Kids of the 1970's rejoice! Actor Richard Anderson (show above, right, with Lee Majors) played "Oscar Goldman." He was the boss to Steve Austin, better known as The Six Million Dollar Man. This was one of the high points to 70's Science Fiction. Anderson was born on this day back in 1926!
In the role of 'Prince Thun,' James Pierce joined Buster Crabbe in SciFi History aboard the original Flash Gordon (1936). Though he's no longer with us, Pierce was born on this day in 1900. [Source: IMDB.com]
One of the very last professional gigs was as the mildly confused Grandma Florence Norris -- the unexpected 'savior' of the human race -- in Tim Burton's delightfully zany Mars Attacks! (1996) She was Sylvia Sidney, and -- though she's no longer with us -- she was born on this day in 1910.
Where oh where would televised Science Fiction be without the works of Terry Nation? In his time on this Earthly realm, he contributed scripts for such properties as Doctor Who, Survivors, and Blake's 7. Though he's no longer with us, Nation was born on this day in 1930.
Keith Barron went back in time for Science Fiction with roles aboard The Land That Time Forgot (1974) and At The Earth's Core (1976) as well as appearing aboard The Avengers, Out Of The Unknown, Doctor Who, and Police 2020 (1997). Barron was born on this day in 1934. [Source: IMDB.com]
Science Fiction fans all appreciate the terrific genre work of legendary TV producer Donald P. Bellisario. His late 80's creation of Quantum Leap gave viewers a weekly dose of time travel stories and helped make Scott Bakula a household name. Bellisario was born on this day in 1935.
Dustin Hoffman is far more well known for his work in contemporary dramas, but he has flirted with some quality genre projects from time to time. One such property he headlined was 1998's Sphere -- a SciFi flick based on a novel by Michael Crichton -- which had an underwater crew discovering a spaceship on the ocean floor. Hoffman was born on this day in 1937.
Fans of 1984's SciFi/Comedy The Ice Pirates might remember the talented Marcia Lewis who appeared in the film as the 'Frog Lady.' Though she's no longer with us, Lewis was born on this day in 1938.
The voluptuous Connie Stevens joined funnyman Jerry Lewis in the SciFi/Comedy Way Way Out (1966). Stevens was born on this day in 1938.
By gosh, that officer sure had great hair, no? The lovely Brooke Bundy showed up for a guest spot early on in Star Trek: The Next Generation's TV run. So far as genre stuff goes, she also put in appearances on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Land of the Lost, Wonder Woman, Explorers (1985), and Starman. Bundy was born on this day in 1944.
The respected Keith Carradine made a rare appearance in Science Fiction when he took on a recurring role aboard Joss Whedon's short-lived Dollhouse on Fox TV. Carradine was born on this day in 1949.
Though I suspect most folks remember Don Most for his work as Ralph Malph on a certain sitcom, Don Most has dabbled in genre entertainment since Happy Days with work aboard Sliders, Dark Skies, and Star Trek: Voyager. Most was born on this day in 1953.
Playing the mysteriously named 'The Haitian,' Jimmy Jean-Louis smoldered his way through the small screen adventures of Heroes and Heroes Reborn. The talented actor also logged time aboard Arrow, Metal Hurlant Chronicles, and Extant. Jean-Louis was born on this day in 1968.
Tawny Cypress has had some smaller roles in such genre properties as Warehouse 13 and Elementary after bursting out of a breakthrough performance as part of the ensemble that was NBC's Heroes. In 2006, she also appeared in a telefilm titled The Time Tunnel about a U.S. Department of Energy experiment that changed human history. Cypress was born on this day in 1976.
Though her resume lends one to believe she prefers far more conventional fare, the lovely Lindsay Sloane has dabbled in the realm of Fantasy with work aboard Lands Of Lore III (video game), Batman Beyond (animated), Strange Frequency (2001), and Strange Frequency 2 (2002). Sloane was born on this day in 1977. [Source: IMDB.com]
Men In Black III (2012) had a central premise I loved -- and one I thought could've re-invigorated the franchise after a disappointing sequel -- but it just never quite came together the way it may have in another time and place. Still, Michael Chernus played a role in the motion picture, and Chernus was born on this day in 1977.
The lovely Meagan Good headlined Fox TV's high concept (but poorly received) Minority Report, a weekly TV SciFi procedural that tried to capture the spark of the 2002 motion picture from Steven Spielberg. (Sadly, it didn't.) Good was born on this day in 1981.
Peyton List is one of the headliners bringing the future of human genetics to the CW's The Tomorrow People. In it, she plays Cara Coburn, one of several young people exploring the next generation of human beings on Earth. List was born on this day in 1986.
Well, deja vu! The young and suitably perky Laura Wiggins is only one of the stars of the CW's The Tomorrow People, a SciFi-lite program postulating that the next generation of humans will be endowed with special powers. Wiggins was born on this day in 1988.
On this day in 1986, the Autobots took their first journey up onto the silver screen in The Transformers: The Movie! According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The Autobots must stop a colossal planet consuming robot who goes after the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. At the same time, they must defend themselves against an all-out attack from the Decepticons."
"The Autobots must stop a colossal planet consuming robot who goes after the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. At the same time, they must defend themselves against an all-out attack from the Decepticons."
On this day in 2013, the telefilm titled Invasion Roswell was first screened for the 'boob tube' masses at large. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"After the American Army shot down a UFO in 1947, generations of elite commandos were secretly trained to deal with the aliens' feared return. However, the extra-terrestrials never came back and the elite force was disbanded. Sixty-six years after the Roswell crash, the aliens are invading Earth and only the over-the-hill retired commandos can stop them."
"After the American Army shot down a UFO in 1947, generations of elite commandos were secretly trained to deal with the aliens' feared return. However, the extra-terrestrials never came back and the elite force was disbanded. Sixty-six years after the Roswell crash, the aliens are invading Earth and only the over-the-hill retired commandos can stop them."
On this day in 1952, Tales Of Tomorrow aired "Ice From Space." This served as the forty-third episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"During a Congressional appropriations investigation, an Air Force sounding rocket returns to Earth with an unexpected cargo: a block of ice with unusual chemical properties. Soon the base commander, Major Dozier, is forced to deal not only with the bullheaded Congressman Burns, but the fact that the ice seems to be able to freeze everything around it."
"During a Congressional appropriations investigation, an Air Force sounding rocket returns to Earth with an unexpected cargo: a block of ice with unusual chemical properties. Soon the base commander, Major Dozier, is forced to deal not only with the bullheaded Congressman Burns, but the fact that the ice seems to be able to freeze everything around it."
On this day in 1964, Doctor Who continued its journey through its inaugural season by airing the episode titled "A Land of Fear." Here's the episode summary from IMDB.com: "The TARDIS lands during the French Revolution, where Ian, Barbara, and Susan become caught up in the politics of the day. When they are arrested and set to be executed, the Doctor must take on the disguise of a public official to try and save their lives."
On this day in 1997, Stargate: SG-1 aired "Emancipation." This served as the third episode to the long-running program's first season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"While exploring a world populated by Mongol descendants, Capt. Carter is abducted as a wife of a local warlord."
"While exploring a world populated by Mongol descendants, Capt. Carter is abducted as a wife of a local warlord."
On this day in 2004, USA Network's The 4400 aired the fifth episode of its inaugural season, an hour going by the title of "White Light." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Baldwin's son Kyle has been kidnapped by agent Lytell for interrogation. Just when Tom and Diana are making plans to take him back, Maia has a premonition about Kyle being the answer to everything."
"Baldwin's son Kyle has been kidnapped by agent Lytell for interrogation. Just when Tom and Diana are making plans to take him back, Maia has a premonition about Kyle being the answer to everything."
On this day in 2011, Alphas aired "Never Let Me Go." This served as the fifth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"Agent Sullivan (guest star Valerie Cruz) credentials Dr. Rosen (David Strathairn) and his team as members of the Defense Criminal Investigation Service and their first case takes them to Pennsylvania where an outbreak of sudden deaths involving a local high school are suspected to be the work of an Alpha."
"Agent Sullivan (guest star Valerie Cruz) credentials Dr. Rosen (David Strathairn) and his team as members of the Defense Criminal Investigation Service and their first case takes them to Pennsylvania where an outbreak of sudden deaths involving a local high school are suspected to be the work of an Alpha."
