Veteran TV actor Lorne Greene brought a tremendous amount of gravitas to the role of Commander Adama, the leader of the Colonial Fleet on the original Battlestar Galactica. The man always had to balance out the needs of family against the demands of leadership, and the program was vastly better when Mr. Greene was given ample time to command. Though he's no longer with us, he was born on this day back in 1915.
Lincoln Kilpatrick had a knack for popping up in some relevant SciFi from time to time. In his career, he appeared aboard The Omega Man (1971), Soylent Green (1973), The Six Million Dollar Man, Chosen Survivors (1974), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, The Greatest American Hero, and Fortress (1992). Though he's no longer with us, Kilpatrick was born on this day in 1932. [Source: IMDB.com]
When Matt Smith took charge as the Doctor in "The Eleventh Hour," the delightful Annette Crosbie enjoyed a guest spot as the kindly 'Mrs. Angelo' on Doctor Who. Crosbie was born on this day in 1934. [Source: IMDB.com]
I've never understood all of the hate for Tim Burton's Mars Attacks (1996); I thought it had just the right mix of farce and satire to make for some great SciFi laughs. In any event, Joe Don Baker had a great supporting role as a redneck intent upon taking it to the Martians in the film, and Baker was born on this day in 1936. [Source: IMDB.com]
Veteran character actor Richard Lynch ended up being shoehorned into an awful lot of evil roles throughout much of his career, but -- to be perfectly honest -- he was downright good at being evil! Where have we seen him chewing scenery? The Bionic Woman, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Galactica 1980, The Phoenix, Manimal, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the Fantasy film October 32nd (1993) come to my mind just off the top of my head! Though he's no longer with us, Lynch was born on this day in 1940. [Source: IMDB.com]
Maud Adams is one of the only 'Bond Girls' to make appearances in not one but two of the Bond films: The Man With the Golden Gun and Octopussy. As for SciFi, she had a role alongside James Caan in 1975's Rollerball. Adams was born on this day in 1945.
Veteran character actor Cliff De Young played a key role in the premiere episode of Fox TV's The X-Files back in 1993. The talented man has also played characters aboard The Hunger (1983), The Twilight Zone, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Time Trax, the Robocop TV series, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, the Timecop TV series, and Threshold. De Young was born on this day in 1945.
Sorry, peeps, but I couldn't really tell you much about Blake's 7 (I gotta sleep some time!), but I do know that star Gareth Thomas was 'the bomb' on the program. He's also caught attention for work aboard Star Maidens, Merlin (1998), and Torchwood. Though he's no longer with us, Thomas was born on this day in 1945. [Source: IMDB.com]
Robin Thomas enjoyed a small role as a government functionary aboard Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim (2013). More recently, he turned in a solid guest role aboard Zoo. Thomas was born on this day in 1949. [Source: IMDB.com]
Veteran character actor Michael Ironside has been around the sci-fi genre for oodles of years, and, even today, he continues to be one of the hardest working actors in this field. I loved him as the scenery-chewing villain in Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone, as well as his great turn as a mercenary for hire in the 1980's version of V. He also had stand-out appearances in Total Recall (1990) as well as Terminator Salvation. Ironside was born on this day in 1950.
I can remember fondly the work of Simon MacCorkindale. He was the reason to have any familiarity with 1980's cult series Manimal. He also had small roles in NightMan, Earth: Final Conflict, Queen of Swords, Relic Hunter, and even the motion picture Wing Commander. Though he's no longer with us, MacCorkindale was born on this day in 1952.
When the big screen Ghostbusters morphed into the small screen animated The Real Ghostbusters, showrunners cast funnyman Arsenio Hall to voice Winston Zeddemore. Hall was born on this day in 1956. [Source: IMDB.com]
Raphael Sbarge has a face that has popped up in any number of SciFi properties. The versatile actor has booked appearances in Quantum Leap, The Hidden II, SeaQuest 2032, Nowhere Man, Independence Day, Dark Skies, Star Trek: Voyager, and Journeyman. He's also contributed voice-work to several Star Wars video game projects as well as the Mass Effect franchise. Sbarge was born on this day in 1964.
The Fantasy-themed Willow didn't exactly break box office record, but it did give actor David Steinberg a chance to experience adventure for all of the ages. Though he's no longer with us, Steinberg was born on this day in 1965. [Source: IMDB.com]
According to IMDB.com, Lochlyn Munro began his professional acting career as the 1980's were coming to a close, and he's been hard-at-work ever since. I recently saw him in a low-budget remake of the Jules Verne classic Mysterious Island that was actually quite good (for a low-budget remake). He's also appeared in The Girl From Mars, Trancers 4: Jack of Swords, Strange Luck, Sliders, Poltergeist: The Legacy, Welcome to Paradox, The Outer Limits, Stephen King's Dead Zone, Jake 2.0, Andromeda, Smallville, and much much more. Munro was born on this day in 1966.
Around the time her pop career was just getting into gear, Chynna Phillips also gave acting a try in a role aboard the SciFi feature The Invisible Kid (1988). Phillips was born on this day in 1968. [Source: IMDB.com]
Josh Brolin did a terrific riff playing a younger incarnation of Agent K (played in 'older form' by Tommy Lee Jones) in Men In Black III. Brolin was born on this day in 1968.
Genre fans may not know the face of Tara Strong but her pipes are legendary! She's given vocal life to such projects as Transformers: Animated, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, Super Best Friends Forever, New Teen Titans, Beware The Batman, Ultimate Spider-Man, and Batman: The Killing Joke (2016). Strong was born on this day in 1973. [Source: IMDB.com]
Angus Sampson saw the future bleak but profitable depending upon who you served aboard Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). Sampson was born on this day in 1979. [Source: IMDB.com]
Enver Gjokaj is one busy actor who keeps turning up in quality genre projects. He's garnered screen time aboard Dollhouse, Person of Interest, The Walking Dead, Extant, and Agent Carter for good measure. Gjokaj was born on this day in 1980. [Source: IMDB.com]
Heather Doerksen suited up for the benefit of all mankind -- and looked pretty grand doing it -- aboard Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim (2013). Doerksen was born on this day in 1980. [Source: IMDB.com]
Early in her professional career, Sarah Lancaster guested aboard an episode of NightMan, and she's pretty much left SciFi materials behind since then. Still, she has dabbled in Fantasy with roles aboard Chuck and Witches Of East End. Lancaster was born on this day in 1980. [Source: IMDB.com]
Only a lady as lovely as Christina Ricci would have a prayer of keeping up with Speed Racer (2008). Though the theatrical adaptation was largely panned by critics, I honestly had some fun with it. Ricci was born on this day in 1980. [Source: IMDB.com]
Though he found international stardom playing the lead for The Raid franchise of films, Iko Uwais found intergalactic acclaim with the role of a heavy aboard Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015). Uwais was born on this day in 1983. [Source: IMDB.com]
One of the most hated men in NASCAR, Brad Keselowski got the "finish" he deserved when Sharknado 3 dispatched him ceremoniously into the great beyond. Keselowski was born on this day in 1984. [Source: IMDB.com]
Oh my gosh, the lovely Valorie Curry was deliciously deceitful aboard the Fox TV crime drama The Following while she was on it, and now she's turning heads as one of the supporting players aboard Amazon's Superhero comedy The Tick. Curry was born on this day in 1986. [Source: IMDB.com]
In the role of 'Kee,' Clare-Hope Ashitey provided hope for an otherwise bleak and sterile existence at the heart of Children Of Men (2006). Ashitey was born on this day in 1987. [Source: IMDB.com]
I gave up on Syfy's Defiance after the first season: I just couldn't come up with any compelling reason to keep watching it, so I let it go. Anna Hopkins joined the program in its second season. Hopkins was born on this day in 1987.
Sci-fi films of the '70's tended to spend an awful lot of time exploring themes like rejecting conformity; an even greater number of films started to warn about how the encroaching technology would rob of us our individual identities. As Exhibit A, I'll offer up The Stepford Wives, which premiered on this day in 1975. According to IMDB.com:
"Joanna Eberhart has come to the quaint little town of Stepford, Connecticut with her family, but soon discovers there lies a sinister truth in the all too perfect behavior of the female residents."
"Joanna Eberhart has come to the quaint little town of Stepford, Connecticut with her family, but soon discovers there lies a sinister truth in the all too perfect behavior of the female residents."
On this day in 1981, Escape From Galaxy 3 gave audiences another look at life in the Final Frontier. The feature starred Sherry Buchanan and Don Powell, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"The crew of a space ship confronts an evil galactic ruler out to rule the universe."
"The crew of a space ship confronts an evil galactic ruler out to rule the universe."
On this day in 2002, the SciFi/Action film Falcon Down gave Dale Midkiff, Judd Nelson, and William Shatner a look at a futuristic conspiracy. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"U.S. Air force officer Hank Thomas attempts to expose a military cover-up after a civiian airliner crashes."
"U.S. Air force officer Hank Thomas attempts to expose a military cover-up after a civiian airliner crashes."
On this day in 2008, the world as we know it ended with 2012: Doomsday! The SciFi feature starred Cliff De Young and Dale Midkiff, and here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:
"On December 21, 2012 four strangers on a journey of faith are drawn to an ancient temple in the heart of Mexico. For the Mayans it is the last recorded day. For NASA scientists it is a cataclysmic polar shift. For the rest of us, it is Doomsday."
"On December 21, 2012 four strangers on a journey of faith are drawn to an ancient temple in the heart of Mexico. For the Mayans it is the last recorded day. For NASA scientists it is a cataclysmic polar shift. For the rest of us, it is Doomsday."
For the record, there's nothing wrong with the RoboCop reboot. It's a nifty little action picture set in a universe that was already very Robo-friendly; it's just that I didn't think it was anything all that necessary. It kinda/sorta gives a contemporary spin on the Robo-origins, and everyone who starred in it did just fine. It premiered theatrically on this day in 2014 ... and, as almost always happens, I still prefer the original. Here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"In 2028 Detroit, when Alex Murphy, a loving husband, father and good cop, is critically injured in the line of duty, the multinational conglomerate OmniCorp sees their chance for a part-man, part-robot police officer."
"In 2028 Detroit, when Alex Murphy, a loving husband, father and good cop, is critically injured in the line of duty, the multinational conglomerate OmniCorp sees their chance for a part-man, part-robot police officer."
On this day in 1955, Tom Corbett, Space Cadet aired "The Asteroid Station." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's that adventure's plot summary:
"A reporter working for a newspaper opposed to building space stations arrives at an asteroid looking to smear the Solar Guards reputation."
"A reporter working for a newspaper opposed to building space stations arrives at an asteroid looking to smear the Solar Guards reputation."
On this day in 1960, "The Purple Testament" aired as the nineteenth episode of Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone in its first season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A U.S. army lieutenant serving in the Philippines during WWII develops a harrowing ability to see in the faces of the men of his platoon, who will be the next ones to die."
"A U.S. army lieutenant serving in the Philippines during WWII develops a harrowing ability to see in the faces of the men of his platoon, who will be the next ones to die."
On this day in 1976, Space:1999 aired "The Testament of Arkadia" as part of its first season. According to IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The Alphans land on the planet Arkadia, where hieroglyphics suggest that it is the cradle of civilization from which life on Earth began. Now it is desolate and cheerless and Koenig feels that it is unsuitable for colonization. Two renegade crew members have other ideas, however, and take Helena hostage in their demands to settle on Arkadia."
"The Alphans land on the planet Arkadia, where hieroglyphics suggest that it is the cradle of civilization from which life on Earth began. Now it is desolate and cheerless and Koenig feels that it is unsuitable for colonization. Two renegade crew members have other ideas, however, and take Helena hostage in their demands to settle on Arkadia."
On this day in 1979, Battle Of The Planets aired "Magnetic Attraction." This served as the twentieth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"G-Force must attempt to stop a seemingly unstoppable black sphere war machine, but Mark wants to find a definite means to do so first over Jason's protests."
"G-Force must attempt to stop a seemingly unstoppable black sphere war machine, but Mark wants to find a definite means to do so first over Jason's protests."
On this day in 1979, Salvage 1 aired "Shelter Five." This served as the third episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary provided by IMDB.com:
"When an earthquake traps a small girl in a bomb shelter, the Salvage 1 team tries to rescue her before after shocks collapse the remaining structure."
"When an earthquake traps a small girl in a bomb shelter, the Salvage 1 team tries to rescue her before after shocks collapse the remaining structure."
On this day in 1990, Alien Nation aired "Partners." This served as the fifteenth episode to the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"George is suspended from the force when several kilos of drugs goes missing on his watch. An old mentor of Sikes' returns. The Francisco family prepares for the Ejection, when the baby will transferred from Susan to George."
"George is suspended from the force when several kilos of drugs goes missing on his watch. An old mentor of Sikes' returns. The Francisco family prepares for the Ejection, when the baby will transferred from Susan to George."
On this day in 1990, War of the Worlds aired "The Deadliest Disease." This served as the thirteenth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary from TV.com:
"Warring factions (including the Blackwood team and the Morthren) fight over a med cell that could save countless lives--including that of a dying Mana."
"Warring factions (including the Blackwood team and the Morthren) fight over a med cell that could save countless lives--including that of a dying Mana."
Ah, I never got tired of seeing Beverly in that blue! Loved that color on her! Anyway, on this day in 1994, Star Trek: The Next Generation was exploring the strange new worlds of its seventh and final season when an episode titled "Thine Own Self" aired. Here's the summary from IMDB.com:
"Data is sent to follow a probe that has drifted off course and crashed on a primitive planet, only to crash on the planet, himself, with no memory of any event prior to crashing on the planet's surface."
"Data is sent to follow a probe that has drifted off course and crashed on a primitive planet, only to crash on the planet, himself, with no memory of any event prior to crashing on the planet's surface."
On this day in 1996, Babylon 5 aired "Exogenesis." This served as the seventh episode to the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"Marcus and Franklin investigate a series of deaths caused by a mysterious parasite."
"Marcus and Franklin investigate a series of deaths caused by a mysterious parasite."
On this day in 1996, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine continued to tinker with the Klingon storylines as they aired "Sons of Mogh" as part of their fourth season. Here's the episode summary from IMDB.com:
"Worf's brother Kurn asks him to perform a death rite to regain his lost honor. Meanwhile Kira and O'Brien investigate Klingon activity near the Bajoran border."
"Worf's brother Kurn asks him to perform a death rite to regain his lost honor. Meanwhile Kira and O'Brien investigate Klingon activity near the Bajoran border."
On this day in 1996, Star Trek: Voyager aired "Dreadnought." This served as the seventeenth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Voyager comes across a ship that has been destroyed, upon investigation they discover that B'Elanna Torres is responsible! Dreadnought is a self guided missile created by the Cardassians to destroy the Maquis, however the bomb failed to go off allowing B'Elanna to get inside the missile and re-program it to do the Maquis' bidding."
"Voyager comes across a ship that has been destroyed, upon investigation they discover that B'Elanna Torres is responsible! Dreadnought is a self guided missile created by the Cardassians to destroy the Maquis, however the bomb failed to go off allowing B'Elanna to get inside the missile and re-program it to do the Maquis' bidding."
On this day in 1997, Star Trek: Voyager aired "Unity." This served as the seventeenth episode of the program's third season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Chakotay finds a planet of unassimilated Borg drones from all over the galaxy."
"Chakotay finds a planet of unassimilated Borg drones from all over the galaxy."
On this day in 2000, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World aired "Time After Time" as the sixteenth episode of the program's first season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Roxton is out hunting, when he accidentally shoots a young woman that appears out of nowhere. The woman is apparently from the future and on a mission of her own."
"Roxton is out hunting, when he accidentally shoots a young woman that appears out of nowhere. The woman is apparently from the future and on a mission of her own."
On this day in 2001, Andromeda aired "Harper 2.0." This served as the fourteenth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"After Harper is attacked by a dying Perseid, he gains a level of intelligence much greater than usual. A bounty hunter arrives for the dead Perseid, and Dylan looks into why he was a wanted man. Unable to sleep, he begins to learn foreign languages, repair the ship, and invent new gadgets. The bounty hunter returns to recover the information the Perseid lost."
"After Harper is attacked by a dying Perseid, he gains a level of intelligence much greater than usual. A bounty hunter arrives for the dead Perseid, and Dylan looks into why he was a wanted man. Unable to sleep, he begins to learn foreign languages, repair the ship, and invent new gadgets. The bounty hunter returns to recover the information the Perseid lost."
On this day in 2002, Smallville aired "Leech." This served as the twelfth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"While in the woods of Smallville searching for ores in an excursion of the school, Clark Kent saves the troubled teenager Eric Summers from a fatal accident near a waterfall. However, a lightning strikes them both and transfers the Clark's powers to Eric. Eric's personality also changes when he discovers his newfound superpowers, becoming arrogant and aggressive, while Clark tries to help him. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor is betrayed by his girlfriend Victoria Hardwick when her father arrives in town to buy up LutherCorp."
"While in the woods of Smallville searching for ores in an excursion of the school, Clark Kent saves the troubled teenager Eric Summers from a fatal accident near a waterfall. However, a lightning strikes them both and transfers the Clark's powers to Eric. Eric's personality also changes when he discovers his newfound superpowers, becoming arrogant and aggressive, while Clark tries to help him. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor is betrayed by his girlfriend Victoria Hardwick when her father arrives in town to buy up LutherCorp."
On this day in 2003, Star Trek: Enterprise aired "Cease Fire." This served as the fifteenth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Captain Archer is asked to negotiate between the Andorians and Vulcans who are fighting over a small planet."
"Captain Archer is asked to negotiate between the Andorians and Vulcans who are fighting over a small planet."
On this day in 2007 (in Canada), Doctor Who aired "Army of Ghosts." This served as the twelfth episode in the relaunched program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"As the ghosts of loved ones appear, the whole world celebrates. But as the Doctor investigates he believes that there is a more sinister motive behind their appearence. And deep within the Torchwood tower, a mysterious sphere containing the greatest enemies of the Doctor is opened..."
"As the ghosts of loved ones appear, the whole world celebrates. But as the Doctor investigates he believes that there is a more sinister motive behind their appearence. And deep within the Torchwood tower, a mysterious sphere containing the greatest enemies of the Doctor is opened..."
It all began right here: on this day in 1940, The Adventures Of Superman radio serial began with the airing of its first episode, "The Baby From Krypton." According to our friends on the DC Wikia Database, here's the plot summary:
"On the planet Krypton, scientist Jor-L warns that the planet is doomed -- but his plan to build spaceships and evacuate the planet meets with jeers. Jor-L only has time to build a model spacecraft. He and his wife Lara send their infant son, Kal-L, off in the spaceship just before the planet explodes. The child is sent off on a one-way trip to the planet Earth."
"On the planet Krypton, scientist Jor-L warns that the planet is doomed -- but his plan to build spaceships and evacuate the planet meets with jeers. Jor-L only has time to build a model spacecraft. He and his wife Lara send their infant son, Kal-L, off in the spaceship just before the planet explodes. The child is sent off on a one-way trip to the planet Earth."
- For those of you who want to know more, you can listen to this episode on YouTube.com right here.
On this day in 2013, the SciFi game Aliens: Colonial Marines sunk its acid-dripped teeth into the consumer marketplace. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the premise behind the property:
"After the events depicted in Aliens (1986) and Aliens: Fire and Stone. Michael Bishop Weyland sets up War against the Colonial Marines to cover up the Xeno conspiracy."
"After the events depicted in Aliens (1986) and Aliens: Fire and Stone. Michael Bishop Weyland sets up War against the Colonial Marines to cover up the Xeno conspiracy."
