The late Don S. Davis had a presence that practically screamed "authority figure." I can remember first being attuned to what he could do in a role in the much revered cult TV series, Twin Peaks, in the 90's, but perhaps Davis was best known for coming into his own with the sci-fi-friendly Stargate: SG-1 series. As the venerable George Hammond, he managed the entire Stargate program until that show came to a conclusion. Though he's no longer with us, Davis was born on this day in 1942.
With an albeit brief appearance aboard Star Trek: The Next Generation (pictured above as Admiral Connaught Rossa from "Suddenly Human"), Barbara Townsend earned her stripes in the realm of Science Fiction. She also enjoyed guest-starring roles aboard Otherworld (1985), Knight Rider (1985), Annihilator (1986), and Quantum Leap (1991). Though she's no longer with us, Townsend was born on this day in 1913.
Unfortunately, sometimes my vast web searches are fruitless when it comes to obtaining pictures of some of the talented involved in the realm of SciFi from behind-the-scenes; such is the case with TV screenwriter Paul Schneider who definitely deserves a mention. In his years in the entertainment business, he completed scripts for such programs as the original Star Trek, Star Trek: The Animated Series, The Starlost, The Six Million Dollar Man, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Though he's no longer with us, Schneider was born on this day in 1923.
Screen veteran Martin Jarvis had the opportunity to play a small handful of different characters throughout the earlier incarnations of the BBC's long-running Doctor Who program (pictured above). The actor has also made appearances in Space: Above and Beyond, Space Island One, and Stargate: Atlantis. Jarvis was born on this day in 1941.
Richard Belzer took a day or two off from his epic starring run aboard NBC's long-running Law & Order franchise for an appearance aboard Fox TV's The X-Files. Belzer was born on this day in 1944.
With just twenty years in the acting business, William Frankfather manages to clock in an impressive 70 screen credits to his name. His debut was as the memorable Whitey Jackson in the 1978 romantic comedy Foul Play, and he quickly earned guest roles in such properties as The Greatest American Hero, Amazing Stories, The Twilight Zone, Alien Nation, The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Though he's no longer with us, Frankfather was born on this day in 1944.
She was one of the first to face the truly original alien invasion when Tremors 4: The Legend Begins traveled back to the founding of Rejection Valley. As an actress, Sara Botsford has also enjoyed roles aboard Sliders, Total Recall 2070, and 2005's The Fog remake. Botsford was born on this day in 1951.
Billy Bob Thornton made a bit of a splash when he starred as NASA specialist Dan Truman in 1998's disaster-flick Armageddon. He also starred in a little something called The Astronaut Farmer, but I've never seen it ... mostly because I hate the man's politics. Whatever. Thornton was born on this day in 1955.
Though she's probably remembered more for her star turn as the young Gretl in the musical classic The Sound of Music, Kym Karath did venture in Lost In Space for a guest star appearance. Karath was born on this day in 1958.
As a voice actress, Lauren Tom supplied the vocals to Amy Wong, one of the (ahem) more down-to-Earth characters in Matt Groening's SciFi comedy Futurama. Tom has also supplied vocals to such projects as Teen Titans, Justice League, and Teen Titans Go! Tom was born on this day in 1961.
I ask you: what man wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of a little 'good cop, bad cop' play with Fringe's Anna Torv? Well, maybe that would be where Sebastian Roché drew the line. In the character of Thomas Jerome Newton (pictured above right), Roché worked hard toward making Olivia Dunham's life hell. Roché was born on this day in 1964.
FX's popular The Strain might not be pure Science Fiction, but the horror show exploring a possible vampire apocalypse combines science in the realm of possibility so much so that it deserves mention in these corridors of the web. Author, screenwriter, and producer Chuck Hogan has helped Guillermo del Toro to bring the vision to small screen life, and we're thankful for his contributions to the program. Hogan was born on this day in 1967.
One might not know it at first glance, but Daniel Dae Kim has actually been a participant in several Sci-Fi franchises. Naturally, he's most known for ABC TV's Lost, but Kim has also had roles in The Pretender, Crusade, Star Trek: Voyager, Angel, Star Trek: Enterprise, and the TV mini-series remake of The Andromeda Strain. Kim was born on this day in 1968.
Wow, what a name! Fenella Woolgar had a brief flirtation aboard the BBC's Doctor Who in the role of no less than literary genius Agatha Christie. She's also done some voice acting for the SciFi video game, BioShock 2. Woolgar was born on this day in 1969.
Michael DeLuise was a welcome addition to the cast of SeaQuest DSV as well as its more sci-fi-friendly SeaQuest 2032. He's also made an appearance in the Stargate: SG-1 universe. Though his resume is light as of late, I for one would welcome his return into the fold. DeLuise was born on this day in 1969.
In 2013's Man of Steel, David Lewis (pictured above right) played Major Laramore, one of the military men fascinated by Superman's feats of strength. The versatile actor has also enjoyed a presence aboard The X-Files, Millennium, Lexx, The Outer Limits, Stargate: SG-1, Kyle XY, Eureka, Smallville, and Fringe. Lewis was born on this day in 1976.
California girl Meghan Markle impressed as a junior federal agent in a guest-starring role aboard Fox TV's stellar Fringe (pictured). Markle was born on this day in 1981.
Lovely Abigail Spencer played a small but critical role in 2011's tepid and uninspired Cowboys & Aliens (pictured). Spencer was born on this day in 1981.
The young David Kaye joined Jessica Alba for an outing of Fox TV's Dark Angel. The actor has also delivered roles aboard The Outer Limits, X-Men: Evolution (animated), He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (animated), Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (animated), and the CW's popular Arrow. Kaye was born on this day in 1988.
Actor Denzel Washington has made a few quality stabs at Science Fiction. One of his earliest -- Virtuosity -- premiered theatrically on this day back in 1995. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A virtual-reality serial killer manages to escape into the real world."
"A virtual-reality serial killer manages to escape into the real world."
On this day in the year 2000, Farscape's "Look at the Princess" trilogy concluded with the airing of Part 3, "The Maltese Crichton." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Crichton has been turned into a statue. Now someone has cut off his head, and everyone searches for it. Once it's reattached, he finds out he cannot be turned into a statue again, he wouldn't survive, but the Princess is having his child. Meanwhile Z'han tries to convince the builders that Moya is peaceful and should not be killed, failing that she tries to convince Moya not to kill herself."
"Crichton has been turned into a statue. Now someone has cut off his head, and everyone searches for it. Once it's reattached, he finds out he cannot be turned into a statue again, he wouldn't survive, but the Princess is having his child. Meanwhile Z'han tries to convince the builders that Moya is peaceful and should not be killed, failing that she tries to convince Moya not to kill herself."
On this day in 2006, Stargate: Atlantis aired "Sateda." This served as the fourth episode of the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"After a group of people captures and gives Ronon to the Wraith, he becomes a runner again, but this time he's left in his home planet, Sateda, where the Stargate has been disabled."
"After a group of people captures and gives Ronon to the Wraith, he becomes a runner again, but this time he's left in his home planet, Sateda, where the Stargate has been disabled."
On this day in 2006, the action heated up on an episode of Stargate: SG-1. The fourth episode of its tenth (and final) season, "Insiders" pitted the crew against some pretty diabolical forces. Here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"The SGC-base is approached by an al-kesh glider which lets itself be taken down, so they can capture Ba'al, who offers to exchange the necessary information to find Merlin's weapon for human help to eliminate his clones, which want to kill him. They mistrust his story, as does NIS-agent Malcolm Barrett, who however fails to take over the investigation. Since the captive might actually be a clone, several missions to different planets retrieve and capture all clones, but which is the real Ba'al, and what are his true intentions?"
"The SGC-base is approached by an al-kesh glider which lets itself be taken down, so they can capture Ba'al, who offers to exchange the necessary information to find Merlin's weapon for human help to eliminate his clones, which want to kill him. They mistrust his story, as does NIS-agent Malcolm Barrett, who however fails to take over the investigation. Since the captive might actually be a clone, several missions to different planets retrieve and capture all clones, but which is the real Ba'al, and what are his true intentions?"
The second season of Syfy's Continuum came to a close on this day in 2013 with an hour curiously titled "Second Time." According to IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"In a scene from the future, older Alec is aware of Liber8's plot and enlists the help of someone who is now living in the past. In the present Alec, devastated by Emily's death, visits Escher and makes it clear that he holds him responsible for her death. Eschur reveals his relationship to Alec. Kiera learns of Emily's death and contacts Alec but Inspector Dillon tracks her down and she is placed under arrest. Carlos puts everything on the line to free her. Carlos is investigating Emily's death and suspects it may be the same group responsible for stealing the corpses from the morgue. Kellog again has to convince Travis and Sonya that Eschur is a major threat. The role of the Freelancers is revealed."
"In a scene from the future, older Alec is aware of Liber8's plot and enlists the help of someone who is now living in the past. In the present Alec, devastated by Emily's death, visits Escher and makes it clear that he holds him responsible for her death. Eschur reveals his relationship to Alec. Kiera learns of Emily's death and contacts Alec but Inspector Dillon tracks her down and she is placed under arrest. Carlos puts everything on the line to free her. Carlos is investigating Emily's death and suspects it may be the same group responsible for stealing the corpses from the morgue. Kellog again has to convince Travis and Sonya that Eschur is a major threat. The role of the Freelancers is revealed."
On this day in 2013, TNT's Falling Skies aired "Brazil." This served as the tenth episode of the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"When the 2nd mass destroys a crucial Espheni base, a relentless enemy is taken down and the Mason family is reunited with those who had been lost."
"When the 2nd mass destroys a crucial Espheni base, a relentless enemy is taken down and the Mason family is reunited with those who had been lost."
