Gene Roddenberry originally had the idea to put a Klingon aboard the Enterprise NCC 1701-D as kind of an homage to one of the original series' central conflicts, and Michael Dorn won the part. Lucky for us, Dorn ended up being more than just set dressing, bringing alive the character of Worf and playing him on both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Who wouldn't love a Star Trek: Capt. Worf spin-off? I sure would. Mr. Dorn was born on this day back in 1952.
Screen legend Kirk Douglas was a part of so many terrific projects, but he rarely ventured into the realm of science fiction ... though we would've loved to have had him regularly in our films! He did appear in the oddity that was Saturn 3 (1980), so that must count for something. Douglas was born on this day in 1916.
Funnyman Dick Van Patten didn't find all that much to laugh about when he found himself at odds with some mechanized evildoers in the original Westworld (1973). Though he's no longer with us, Van Patten was born on this day in 1928.
Writer, director, and actor John Cassavetes left us far too soon (1989), but he leaves behind a legacy of wonderful work both on and behind the screen. A few years before he appeared in The Dirty Dozen, he enjoyed a guest spot aboard Irwin Allen's Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Though he's no longer with us, Cassavetes was born on this day in 1929.
In a bizarre case of "art imitating life," loud-mouthed TV journalist Morton Downey Jr. showed up in a supporting role aboard Predator 2 (1990) as -- you guessed it -- a loud-mouthed TV journalist. Though he's no longer with us, Downey was born on this day in 1933.
Think what you may, but I'll always say that Dame Judi Dench is one classy lady and one helluva talented actress. Why? Because when it comes to acting she doesn't appear to take sides, meaning that she'll star in anything so long as the property interests her. Not many women in her league would so much as give The Chronicles of Riddick a second look, but her presence elevates the game for everyone. Plus, she rather fearlessly was the first women to order James Bond around ... and that takes cajones! Dench was born on this day in 1934.
Longtime screen veteran Beau Bridges gave Science Fiction a try in the role of Major General Hank Landry aboard both Stargate: SG-1 and its spin-off, Stargate: Atlantis. Bridges was born on this day in 1941.
In 1987, Michael Nouri paired up with undercover-alien-on-Earth Kyle MacLachlan as the oddest good-cop/alien-cop pairing ever made in the brilliant B-Movie, The Hidden. Nouri was born on this day in 1945.
Honestly, it's hard to believe that actor John Malkovich has done so little Science Fiction. Throughout his career, he's certainly gravitated toward roles less conventional than the next person, and one would think that might push him into our realm more often than it has. He did appear in 2008's Mutant Chronicles, though, and there was 2005's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Malkovich was born on this day in 1953. [Source: IMDB.com]
Hunky Joe Lando (above left) may've finally met his match when he went up against the Meteor Apocalypse (2010). Trek fans might recall that Lando got his big screen debut in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it role aboard Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Lando was born on this day in 1961.
One of Felicity Huffman's earlier roles was in a guest spot aboard Fox TV's The X-Files (insert at right): she played Dr. Nancy Da Silva, one of the experts sent to uncover what happened at an 'infected' arctic science station. Previously, she was a series regular aboard Stephen King's Golden Years TV program. Huffman was born on this day in 1962.
In case you missed it (and judging by the ratings most of you did), Richard Brooks starred in a fantastic little series called Good Vs. Evil back in the 1999-2000 television season. It's never been made available on (legitimate) home video -- which is a crying shame, 'cause it's brilliant -- so seek it out if you dare. Otherwise, he's really only dabbled with Science Fiction, appearing in The Hidden and an episode of Joss Whedon's Firefly. Brooks was born on this day in 1962.
Toby Huss -- shown above from a scene out of Cowboys & Aliens (2011) -- is another one of Hollywood's underrated comic bit players and voice actors. Genre fans recognize him most from his work aboard Carnivale, but he also had a small role in 2016's Ghostbusters reboot. Huss was born on this day in 1966.
Sebastian Spence has built a solid resume filled with genre-related projects. He's been a part of such properties as The Outer Limits, The X-Files, First Wave, Dark Angel, Mutant X, Andromeda, Stargate: SG-1, Supernatural, Battlestar Galactica (Syfy), Smallville, and Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome. Spence was born on this day in 1969.
While she's perhaps best remember for her work as Michelle Dessler on Fox TV's spectacular 24, SciFi fans know Reiko Aylesworth from her appearances in Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem, SGU: Stargate Universe, and Revolution. Aylesworth was born on this day in 1972.
Let's never let it be said that Science Fiction can't be sexy or even (ahem) soft-core. Certainly, that's a spirit at the heart of some direct-to-DVD home releases in the vein of Femalien or Lolita 2000. And -- for that and so much else -- we have actresses like the lovely Jacqueline Lovell. Lovell was born on this day in 1974.
Not long before he decided to go sleep with his employer on ABC TV's popular Desperate Housewives, Jesse Metcalfe made a few appearances aboard the WB's popular Smallville program. Metcalfe was born on this day in 1978.
Jolene Purdy went Under the Dome for CBS in the short-lived SciFi/Drama adapted from a book by Stephen King. Purdy was born on this day in 1983.
On this day in 1955 (in Finland), It Came From Beneath The Sea and went straight to the silver screen! Directed by Robert Gordon, the SciFi feature starred Kenneth Tobey and Faith Domergue, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"After an encounter at sea with an unknown underwater creature, a naval commander works with two scientists to identify it. The creature they are dealing with is a giant, radioactive octopus that has left its normal feeding grounds in search of new sources of replenishment. As the creature attacks San Francisco, the Navy tries to trap it at the Golden Gate Bridge but it manages to enter the Bay area leading to a final confrontation with a submarine."
"After an encounter at sea with an unknown underwater creature, a naval commander works with two scientists to identify it. The creature they are dealing with is a giant, radioactive octopus that has left its normal feeding grounds in search of new sources of replenishment. As the creature attacks San Francisco, the Navy tries to trap it at the Golden Gate Bridge but it manages to enter the Bay area leading to a final confrontation with a submarine."
On this day in 1960 (in Finland), The Lost World enjoyed its unveiling on the silver screen. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Professor Challenger leads an expedition of scientists and adventurers to a remote plateau deep in the Amazonian jungle to verify his claim that dinosaurs still live there."
"Professor Challenger leads an expedition of scientists and adventurers to a remote plateau deep in the Amazonian jungle to verify his claim that dinosaurs still live there."
On this day in 1982 (in Hong Kong), The Clonus Horror turned up the heat on Science Fiction and Horror. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A young man escapes from a government-run project called 'Clonus' only to find out that Jeff Knight (Peter Graves), a presidential candidate, is conspiring to keep Clonus a secret. Top government officials are aware of it and support the super-secret project, because they are cloning themselves to live longer and better lives at the expense of their slave-like clone counterparts. Ethical and moral values are explored as the escapee known as Richard (Tim Donnelly) returns to Clonus, only to find his girlfriend lobotomized for government security purposes."
"A young man escapes from a government-run project called 'Clonus' only to find out that Jeff Knight (Peter Graves), a presidential candidate, is conspiring to keep Clonus a secret. Top government officials are aware of it and support the super-secret project, because they are cloning themselves to live longer and better lives at the expense of their slave-like clone counterparts. Ethical and moral values are explored as the escapee known as Richard (Tim Donnelly) returns to Clonus, only to find his girlfriend lobotomized for government security purposes."
On this day in 1982 (in West Germany), TRON ushered in a new digital age of effects to the silver screen. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A computer hacker is abducted into the digital world and forced to participate in gladiatorial games where his only chance of escape is with the help of a heroic security program."
"A computer hacker is abducted into the digital world and forced to participate in gladiatorial games where his only chance of escape is with the help of a heroic security program."
On this day in 1983 (in Spain), the Apocalyptic-themed Firebird 2015 AD enjoyed its debut on television. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"In one of many unpopular and unsupported policy decisions, the US government of the near future outlaws vehicle petrol in an effort to curb the overuse of limited natural resources - except, of course, for official purposes. There are many renegades who oppose the authorities, and will stop at nothing to allow themselves the freedom of burning around the countryside."
"In one of many unpopular and unsupported policy decisions, the US government of the near future outlaws vehicle petrol in an effort to curb the overuse of limited natural resources - except, of course, for official purposes. There are many renegades who oppose the authorities, and will stop at nothing to allow themselves the freedom of burning around the countryside."
On this day in 1983 (in Denmark), Spacehunter: Adventures In The Forbidden Zone brought its 3D goodness to theaters. Directed by Lamont Johnson, the SciFi feature starred Peter Straus and Molly Ringwald, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"On a distant planet inhabited by mutants, two bounty-hunters race to rescue three Earth female captives from the clutches of an evil mutant warlord."
"On a distant planet inhabited by mutants, two bounty-hunters race to rescue three Earth female captives from the clutches of an evil mutant warlord."
One of the hard-and-fast rules in Hollywood is that, for every good Dan Aykroyd movie, there are at least a dozen stinkers ... and, unfortunately, one of those stinkers happens to fall into our genre. My Stepmother Is An Alien -- with a name like that, why worry? -- was dumped into theatres (with no apology, I might add) on this day in 1988, and Dan's still trying to live it down. Go figure.
A star is born! On this day in 2008, The Day The Earth Stopped enjoyed its debut in the U.S. home video market. Directed by and starring C. Thomas Howell, the SciFi feature also gave Judd Nelson and Darren Dalton parts of some substance, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Hundreds of massive intergalactic robots appear in all of the world's major capitals with an ultimatum: Prove the value of human civilization or be destroyed."
"Hundreds of massive intergalactic robots appear in all of the world's major capitals with an ultimatum: Prove the value of human civilization or be destroyed."
On this day in 2012 (in Spain), the Apocalyptic/Thriller Doomsday Prophecy enjoyed its release. The feature starred A.J. Buckley and Jewel Staite, and here's the plot summary provided by IMDB.com:
"Based on the 2012 end-of-world prophesy where two unlikely characters team up to solve a mystery that just might save the world."
"Based on the 2012 end-of-world prophesy where two unlikely characters team up to solve a mystery that just might save the world."
On this day in 2016, things got downright spooky with the release of Spectral. Directed by Nic Mathieu, the SciFi feature starred James Badge Dale and Emily Mortimer, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Civil Unrest in the European country of Moldova has US forces engaging the insurgents however there is a new threat who has decided both are their enemy. This new threat resides in an alternative spectrum that makes them invisible to the naked eye and instant death to anyone confronting them. Locals believe they are Spirits of War but others believe they are superior arms technology fabricated by the Moldova government..."
"Civil Unrest in the European country of Moldova has US forces engaging the insurgents however there is a new threat who has decided both are their enemy. This new threat resides in an alternative spectrum that makes them invisible to the naked eye and instant death to anyone confronting them. Locals believe they are Spirits of War but others believe they are superior arms technology fabricated by the Moldova government..."
On this day in 1959, Men Into Space aired "Burnout." This served as the tenth episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Test continue on a new alloy for re-entry. On one test the ship acts erratically and although the crew is saved the ship is lost. A second mission is launched to try and understand what went wrong."
"Test continue on a new alloy for re-entry. On one test the ship acts erratically and although the crew is saved the ship is lost. A second mission is launched to try and understand what went wrong."
On this day in 1960, The Twilight Zone aired "The Trouble with Templeton." It was the ninth episode of the program's second season. Here's the summary from IMDB.com:
"A nostalgic actor revisits his late wife and friends at their old haunt, only to find that he is now out of place there."
"A nostalgic actor revisits his late wife and friends at their old haunt, only to find that he is now out of place there."
Remember "The Alamo"? Well, The Time Tunnel does! The aptly-titled episode first aired on this day in 1966, and the action saw Doug and Tony emerging from the tunnel only days before Mexican soldiers are scheduled to attack ... only the Alamo's commander Travis believes they're spies and has them imprisoned!
On this day in 1981, The Greatest American Hero aired "The Beast In The Black." This served as the sixth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"Bill is possessed by a woman's spirit. To rescue him, Ralph crosses to another dimension and discovers that his super-suit won't function."
"Bill is possessed by a woman's spirit. To rescue him, Ralph crosses to another dimension and discovers that his super-suit won't function."
On this day in 1986, The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers aired "Gift of Life." This (technically) served as the program's sixty-third episode (they were aired out of sequence), and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"The Rangers are sent to take a scientist into custody. He was involved in the Supertrooper Program and had befriend Gooseman. They find him as he's about to die, he asks Goose to find his son."
"The Rangers are sent to take a scientist into custody. He was involved in the Supertrooper Program and had befriend Gooseman. They find him as he's about to die, he asks Goose to find his son."
Trapped in the brig for "Thirty Days," recently demoted 'Ensign' Tom Paris recounts the events on Star Trek: Voyager to what put him there in a letter to his father. This episode first aired in 1998.
On this day in 2000, Batman Beyond aired "Betrayal." This served as the ninth episode of the program's third (and final) season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Escaped from prison, Big Time attempts to recruit Terry as his partner in crime."
"Escaped from prison, Big Time attempts to recruit Terry as his partner in crime."
On this day in 2010, Fringe aired "Marionette." Officially, this served as the ninth episode in the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Fringe Division seeks a man who has been harvesting transplanted organs, leaving victims with nearly nullified decay rates. Olivia faces the aftermath of Fauxlivia running her life."
"Fringe Division seeks a man who has been harvesting transplanted organs, leaving victims with nearly nullified decay rates. Olivia faces the aftermath of Fauxlivia running her life."
On this day in 2013, Almost Human aired the fifth episode of its single season, an hour titled "Blood Brothers." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the hour's plot summary:
"Detective John Kennex and Dorian are tasked with protecting the only remaining witness in a major murder trial, while Captain Maldonado faces off with the defendant."
"Detective John Kennex and Dorian are tasked with protecting the only remaining witness in a major murder trial, while Captain Maldonado faces off with the defendant."
On this day in 2014, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. aired "What They Become." This served as the tenth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Whitehall and Coulson's forces take part in an explosive confrontation that changes everyone. Skye uncovers some truths about her past."
"Whitehall and Coulson's forces take part in an explosive confrontation that changes everyone. Skye uncovers some truths about her past."
