As I've oft mentioned, I was never much a fan of Stargate: SG-1 ... but I'm always a fan of hot blondes! Is there a hotter blonde in all of the STARGATE universe than Amanda Tapping? I don't think so. After she hung up her STARGATE fatigues, she also made waves in the Sanctuary, and that's no small thing. The lovely Ms. Tapping was born on this day back in 1965 ... and she still looks terrific!
With almost three hundred screen credits to his name, it comes as no surprise that Morris Ankrum managed to squeeze in a bit of Science Fiction from time-to-time. Fans might recognize him from appearances aboard Rocketship X-M (1950), Red Planet Mars (1952), Invaders From Mars (1953), Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers (1956), Science Fiction Theatre, and a host of other projects. Though he's no longer with us, Ankrum was born on this day in 1897. [Source: IMDB.com]
[If you're interested in a bit more, there's a wonderful li'l tribute article to the talented actor right here.]
[If you're interested in a bit more, there's a wonderful li'l tribute article to the talented actor right here.]
Tol Avery enjoyed some minor roles in a handful of quality genre franchises including work aboard Science Fiction Theatre, Batman, Lost In Space, and Land Of The Giants. Though he's no longer with us, Avery was born on this day in 1915. [Source: IMDB.com]
Jack Vance is an author whose work spanned a whole spectrum of genres and ideas. His work in the field of Science Fiction not only landed him as a Grand Master in the Science Fiction Hall of Fame but also saw him awarded a Nebula Award, a Jupiter Award, a World Fantasy Award, and three Hugo Awards. That's a pretty impressive track record. Though he's no longer with us, Vance was born on this day in 1916.
Folks who've been reading comic books for as long as I have know the name of Jack Kirby. In the 1940's, Kirby and another smiler named Joe Simon teamed up to create the ever-popular character of Captain America. And a few decades later Kirby helped put New Gods into service over at DC Comics. The man even has a series of awards as well as an entire Hall of Fame named after him. Though he's no longer with us, Kirby was born on this day in 1917.
Carolyn Kearney enjoyed an appearance in the realm of Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone during its fifth and final season. Though she's no longer with us, Kearney was born on this day in 1930. [Source: IMDB.com]
The prolific Ken Jenkins enjoyed a guest appearance aboard "Evolution," a relatively early hour of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Jenkins was born on this day in 1940. [Source: IMDB.com]
A few years before David Soul became 'the apple' of everyone's eye aboard the popular police drama Starsky & Hutch, he starred in "The Apple" from the SciFi classic Star Trek. Additionally, the early 1980's saw the actor headlining World War III, a 'what if' miniseries which saw tensions between the United States and the old Soviet Union come to a bitter head. Soul was born on this day in 1943. [Source: IMDB.com]
Buried under mountains of evil-looking latex, the lovely Alice Playten worked her magic aboard Ridley Scott's Legend (1985). Though she's no longer with us, Playten was born on this day in 1947. [Source: IMDB.com]
Vonda McIntyre is probably best known for her SciFi novels within the Star Trek and Star Wars universes, but she's also racked up some serious recognition beyond: her novel Dreamsnake won both the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1979, and her The Moon and The Sun won the Nebula Award in 1998. McIntyre was born on this day in 1948.
Charles Rocket was a talented character actor who leaves behind work in such projects as Max Headroom, Earth Girls Are Easy (1988), Quantum Leap, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman, Star Trek: Voyager, The X-Files, and a host of more conventional fare. Though he's no longer with us, Rocket was born on this day in 1949. [Source: IMDB.com]
[NOTE: Sadly, Charles took his own life in 2005. So if you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please share the number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255. It's never too late to save a life.]
[NOTE: Sadly, Charles took his own life in 2005. So if you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please share the number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255. It's never too late to save a life.]
Though Science Fiction and Fantasy are my first love, a very close second are classic hard-boiled detective stories; and one of the very best that was serialized for television (of its era) was CBS's The New Mike Hammer. Lindsay Bloom appeared on the program as 'Velda,' Mike's secretary and longtime love. Thankfully, the actress enjoyed a guest spot aboard the Superhero/Drama Wonder Woman so that I can mention her here. Bloom was born on this day in 1950. [Source: IMDB.com]
Likewise, Barbara Hambly has also tinkered in the two biggest mainstream SciFi universes -- penning books for both the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises -- but she also explores the worlds of fantasy, mystery, and historical fiction with her craft. Hambly was born on this day in 1951.
The great Rick Rossovich had one of those nifty smaller supporting roles -- he even suffered a pretty gruesome cinematic death -- aboard the seminal SciFi flick The Terminator (1984). Rossovich was born on this day in 1957. [Source: IMDB.com]
If you haven't seen Leviathan (1989), then you're missing one pretty spiffy SciFi flick. Daniel Stern is one of the supporting players in it, and he ends up succumbing to some genetic manipulation by way of infection. Stern was born on this day in 1957. [Source: IMDB.com]
Jim Fitzpatrick enjoyed a handful of appearances aboard the world that was Star Trek: Enterprise. He's also scored a bit of screen time aboard D.A.R.Y.L. (1985), Cocoon (1985), and Armageddon (1998). Fitzpatrick was born on this day in 1959. [Source: IMDB.com]
Brian Thompson is a respectable character actor who's been a part of both Star Trek: Enterprise and Star Trek: The Next Generation as well as having a solid recurring minor role in The X-Files. Plus -- and this is for those of you who love SciFi trivia -- he played the first character ever killed by The Terminator in the 1984 film. Happy birthday, Mr. Thompson, who was born on this day back in 1959.
Melissa Rosenberg is just one of the many talented producers giving Marvel fans so much silver screen and small screen glory with her work at bringing Jessica Jones to life on Netflix. Rosenberg was born on this day in 1962. [Source: IMDB.com]
Before he went all mainstream with popular fare like Seven and Gone Girl, David Fincher gave Alien fans something to crow about with a slightly different take by directing the oft-maligned Alien 3. Fincher was born on this day in 1962.
One can't even begin to think about the modern era's take on cinematic Fantasy and avoid Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lord Of The Rings. In that fantastic trilogy, Billy Boyd brought to life 'Peregrin Took.' Boyd was born on this day in 1968. [Source: IMDB.com]
Funnyman and political activist Jack Black has made a couple of interesting forays into the realm of Science Fiction: he had a small role in Waterworld (1995) as well as a lighter turn in Tim Burton's Mars Attacks (1996). Black was born on this day in 1969.
Though he's probably far more well known for his work in vastly lighter fare, Jason Priestley did appear in the relatively recent TV miniseries remake of The Day of the Triffids. Priestley was born on this day in 1969.
Early in her professional career, the lovely Amelia Curtis enjoyed a walk-on part aboard Danny Cannon's Judge Dredd (1995) for Hollywood Pictures. Curtis was born on this day in 1972. [Source: IMDB.com]
Kristin Booth found fandom willing to embrace her work when she joined the BBC's Orphan Black for a good handful of episodes between 2014 and 2015. This sought-after actress also booked appearances aboard Brimstone, Ice, Total Recall 2070, Code Name: Eternity, ReGenesis, and Supernatural. Booth was born on this day in 1974.
Eugene Byrd enjoyed a role of some menace aboard The CW's popular Superhero/Drama Arrow. The actor has also visited the various worlds of The Outer Limits, Ghost Whisperer, Night Stalker, Heroes, Eureka, and Daybreak. Byrd was born on this day in 1975. [Source: IMDB.com]
The great Nick E. Tarabay has made a quality living out of playing characters audiences might not exactly root for. Genre fans perhaps recognize him from appearances in Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013), Arrow, Person Of Interest, and Syfy's The Expanse. Tarabay was born on this day in 1975. [Source: IMDB.com]
The delicious Rachel Kimsey has given her pipes over to 'Diana Prince (aka Wonder Woman)' aboard both Justice League Action Shorts and Justice League Action. Kimsey was born on this day in 1978. [Source: IMDB.com]
Kelly Overton proved she has the right stuff to combat the end of our existence with her work aboard Syfy's Van Helsing. Overton was born on this day in 1978. [Source: IMDB.com]
The fetching Amber Sainsbury shone as one of the regulars for the Fantasy-themed Hex during its run on television. Sainsbury was born on this day in 1978. [Source: IMDB.com]
Well, go figure: chalk it up to not being able to keep a good show down because the CW's The Tomorrow People won't stop popping up on my research for entries to add to SciFi History. Fresh-faced Carly Pope has appeared on the program as the character of Morgan Burke. She's also tackled roles in Elysium, Arrow, and The 4400. Pope was born on this day in 1980.
Alfonso Herrera enjoyed a role of some prominence aboard Netflix's SciFi/Drama Sense8 during its run. Herrera was born on this day in 1983. [Source: IMDB.com]
NBC's The Event was a program which had all of the elements needed to be successful; I think the problem was that they simply waited too long to assemble the pieces in such a way to compel the audience to stick around. One of its regulars was the lovely Sarah Roemer; clearly, her character of Leila Buchanan tied in with the central mystery, which was why she was kidnapped in the first place. Roemer was born on this day in 1984.
Thankfully, young Katie Findlay's budding career includes a handful of terrific appearances in some pretty terrific SciFi properties. She's had roles aboard Fringe, SGU: Stargate Universe, Continuum, and After The Dark (2013). Findlay was born on this day in 1990.
On this day in 1951 (in Los Angeles, California), the Apocalypse-themed Five enjoyed its premiere at the box office. The feature starred William Phipps and Sarah Douglas Rubes, and here's the premise from IMDB.com:
"The world is destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. Only five Americans survive, including a pregnant woman, a neo-Nazi, a black man and a bank clerk."
"The world is destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. Only five Americans survive, including a pregnant woman, a neo-Nazi, a black man and a bank clerk."
On this day in 1964 (in Austria), Walt Disney's Son Of Flubber soared onto the silver screen. The SciFi/Comedy saw Fred MacMurray return to the role of an absent-minded professor, and here's the premise from IMDB.com:
"When Professor Brainard experiments further on Flubber derivatives, he gets in trouble and only his students can help."
"When Professor Brainard experiments further on Flubber derivatives, he gets in trouble and only his students can help."
A star is born! On this day in 1985 (in France), Ridley Scott's foray into Fantasy better known as Legend enjoy its very first theatrical engagement ever! Starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, and Tim Curry, the film delivered big on theatrical spectacle but small on box office returns; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A demon who seeks to create eternal night by destroying the last of the unicorns and marrying a fairy Princess is opposed by the forest boy Jack and his elven allies in this magical fantasy."
For the record: I had the good fortune of being provided an incredible Blu-ray DVD re-release of Legend in 2021 from Arrow Video. I penned a review of the U.S. Theatrical Version which readers can find right here.
More for the record: Legend enjoyed a singular Oscar Award for 'Best Make-up,' but the trophy went elsewhere that year. It secured three nominations from the 1986 BAFTA Awards: 'Best Costume Design,' 'Best Make Up Artist,' and 'Best Special Visual Effects.' (Again, no wins.) Lastly, it secured the nomination for 'Best Make-up' also from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror Films ... but lost there as well. Sigh.
"A demon who seeks to create eternal night by destroying the last of the unicorns and marrying a fairy Princess is opposed by the forest boy Jack and his elven allies in this magical fantasy."
For the record: I had the good fortune of being provided an incredible Blu-ray DVD re-release of Legend in 2021 from Arrow Video. I penned a review of the U.S. Theatrical Version which readers can find right here.
More for the record: Legend enjoyed a singular Oscar Award for 'Best Make-up,' but the trophy went elsewhere that year. It secured three nominations from the 1986 BAFTA Awards: 'Best Costume Design,' 'Best Make Up Artist,' and 'Best Special Visual Effects.' (Again, no wins.) Lastly, it secured the nomination for 'Best Make-up' also from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror Films ... but lost there as well. Sigh.
On this day in 2012 (per IMDB.com), the SciFi Short Film UFO Race was released to the public via YouTube.com. The feature sprang from the mind of Andrea Ricca, and here's the plot summary as listed on the director's website:
"UFO RACE" is an indie sci-fi horror short movie, with 3D graphics special effects. The work is a zero budget production. It had no external contributions and it made no payements to the sharers. It was realized with the only help of a MiniDV camera and a computer."
For those who'd like to know more, check out the feature on YouTube.com right here.
"UFO RACE" is an indie sci-fi horror short movie, with 3D graphics special effects. The work is a zero budget production. It had no external contributions and it made no payements to the sharers. It was realized with the only help of a MiniDV camera and a computer."
For those who'd like to know more, check out the feature on YouTube.com right here.
After playing to some modest buzz on the festival circuit, the Horror/SciFi hybrid Pod was finally released to the masses-at-large on this day in 2015. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A family intervention goes horrifically awry within the snowy confines of an isolated lake house."
"A family intervention goes horrifically awry within the snowy confines of an isolated lake house."
A star is born! On this day in 2020, Attack Of The Unknown attacked audiences unbeknownst to them! With a screenplay written and directed by Brandon Slagle, the SciFi feature starred Richard Grieco, Jolene Andersen, and Tara Reid; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Throughout history there have been cases of entire cities disappearing overnight, but no one really knows why. It's happened throughout the world, as recently as one-hundred years ago in the United States, and it's also going to happen tonight. LOS ANGELES: a SWAT team transporting a high profile inmate find themselves trapped inside a county detention center as the world burns around them. They have no communication with the outside world, no radios, no television, and no working vehicles. Together they must put aside their differences and band together to escape the mysterious alien forces that are tracking them."
"Throughout history there have been cases of entire cities disappearing overnight, but no one really knows why. It's happened throughout the world, as recently as one-hundred years ago in the United States, and it's also going to happen tonight. LOS ANGELES: a SWAT team transporting a high profile inmate find themselves trapped inside a county detention center as the world burns around them. They have no communication with the outside world, no radios, no television, and no working vehicles. Together they must put aside their differences and band together to escape the mysterious alien forces that are tracking them."
On this day in 1966 (in Japan), Thunderbirds aired "Security Hazard." Officially, this served as the twenty-sixth episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A young boy manages to stow away on Thunderbird 2 and manages to get to International Rescue's island base undetected. On the island the Tracy boys are worried when they realize how much about the day to day operations have been revealed to the boy. Jeff comes up with a novel way to get around the issue and preserve all of International Rescue's secrets."
"A young boy manages to stow away on Thunderbird 2 and manages to get to International Rescue's island base undetected. On the island the Tracy boys are worried when they realize how much about the day to day operations have been revealed to the boy. Jeff comes up with a novel way to get around the issue and preserve all of International Rescue's secrets."
On this day in 1979, Wonder Woman aired "The Man Who Could Not Die." Officially, this served as the twenty-second episode in the program's third (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Wonder Woman meets the invulnerable man and they join forces to fight crime."
"Wonder Woman meets the invulnerable man and they join forces to fight crime."
On this day in 1995, UPN's Star Trek: Voyager soared into its second season with the airing of "The 37's." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The Voyager crew discovers several people who were abducted during 1937, including Amelia Earhart, cryogenically frozen on a distant planet."
"The Voyager crew discovers several people who were abducted during 1937, including Amelia Earhart, cryogenically frozen on a distant planet."
On this day in 2005, The 4400 aired "Mommy's Bosses." This served as the twelfth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"7 of the 4400 have died and Maia gets worse all the time Out of suspicion and despair Diana threatens Dr. Hudson with a gun. Lily has run away with Isabelle and Richard pleads her to come back. Marsdem seems unable to avoid a long prison term which makes Alison contact Kyle."
"7 of the 4400 have died and Maia gets worse all the time Out of suspicion and despair Diana threatens Dr. Hudson with a gun. Lily has run away with Isabelle and Richard pleads her to come back. Marsdem seems unable to avoid a long prison term which makes Alison contact Kyle."
On this day in 2009, Eureka aired "You Don't Know Jack." Officially, this served as the sixteenth episode in the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Jack and Allison are trapped within the Global Dynamics building during a countdown for a sonic cleaning. Fargo messes with the memory recording system Dr. Fontana has been working on, which accidentally leads to widespread amnesia."
"Jack and Allison are trapped within the Global Dynamics building during a countdown for a sonic cleaning. Fargo messes with the memory recording system Dr. Fontana has been working on, which accidentally leads to widespread amnesia."
