When it came to Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Ray Park had a tough job. He was cast to play the (sadly) one-off villain, Darth Maul, against Jedi veteran Qui Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson). Fortunately, he at least got to kill Neeson's character ... before he was hacked in half by Qui Gon's apprentice, Obi Wan Kenobi. Still, Park did the best he could with the material provided by Lucas, and no one should forget that menacing scowl of his in the years ahead. Mr. Park was born on this day back in 1974.
Vera Miles has talent and beauty like few others in the glory days of Hollywood. Though she's probably best remembered for her appearance aboard Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, genre fans enjoyed her work in Science Fiction Theatre, The Twilight Zone, The Unknown (1964), The Outer Limits, Journey to the Unknown, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, and BrainWaves (1982). Miles was born on this day in 1929. [Source: IMDB.com]
Though she's far more well known for bringing to sexy life Jeannie on the comedy TV classic I Dream Of Jeannie, Barbara Eden played a role in the original Irwin Allen motion picture Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea (1961). Eden was born on this day in 1939.
The original Jurassic Park featured a lot of truly gifted actors in some small but critical roles. One such talent was Bob Peck, who brought to life dinosaur wrangler Robert Muldoon. Though he's no longer with us, Peck was born on this day in 1945.
Comedienne Shelley Long lent her ability to make people laugh to a guest spot aboard Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman during that program's run. Long was born on this day in 1949. [Source: IMDB.com]
Ah, what could've been, my friends! Thinking back on the original Battlestar Galactica, I find it chilling that it was the death of Lieutenant Zac -- Commander Adama's son and brother of Apollo -- that basically set the entire "Saga Of A Star World" in motion. For those who missed it, Zac (above left) was played by Rick Springfield. The actor also enjoyed guest spots aboard The Six Million Dollar Man, Wonder Woman, and The Incredible Hulk. Springfield was born on this day in 1949.
In the first season Buck Rogers in the 25th Century episode "Planet of the Slave Girls," Michael Mullins played Regis Saroyan, the young heir to a galactic fortune who was also training to be a star pilot for the Earth. He also had roles aboard cult favorites Ark II and Tales of the Gold Monkey. Mullins was born on this day in 1951.
Standing an impressive six feet ten inches tall, Nigerian born actor Bolaji Badejo was extra what director Ridley Scott needed under the costume as the seminal Alien from his film of the same name. Though he's no longer with us, Badejo was born on this day in 1953.
Chris Potter has left a mark on several genre-related projects, both as a live actor as well as related voicework. He's been involved with War of the Worlds (1988), the X-Men video games, the X-Men animated series, The Outer Limits (1999), Arachnid (2001), Andromeda (2003), and the TV miniseries Superstorm. Potter was born on this day in 1960.
Hunky Deron McBee lent his considerable brawn to the role of 'Doran' for the Fantasy film Time Barbarians (1990). McBee was born on this day in 1961. [Source: IMDB.com]
Actor Ed Gale had the daunting challenge of trying to breathe life into the lifeless Howard The Duck (1986). (George Lucas, what were you thinking?!) Gale persevered after Howard's failure, securing work aboard Spaceballs (1987), Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991), Land of the Lost (1990's), Lifepod (1993), Weird Science, and Fairie (2002). Gale was born on this day in 1963. [Source: IMDB.com]
Funnyman Jay Mohr joined funnyman Eddie Murphy in the box office dud The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002). Mohr was born on this day in 1970. [Source: IMDB.com]
In his youth, River Phoenix joined Ethan Hawke in 1985's Joe Dante directed Explorers. A few years later, the actor played a young version of a famed archaeologist in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Though he's no longer with us, Phoenix was born on this day in 1970.
Aaron Douglas signed aboard Battlestar Galactica never really knowing what the fate of his character -- Chief Galen Tyrol -- would be. Then again, I don't think anyone on the writing staff knew either as it appeared as the show wore on that they were making it all up as they went. But Douglas's portrayal of the blue-collar working stiff aboard the Galactica's crew gave the show much of its heart. Mr. Douglas was born on this day back in 1971.
When he was a boy, young Joey Cramer got to do onscreen what every young SciFi fan dreams about: he got to pilot an alien spacecraft! Granted, it was all theatrical, seeing as how it was part of the plot of Walt Disney's Flight of the Navigator, but that made it no less cool. Cramer was born on this day in 1973.
The fetching young lass in costume (above right) is none other than self-professed Star Wars nerd Clare Grant. For those who know Team Unicorn, she remains a member in good standing. She's done voice work for Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Robot Chicken, Hulk and Agents of S.M.A.S.H., and Marvels Avengers Assemble. Grant was born on this day in 1979.
The lovely Joanne Froggatt hasn't done much by way of Fantasy, but a terrific role as 'Ruth Tyler' aboard the BBC original Life On Mars is good enough for my records. Froggatt was born on this day in 1980. [Source: IMDB.com]
English-born Ruta Gedmintas is heating up the small screen as part of the ensemble fighting against the impending vampire apocalyspe on FX's The Strain. Gedmintas was born on this day in 1983.
On this day in 1985, Godzilla 1985 premiered theatrically. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Thirty years after the original monster's rampage, a new Godzilla emerges and attacks Japan."
"Thirty years after the original monster's rampage, a new Godzilla emerges and attacks Japan."
On this day in 1987, the SciFi/Telefilm The Man Who Fell To Earth revisited the spaceman's story via the Boob Tube. The feature starred Lewis Smith and Robert Picardo, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"An alien lands on earth, and decides that he needs to take a job in order to raise money to build a spaceship so he can get back to his home planet."
"An alien lands on earth, and decides that he needs to take a job in order to raise money to build a spaceship so he can get back to his home planet."
On this day in 1996, yet another version of The Island of Dr. Moreau premiered theatrically. This one starred Val Kilmer and Marlon Brando, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"After being rescued and brought to an island, a man discovers that it's inhabitants are experimental animals being turned into strange looking humans, all of it the work of a visionary doctor."
"After being rescued and brought to an island, a man discovers that it's inhabitants are experimental animals being turned into strange looking humans, all of it the work of a visionary doctor."
On this day in 2002, S1m0ne (aka Simone) gave Al Pacino a rare appearance in the realm of Science Fiction. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A producer's film is endangered when his star walks off, so he decides to digitally create an actress to substitute for the star, becoming an overnight sensation that everyone thinks is a real person."
"A producer's film is endangered when his star walks off, so he decides to digitally create an actress to substitute for the star, becoming an overnight sensation that everyone thinks is a real person."
On this day in 2013 (at the Black Harvest Film Festival), Destination Planet Negro launched as a SciFi/Comedy. The feature starred Tosin Morohunfola and Danielle Cooper, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"In 1939, African American leaders respond to Jim Crow segregation by building a rocket to colonize Mars. The three person crew blasts off, but time travel instead, arriving in present-day America revealing much about race today."
"In 1939, African American leaders respond to Jim Crow segregation by building a rocket to colonize Mars. The three person crew blasts off, but time travel instead, arriving in present-day America revealing much about race today."
On this day in 2002, Stargate: SG-1 aired "Prometheus." This served as the eleventh episode of the long-running program's sixth season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"A television news crew has unearthed information about an Air Force project called "Prometheus". They believe it to be a generator, but know it uses Trinium, an element not found on Earth. In order to keep them quiet the Air Force allows them to film the X-303, a spaceship based on Asgard technologies, otherwise known as Prometheus. Things turn south when the news crew arm themselves and hold the Prometheus, as well as Sam and Jonas, hostage."
"A television news crew has unearthed information about an Air Force project called "Prometheus". They believe it to be a generator, but know it uses Trinium, an element not found on Earth. In order to keep them quiet the Air Force allows them to film the X-303, a spaceship based on Asgard technologies, otherwise known as Prometheus. Things turn south when the news crew arm themselves and hold the Prometheus, as well as Sam and Jonas, hostage."
On this day in 2002, Farscape aired "Unrealized Reality." This served as the eleventh episode of the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"Crichton finds a wormhole, and studies with interest in his space suit, and gets pulled inside. He meets Einstein, and exposes Crichton to different realities to showcase the full potential of wormholes. Crichton realizes even his limited knowledge of wormholes is dangerous."
"Crichton finds a wormhole, and studies with interest in his space suit, and gets pulled inside. He meets Einstein, and exposes Crichton to different realities to showcase the full potential of wormholes. Crichton realizes even his limited knowledge of wormholes is dangerous."
On this day in 2003, the mildly revamped Starhunter aired "Bio Crime." This was the third episode of the second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at TVGuide.com:
"The crew finds evidence of genetic tampering, resulting in horrible mutations, committed in an effort to please those with money and aberrant taste."
"The crew finds evidence of genetic tampering, resulting in horrible mutations, committed in an effort to please those with money and aberrant taste."
On this day in 2014, audiences were introduced to yet another regeneration of the seemingly immortal Doctor Who with the airing of the eighth season opener, "Deep Breath." According to IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"When the newly-regenerated doctor arrives in Victorian London, he finds a dinosaur rampant in the Thames and a spate of deadly spontaneous combustions."
"When the newly-regenerated doctor arrives in Victorian London, he finds a dinosaur rampant in the Thames and a spate of deadly spontaneous combustions."
On this day in 2015, Falling Skies aired "Reunion." This served as the ninth episode of the program's fifth (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"Tom gains a powerful new weapon against the Espheni. Ben puts his life on the line to extract enemy plans. Pope discovers that Tom is alive, and launches a final attack. Meanwhile, the 2nd Mass must reassess their situation when an unexpected visitor appears."
"Tom gains a powerful new weapon against the Espheni. Ben puts his life on the line to extract enemy plans. Pope discovers that Tom is alive, and launches a final attack. Meanwhile, the 2nd Mass must reassess their situation when an unexpected visitor appears."
