In the 1980's, V was all the rage for a time. It all started out as a popular mini-series that explored what might happen if an alien intelligence (with a secret agenda, of course) showed itself to the residents of planet Earth -- how would folks react, what would be the short-term effects, what would be the long-term effects, etc. The first mini was so popular that it led to a second, and the second enjoyed such acclaim that it led to a series. In the original, actress Jane Badler was the duplicitous leader of these nasty alien invaders, and she chewed scenery with the best of them ... as well as chewed up a few small mice (a delicacy for them). Badler was born on this day in 1953. [Source: IMDB.com]
The venerable Richard Hamilton joined Tommy Lee Jones -- albeit briefly -- aboard the SciFi summer blockbuster Men In Black (1997). Though he's no longer with us, Hamilton was born on this day in 1920. [Source: IMDB.com]
Actor Anthony Hopkins earned his SciFi credentials in bringing an all-new version of Michael Crichton's Westworld to life for HBO; though I've found the storyline a bit confusing, Hopkins provided an excellent grounding through its first two seasons. Fantasy fans have also enjoyed his work in the Marvel Movie Universe aboard both Thor and Thor: The Dark World. Hopkins was born on this day in 1937. [Source: IMDB.com]
Rosalind Cash joined Charlton Heston in the very bleak look at the end of mankind better known as The Omega Man (1971). She also appeared in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension as well as Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman on television. Though she's no longer with us, Cash was born on this day in 1938. [Source: IMDB.com]
In the Star Trek: The Next Generation’s first season episode titled "Heart of Glory," David Wesley Froman played a Klingon Commander in contact with Starfleet's Capt. Jean-Luc Picard. Though he's no longer with us, Froman was born on this day in 1938. [Source: IMDB.com]
Based on his resume, much of the work from producer/director Sean S. Cunningham falls into the territory of traditional horror, but he has branched out just a bit with efforts like Jason X (2001) and Terminal Invasion (2002). Cunningham was born on this day in 1941. [Source: IMDB.com]
Sir Ben Kingsley helped a team of scientists search for an alien prodigy who was 'Jonesing' for sex with Earth men in 1995's cult classic Species. In 2015, he also joined Ryan Reynolds in the poorly received Self/Less. To his credit, he's also dipped his toes into the realm of the Marvel Movie Universe with work aboard Iron Man 3 (2013). Kingsley was born on this day in 1943. [Source: IMDB.com]
Character actor Victor Raider-Wexler -- shown above left in a scene from the vampire series, Angel -- has trafficked in some exceptional SciFi properties and beyond. Fans know his work from Monsters, 3rd Rock From The Sun, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Star Trek: Hidden Evil (video game), Batman Beyond, Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds (video game), and Minority Report (2002). Raider-Wexler was born on this day in 1943. [Source: IMDB.com]
Gary Epper was a bona fide Hollywood actor and stuntman, meaning that quite a bit of his work fans didn't even realize it was him playing the lead in a dangerous set of circumstances. As an actor, he enjoyed appearances aboard The Time Tunnel, Voyagers, Automan, and Airwolf (to name a few); as a stuntman, he took one for the team in Soylent Green (1973), TRON (1982), They Live (1988), and Star Trek: First Contact (1996). Though he's no longer with us, Epper was born on this day in 1944. [Source: IMDB.com]
Model-turned-actress Barbara Carrera gave fandom something to ogle when she appeared in the 1970's SciFi-themed horror film, Embryo. A few years later -- in 1983 -- she paired up with Sean Connery in bringing 007 back to the screen in Never Say Never Again. If memory serves, she also made an appearance aboard the Walt Disney Superhero/Comedy Condorman (1981) and even enjoyed a visit to The Island Of Dr. Moreau (1977). Those are some serious genre credentials. Carrera was born on this day in 1945. [Source: IMDB.com]
Now there's a face only a mother could love! (I kid, I kid!) For those of you who've never had the pleasure of viewing the dystopian fairy tale that is Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, Vernon Wells played Wez to a bad guy's delight. The man went on to appear in a wealth of other SciFi projects including Innerspace, Circuitry Man, Fortress, Plughead Rewired: Circuitry Man II, Space Truckers, Starforce, and many many more. Wells was born on this day in 1945. [Source: IMDB.com]
Veteran character actor Tim Matheson made a rare appearance in Science Fiction: in 1990, he headlined a film called Solar Crisis (aka Starfire) in which a massive solar flare threatened the Earth. Matheson was born on this day in 1947. [Source: IMDB.com]
Among many other roles, Janet-Laine Green can be celebrated for her recurring role as Dr. Melissa Park aboard the cult SciFi hit, Earth: Final Conflict. Green was born on this day in 1951. [Source: IMDB.com]
One of Elizabeth Norment's first screen roles was opposite Tom Selleck and Cynthia Rhodes in the 1984 SciFi/Thriller, Runaway. Though she's no longer with us, Norment was born on this day in 1952. [Source: IMDB.com]
James Remar is another one of those TV and movie veterans I've always had a lot of respect for. He chewed scenery as the bad guy all the way back in 1982's 48 Hours (with Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy); he had a solid run in a small role on the new-fangled Battlestar Galactica; and he had a terrific recurring role aboard CBS's apocalyptic drama Jericho. More recently, he turned up in the first season of The Shannara Chronicles. Remar was born on this day in 1953, and he remains one of the industry's hardest working men. [Source: IMDB.com]
Brett Porter played a Klingon officer who lost an arm at the hands of some Starfleet conspirators in the stellar Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Porter was born on this day in 1956. [Source: IMDB.com]
Actor Billy Mayo has brought his gifts to bear on such franchises as Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Space: Above and Beyond, and Star Trek: Enterprise. Though he's no longer with us, Mayo was born on this day in 1957. [Source: IMDB.com]
Peter Williams left his mark on the Stargate: SG-1 franchise by playing the part of Apophis. He's also appeared on The X-Files, Viper, The Outer Limits, Dark Angel, The Twilight Zone, The Chronicles of Riddick (2004), Earthsea, and Syfy's The Expanse. Williams was born on this day in 1957. [Source: IMDB.com]
In 1991, lovely actress Bebe Neuwirth took time out of her schedule to make an appearance in the episode "First Contact" for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Neuwirth was born on this day in 1958. [Source: IMDB.com]
After he hung up as cape as Batman, Val Kilmer's career went a little weird. Essentially, he went all over map, trying his hand at what he must've guessed were meatier dramas and even some other action films. His forays into sci-fi were pretty slim, but he did appear in Red Planet (2000), a film that pitted a crew of astronauts against an unforgiving Mars. Kilmer was born on this day in 1959. [Source: IMDB.com]
Though it's clear that Amelia Kinkade is probably known more for her work in horror (as evidence by the above picture from Night Of The Demons), she did enjoy small roles aboard Knight Rider and Misfits Of Science. Kinkade was born on this day in 1963. [Source: IMDB.com]
As Horror and Fantasy are genres very close to one another thematically, it's common for storytellers to oft times blend these two worlds; and it's even increasingly common for them to cross over into Science Fiction. Such is the case with 1996's Hellraiser: Bloodline, an entry which took Pinhead and the gang into the distant future ... and a flick in the franchise that gave Valentina Vargas to show audiences what she's made of. Vargas was born on this day in 1964. [Source: IMDB.com]
If required, funnyman Michael McDonald can play it straight, as he's done with small roles in such properties as The Unborn II (1994), Carnosaur 2 (1995), and Carnosaur 3: Primal Species (1996). McDonald was born on this day in 1964. [Source: IMDB.com]
She's been called "one of the most beautiful woman alive" ... I don't know if that's true, but if her work in the SciFi/Drama 2046 is any indication then she'd certainly keep the future interesting! Li Gong was born on this day in 1965. [Source: IMDB.com]
Geoff Mead is a familiar face who pops up from time-to-time when you least expect it. Genre fans might recognize it from Leprecaun 4: In Space (1996), Babylon 5, Star Trek: Enterprise, Resident Evil: Extinction (2007), or The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008). Mead was born on this day in 1965. [Source: IMDB.com]
Actor Bruce Ramsay can stretch a little material into some quality characters. Genre fans might recognize him from his work aboard Timeline (2003), Babylon 5: The Lost Tales (2007), Continuum, or The Lottery. Ramsay was born on this day in 1966. [Source: IMDB.com]
Screenwriter and director Adam Rifkin crafted the script for the Superhero/Comedy Zoom (2006) for Revolution Studios. Rifkin was born on this day in 1966. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Saxon Trainor had a guest spot early in her professional career aboard Star Trek: The Next Generation during the program's fourth season. She's also appeared on Strange Luck, Nowhere Man, Sliders, The X-Files, and Journeyman. Trainor was born on this day in 1969. [Source: Memory Alpha]
Born and raised in Canada, Chandra West has been active in television and film since the early 1990's. As far as the world of fandom is concerned, she's been in Highlander, Kindred: The Embraced, Universal Soldier II: Brothers in Arms, Earth: Final Conflict, and Universal Soldier III: Unfinished Business. West was born on this day in 1970. [Source: IMDB.com]
Camilla Larsson enjoyed a role aboard the Swedish SciFi series Real Humans during its run on television. Larsson was born on this day in 1971. [Source: IMDB.com]
The dreamy Jennifer Hill guested aboard such popular genre series as Relic Hunter and Mutant X early in her professional career. Hill was born on this day in 1973. [Source: IMDB.com]
The talented Kenny Morrison definitely has a few credits to his name worthy of mention in our corners, including roles aboard The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter (1990) and Star Trek: Voyager. Morrison was born on this day in 1974. [Source: IMDB.com]
No universe is too small for the imagination of screenwriter Chris Terrio. He's contributed words to such projects as Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017), and even Star Wars Episode IX. Terrio was born on this day in 1976. [Source: IMDB.com]
Earlier in her professional career, the fetching Elaine Cassidy dipped her toes into the realm of Fantasy with a top role aboard a telefilm adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World (2001) for A+E and the BBC. Cassidy was born on this day in 1979. [Source: IMDB.com]
Hunky Steve Byers has embraced genre entertainment throughout his career. Since debuting in 1997, he's booked roles in Mutant X, The Dresden Files, Smallville, Immortals, Total Recall (2012), Alphas, and Amazon's The Man In The High Castle. Byers was born on this day in 1979. [Source: IMDB.com]
Young hunk Bronson Pelletier put his hunkiness and youth to good measure with work aboard the Young Adult Fantasy film adaptation of the Twilight saga of films. Pelletier was born on this day in 1986. [Source: IMDB.com]
Sorry, folks, but I don't watch much anime or animation, so I can't speak much to content of these projects ... but I do recognize a great resume when I see one, and Chris Niosi certainly maintains one of those. You can check out his many contributions as a talented actor and writer via the IMDB link at the end of this mention, of which he's even served as a creator. Niosi was born on this day in 1988. [Source: IMDB.com]
On this day in 1931, the good people of New York City (U.S.) were treated to a limited theatrical premiere of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Dr. Jekyll faces horrible consequences when he lets his dark side run wild with a potion that transforms him into the animalistic Mr. Hyde."
"Dr. Jekyll faces horrible consequences when he lets his dark side run wild with a potion that transforms him into the animalistic Mr. Hyde."
On this day in 1932 (in Canada), Chandu The Magician stirred up a little bit of theatrical magic. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"When delusional madman Roxor kidnaps a scientist in hopes of using his death ray to achieve world dominance, he is opposed by Chandu, a powerful hypnotist and yogi."
"When delusional madman Roxor kidnaps a scientist in hopes of using his death ray to achieve world dominance, he is opposed by Chandu, a powerful hypnotist and yogi."
On this day in 1934 (in Portugal), Ein unsichtbarer geht durch die stadt enjoyed its theatrical release. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary for this German-language SciFi/Fantasy feature:
"A taxi driver finds an odd contraption on the back seat that renders him invisible, but his friend steals the device to rob a bank."
"A taxi driver finds an odd contraption on the back seat that renders him invisible, but his friend steals the device to rob a bank."
On this day in 1958, it wasn't only babies that were crawling ... it was eyes! The Crawling Eye was originally known as "The Trollenberg Terror," but I'm guessing some studio suit realized "crawling eyes" instilled a wee bit more fear. In any event, here's what IMDB.com thinks you need to know about the release:
"A series of decapitations on a Swiss mountainside appear to be connected to a mysterious radioactive cloud."
"A series of decapitations on a Swiss mountainside appear to be connected to a mysterious radioactive cloud."
On this day in 1958, The Strange World Of Planet X enjoyed its U.S. theatrical premiere. The feature starred Forrest Tucker and Gaby Andre, and here's the plot summary provided by IMDB.com:
"A friendly visitor from outer space warns against conducting experiments with the Earth's magnetic field, that could mutate insects into giant monsters."
"A friendly visitor from outer space warns against conducting experiments with the Earth's magnetic field, that could mutate insects into giant monsters."
A star is born! On this day in 1965 (in the United Kingdom), Blood Beast From Outer Space drew first blood at the box office. The feature starred John Saxon and Patricia Haines, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Mutant humanoids from outer space kidnap young Earth females in order to interbreed and save their species from extinction."
For the record: Blood Beast From Outer Space is also known as Night Caller From Outer Space, and the script by Jim O'Connolly is actually an adaptation of Frank Crisp's novel The Night Callers.
"Mutant humanoids from outer space kidnap young Earth females in order to interbreed and save their species from extinction."
For the record: Blood Beast From Outer Space is also known as Night Caller From Outer Space, and the script by Jim O'Connolly is actually an adaptation of Frank Crisp's novel The Night Callers.
On this day in 1968 (in France), Mission Stardust enjoyed a theatrical run. The SciFi feature starred Lang Jeffries and Essy Persson, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A team of astronauts is sent to the moon to rescue an alien who is seeking help to save her dying race. They are attacked by a force of bandit robots and discover that enemy spies are out to kill the alien."
"A team of astronauts is sent to the moon to rescue an alien who is seeking help to save her dying race. They are attacked by a force of bandit robots and discover that enemy spies are out to kill the alien."
A star is born ... or is that 'borrowed'? On this day in 1987 (in India), Superman soared onto the Bollywood silver screen. Directed by B. Gupta, the Fantasy featured starred Puneet Issar and Sonia Sahni, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A young baby from the doomed planet Krypton is sent to Earth, where he is adopted by an elderly couple in India who name him Shekhar. After growing to an adult and learning about his origins and powers, he goes to the city in search of his school sweetheart, Gita, who has become a newspaper reporter. At the same time, Verma, Shekhar's rival for Gita's affection in their school days, has gone on to become a crime lord and general super-villain. Verma has hatched at plan to become rich by devastating part of India with natural disasters, then buying up all of the abandoned land. Will Superman/Shekhar be able to put a stop to Verma's evil plan? Will he win Gita's heart? Will he keep his double identity a secret?"
"A young baby from the doomed planet Krypton is sent to Earth, where he is adopted by an elderly couple in India who name him Shekhar. After growing to an adult and learning about his origins and powers, he goes to the city in search of his school sweetheart, Gita, who has become a newspaper reporter. At the same time, Verma, Shekhar's rival for Gita's affection in their school days, has gone on to become a crime lord and general super-villain. Verma has hatched at plan to become rich by devastating part of India with natural disasters, then buying up all of the abandoned land. Will Superman/Shekhar be able to put a stop to Verma's evil plan? Will he win Gita's heart? Will he keep his double identity a secret?"
On this day in 1991 (in Greece), Slipstream slipped its way on video into the consumer marketplace. Directed by Steven Lisberger (the writer/director for the original SciFi/Classic Tron), the feature starred Bob Peck, Mark Hamill, and Bill Paxton, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"In the near future, where Earth has been devastated by natural disasters, and giant winds rule the planet, bounty hunter Matt kidnaps a murderer out of the hands of two police officers, planning to get the bounty himself. These in turn try to hunt the two men down."
For the record:
Slipstream is one of those B-Films that folks tend to love or hate (there's very little middleground, it would seem). IMDB.com reports that not only did the film essentially bankrupt producer Gary Kurtz but also it was Mark Hamill's first return to the realm of Science Fiction and Fantasy after his (then) swan song of playing 'Luke Skywalker' in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi (1983) for 20th Century Fox and Lucasfilm.
More for the record:
If you're interested in checking out SciFiHistory.Net's collection of screencaps from the flick, you can find them right here. If you're interested in reading my Flushback Review of the film, you can find it right here.
"In the near future, where Earth has been devastated by natural disasters, and giant winds rule the planet, bounty hunter Matt kidnaps a murderer out of the hands of two police officers, planning to get the bounty himself. These in turn try to hunt the two men down."
For the record:
Slipstream is one of those B-Films that folks tend to love or hate (there's very little middleground, it would seem). IMDB.com reports that not only did the film essentially bankrupt producer Gary Kurtz but also it was Mark Hamill's first return to the realm of Science Fiction and Fantasy after his (then) swan song of playing 'Luke Skywalker' in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi (1983) for 20th Century Fox and Lucasfilm.
More for the record:
If you're interested in checking out SciFiHistory.Net's collection of screencaps from the flick, you can find them right here. If you're interested in reading my Flushback Review of the film, you can find it right here.
A star is born! On this day in 2001, Gabrielle Anwar joined Craig Sheffer and Rutger Hauer for a dose of Flying Virus. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A journalist uncovers a government conspiracy to unleash virus-carrying killer bees that could wipe out humanity."
"A journalist uncovers a government conspiracy to unleash virus-carrying killer bees that could wipe out humanity."
On this day in 1955, Captain Midnight aired "Flight Into The Unknown." This served as the tenth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by TV.com:
"A banker disappears with a significant amount of money. Captain Midnight and Ikky trace the man to a small Pacific Island where he is recovering from exhaustion. The arrival of three greedy thugs on the island complicates Captain Midnight attempt to help the banker clear his name and return to his family."
"A banker disappears with a significant amount of money. Captain Midnight and Ikky trace the man to a small Pacific Island where he is recovering from exhaustion. The arrival of three greedy thugs on the island complicates Captain Midnight attempt to help the banker clear his name and return to his family."
On this day in 1955, TV's Science Fiction Theatre aired "Are We Invaded?" This served as the thirty-sixth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A journalist sees a UFO and goes on a quest to discover the truth about them. What he finds is far beyond anything either he or anyone else ever suspected."
"A journalist sees a UFO and goes on a quest to discover the truth about them. What he finds is far beyond anything either he or anyone else ever suspected."
On this day in 1966 (in the United Kingdom), Doctor Who aired "The Highlanders: Part 3." Officially, this served as the seventeenth episode in the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"With the Highlanders imprisoned aboard Trask's ship, the Doctor attempts to expose Grey's plan."
"With the Highlanders imprisoned aboard Trask's ship, the Doctor attempts to expose Grey's plan."
On this day in 1967, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea celebrated the year's end with "The Return of Blackbeard." This served as the fourteenth episode of the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"The original Blackbeard takes over some of the Seaview crew including Kowalski to blow up a ship carrying King Solomon's Golden Throne. The remaining crew try to find a way to disable Blackbeard's power source."
"The original Blackbeard takes over some of the Seaview crew including Kowalski to blow up a ship carrying King Solomon's Golden Throne. The remaining crew try to find a way to disable Blackbeard's power source."
On this day in 2013, Pocket Books released Dayton Ward's "Star Trek: The Fall - Peaceable Kingdoms" both digitally and in print. Here's the book summary from Amazon.com:
"Following the resolution of the fertility crisis that nearly caused their extinction, the Andorian people now stand ready to rejoin the United Federation of Planets. The return of one of its founding member worlds is viewed by many as the first hopeful step beyond the uncertainty and tragedy that have overshadowed recent events in the Alpha Quadrant. But as the Federation looks to the future and the special election to name President Bacco’s permanent successor, time is running out to apprehend those responsible for the respected leader’s brutal assassination. Even as elements of the Typhon Pact are implicated for the murder, Admiral William Riker holds key knowledge of the true assassins— a revelation that could threaten the fragile Federation-Cardassian alliance.
Questions and concerns also continue to swell around Bacco’s interim successor, Ishan Anjar, who uses the recent bloodshed to further a belligerent, hawkish political agenda against the Typhon Pact. With the election looming, Riker dispatches his closest friend, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, in a desperate attempt to uncover the truth. But as Picard and the Enterprise crew pursue the few remaining clues, Riker must act on growing suspicions that someone within Ishan’s inner circle has been in league with the assassins from the very beginning . . . ."
"Following the resolution of the fertility crisis that nearly caused their extinction, the Andorian people now stand ready to rejoin the United Federation of Planets. The return of one of its founding member worlds is viewed by many as the first hopeful step beyond the uncertainty and tragedy that have overshadowed recent events in the Alpha Quadrant. But as the Federation looks to the future and the special election to name President Bacco’s permanent successor, time is running out to apprehend those responsible for the respected leader’s brutal assassination. Even as elements of the Typhon Pact are implicated for the murder, Admiral William Riker holds key knowledge of the true assassins— a revelation that could threaten the fragile Federation-Cardassian alliance.
Questions and concerns also continue to swell around Bacco’s interim successor, Ishan Anjar, who uses the recent bloodshed to further a belligerent, hawkish political agenda against the Typhon Pact. With the election looming, Riker dispatches his closest friend, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, in a desperate attempt to uncover the truth. But as Picard and the Enterprise crew pursue the few remaining clues, Riker must act on growing suspicions that someone within Ishan’s inner circle has been in league with the assassins from the very beginning . . . ."
