathematical alien race inexplicably finds The Doctor's singing voice completely and uniquely enthralling. Offering him a new career as a singing sensation strokes his self-inflated ego and makes him consider leaving Voyager, arguing that Captain Janeway treats him like technology more than as a person."
On this day in 2001, Witchblade aired "Transcendence." Officially, this served as the eleventh episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Kenneth Irons tries to get Captain Dante to call off his hunt for Sara, but the Captain is dead set on eliminating her. Meanwhile, Sara and Jake set a trap for Dante but she is shocked when she learns who actually gives the White Bulls their orders. Sara learns of her extraordinary powers and how to use it to right many wrongs. Sara's unlikely protector, Ian Nottingham, surfaces with a life-threatening passion to watch over her that leads to irrevocable consequences. Sara has no choice but to accept the destiny that comes with wielding the gauntlet and use it to regain what she has lost as she sets off to have a final confrontation with Irons after she finally learns what his intentions are for her."
"Kenneth Irons tries to get Captain Dante to call off his hunt for Sara, but the Captain is dead set on eliminating her. Meanwhile, Sara and Jake set a trap for Dante but she is shocked when she learns who actually gives the White Bulls their orders. Sara learns of her extraordinary powers and how to use it to right many wrongs. Sara's unlikely protector, Ian Nottingham, surfaces with a life-threatening passion to watch over her that leads to irrevocable consequences. Sara has no choice but to accept the destiny that comes with wielding the gauntlet and use it to regain what she has lost as she sets off to have a final confrontation with Irons after she finally learns what his intentions are for her."
On this day in 2005, The 4400 aired "The Fifth Page." This served as the eleventh episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The authorities led by Dennis Ryland wants to quarantine every 4400, as several of them are sick with the same as Maia. Hunted by bad conscience Kyle somehow contacts Marsden's girlfriend."
"The authorities led by Dennis Ryland wants to quarantine every 4400, as several of them are sick with the same as Maia. Hunted by bad conscience Kyle somehow contacts Marsden's girlfriend."
On this day in 2006, Kyle XY aired "Overheard." Officially, this served as the ninth episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Kyle discovers some new abilities that may be dangerous to him, Lori and Declan have trust issues, and Nicole worries that her relationship with Kyle may be standing in the way of his progress."
"Kyle discovers some new abilities that may be dangerous to him, Lori and Declan have trust issues, and Nicole worries that her relationship with Kyle may be standing in the way of his progress."
It all began right here: on this day in 2007, Afterworld gave audiences yet one more glimpse into mankind's dark future with the airing of "The Big Day." Here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Russell Shoemaker wakes to find all electronic technology dead and most of the human race missing. He travels across a post-apocalyptic America, while trying to solve the mystery of what caused this global event."
"Russell Shoemaker wakes to find all electronic technology dead and most of the human race missing. He travels across a post-apocalyptic America, while trying to solve the mystery of what caused this global event."
On this day in 2015, Killjoys aired "Escape Velocity." Officially, this served as the tenth episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Tensions on Westerley boil over when the Company arrests a friend close to our Killjoys. As peace in the Quad hangs in the balance, our Killjoys are finally compelled to choose a side."
"Tensions on Westerley boil over when the Company arrests a friend close to our Killjoys. As peace in the Quad hangs in the balance, our Killjoys are finally compelled to choose a side."
