Long before Star Trek: Voyager gave audiences the voluptuous Seven of Nine, Playboy centerfold Dorothy Stratten had given men of a certain age something to think about as the female android Galaxina. The model also turned in a nice gig on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Though she's no longer with us, Stratten was born on this day in 1960.
Late in her professional career, Billie Bird enjoyed the role of a somewhat creepy city morgue employee aboard the pilot episode of Max Headroom. Though she's no longer with us, Bird was born on this day in 1908. [Source: IMDB.com]
The great Olan Soule left behind a legacy of over 250 different screen roles. Fans recognize him best from appearances aboard The Twilight Zone, My Favorite Martian, Batman, Land of the Giants, The Six Million Dollar Man, Project U.F.O., and much, much more. Though he's no longer with us, Soule was born on this day in 1909.
Screen veteran Charles Durning led a career of one impressive role after another, but he also appeared in the tepid Solarbabies during the mid-1980's. Though he's no longer with us, Durning was born on this day in 1923.
The lovely Bettye Ackerman managed to squeeze in just over fifty different screen roles in her lifetime, and one of her later ones included an appearance as 'Asclepia' in "The Return of Wonder Woman" episode of the Wonder Woman franchise. Though she's no longer with us, Ackerman was born on this day in 1924.
Though she's known more for appearances in mainstream films, Kelly Bishop did give Science Fiction a try with a role in the schlocky Solarbabies (1986). (What are the odds? Two Solarbabies star ... in one day?!) Bishop was born on this day in 1944.
How great is the realm of Science Fiction and Fantasy? Well, it's so powerful that it draws in folks from every field of work, including football great Bubba Smith who enjoyed a role playing himself in Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990). Though he's no longer with us, Smith was born on this day in 1945. [Source: IMDB.com]
Even a vision of loveliness like Mimsy Farmer can't quite seem to escape the hidden yet dangerous allure of The Outer Limits. Farmer was born on this day in 1946.
English actress Stephanie Beacham has an amazing history with genre entertainment that casual fans are probably unaware of. In 1972, she starred as Jessica Van Helsing in the Hammer horror flick Dracula A.D. 1972. Then, almost two decades later, she appeared as a love interest for no less than the holographic incarnation of the Sherlock Holmes nemesis, Dr. Moriarty, aboard Star Trek: The Next Generation. This led to her being cast as Dr. Kristin Westphalen aboard Steven Spielberg's TV-jaunt-under-the-sea, SeaQuest. Beacham was born on this day in 1947.
Back in 1981, the lovely Bernadette Peters joined funnyman Andy Kaufman in the clever but poorly received Heartbeeps, the tale of two domestic robots who run away to start a family of their own. Peters also had a role in the 1980's TV adaptation of Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles. Peters was born on this day in 1948.
Do you remember Supertrain? It was 1979, and NBC ponied up what one could basically call "The Love Boat On Nuclear-Powered Wheels" with the short-lived series. The lovely Ilene Graff appeared in three of its nine episodes, and she found wider acclaim aboard Mr. Belvedere during its run. Graff was born on this day in 1949.
Back in 1983, the lovely Cristina Raines realized she couldn't escape Nightmares, a SciFi/Horror anthology film. Raines was born on this day in 1952.
Just as the cockroach can outlive nuclear armageddon, I suspect Syfy's Sharknado franchise will outlive us all. Heck, it even ensnared Gilbert Gottfried's into its nefarious clutches. Gottfried was born on this day in 1955. [Source: IMDB.com]
Veteran character actor John Turturro certainly isn't well known for his work in Science Fiction, but -- to his credit -- he did make an impressive turn in the Transformers flicks. Turturro was born on this day in 1957.
Actress Rae Dawn Chong joined Mark Hamill in the B-movie time travel spectacle that was 1993's Time Runner. She's also appeared in The Outer Limits (1995), Starlight (1996), and Pegasus Vs. Chimera (2012). Chong was born on this day in 1961.
Well, if you only get to be in one hour of Star Trek, then how cool would it be to appear in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's homage to the classic series, "Trials And Tribble-ations"? Charles Chun can boast as such, appearing as an unnamed engineer in the kinda/sorta 'modernization' of the episode. Chun was born on this day in 1967.
Since Doctor Who returned to the airwaves after its long hiatus in the mid-2000's, Murray Gold has been the go-to genius composing its various tracks. Gold was born on this day in 1969.
Despite some relatively uneven if not lackluster storytelling, TNT's alien invasion drama Falling Skies managed to lure some fairly impressive guest stars into its swelling ranks, including the reliable Robert Sean Leonard in the role of troubled scientist Roger Kadar. Leonard was born on this day in 1969.
Screen veteran Peter Stebbings suited up (in armor!) to play 'Helios' aboard Immortals (2011), the Fantasy which looked at man waging war against the Greek Gods. Stebbings was born on this day in 1971.
Actor Rory Cochrane appeared in creepy animation fashion in 2006's A Scanner Darkly, a theatrical adaptation of a novel by Philip K. Dick. Cochrane was born on this day in 1972.
Though she's now more well known for her work on the BBC's Sherlock, Amanda Abbington cut her teeth with a guest spot aboard Being Human. Abbington was born on this day in 1974.
Science Fiction comes in all shapes and sizes, and that includes even crowd-friendly comedies, the likes of which Michael Manasseri starred in Weird Science (1994-1998). Manasseri was born on this day in 1974.
Ali Larter certainly rose to fame as part of the ensemble that was NBC's fantasy-inspired Heroes, but she's also made some appearances in the sci-fi property Resident Evil. Larter was born on this day in 1976.
The lovely and funny Katy Wix played 'Rhiannon Davies' aboard the Torchwood: Children of Earth series in 2009. Wix was born on this day in 1980.
It's often been said that genre actors don't always receive the credit they deserve because much of the time they're buried under make-up, as is the case with the talented Charles Halford from his appearance in Supergirl. Halford was born on this day in 1980.
While it may be true that "beauty is only skin deep," Clash of the Titans' Natalia Vodianova proved it can be equally treacherous in the guide of Medusa (at right). Vodianova was born on this day in 1982.
Before earning her comedy chops on such projects as Burning Love and Fox TV's New Girl, the ravenous Noureen DeWulf scared a plenty in the SciFi/Horror franchise entries of Pulse 2 and Pulse 3. DuWulf was born on this day in 1984.
Sure, I know most folks didn't much care for G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra (2009) when it hit the silver screen, but I kinda/sorta 'dug' its surgary goodness. You know what else I liked? Model-turned-actress Karolina Kurkova in uniform. She played 'Cover Girl' in the feature. Kurkova was born on this day in 1984.
In her youth, the lovely Michelle Horn boasted a pair of appearances aboard the much-lauded Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in syndication. Horn was born on this day in 1987.
The Chinese franchise surrounding Tai Chi Hero infuses elements of classic fantasy with the vastly more modern steampunk phenomenon ... but it's also propelled actress/model Angelababy (aka Angela Yeung Wing) to certain fame. Wing was born on this day in 1989, and she looks lovelier every time I see her!
Alice Kremelberg enjoyed a guest spot aboard "Unearthed," an episode of Fox TV's underrated SciFi series Fringe. Kremelberg was born on this day in 1990. [Source: IMDB.com]
Toward the tail end of the Harry Potter saga, the lovely Georgina Leonidas stepped into the shoes of 'Katie Bell.' Leonidas was born on this day in 1990.
I tuned in to AMC's recent Into The Badlands as I'd read in their promotional materials that the program was being billed as a SciFi samurai drama. Why not? I love SciFi, and I love samurai films equally. Sadly, what I saw was neither, instead being a period piece chop-socky premise packaged with SciFi and samurai elements. In fact, the opening fight sequence from the second episode was so awful I turned it off and never went back. Still, here's hoping future success to one of its players -- the lovely Sarah Bolger -- as she deserves better. Bolger was born on this day in 1991.
On this day in 1993, the SciFi/Telefilm Journey To The Center Of The Earth surfaced. This version starred Farrah Forke and Tim Russ, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Taking the title from the novel by Jules Verne, this story takes his basic premise of the desire to travel to the center of the Earth. The travelers, using their craft, penetrate an active volcano and encounter a strange world filled with many creatures and an evil force controlling it all."
"Taking the title from the novel by Jules Verne, this story takes his basic premise of the desire to travel to the center of the Earth. The travelers, using their craft, penetrate an active volcano and encounter a strange world filled with many creatures and an evil force controlling it all."
On this day in 2011 (in Portugal), Tyrannosaurus Azteca enjoyed its release. The feature starred Ian Ziering and Marco Sanchez, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Two years before his famous encounter with Montezuma, Cortes is sent on a scouting mission to shores south of Mexico where he and his band of Conquistadores discover a small tribe of Aztecs who sacrifice their own people to satisfy the hunger of the "Thunder Lizard" living in the jungle."
"Two years before his famous encounter with Montezuma, Cortes is sent on a scouting mission to shores south of Mexico where he and his band of Conquistadores discover a small tribe of Aztecs who sacrifice their own people to satisfy the hunger of the "Thunder Lizard" living in the jungle."
On this day in 1963, Rod Serling made us question our reality once more with yet another episode of The Twilight Zone. The tale was called "Printer's Devil." It aired as the ninth episode of the program's fourth season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A man sells his soul to the devil to save his failing newspaper and gets more than he bargained for."
"A man sells his soul to the devil to save his failing newspaper and gets more than he bargained for."
On this day in 1964, The Twilight Zone aired "An Occurence At Owl Creek Bridge," the twenty-second episode of its fifth and final season. According to IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"It is the end of the Civil War and Union troops have occupied the South. They are going to execute a Southern resistance fighter."
"It is the end of the Civil War and Union troops have occupied the South. They are going to execute a Southern resistance fighter."
On this day in 1967, The Invaders aired "Doomsday Minus One." This served as the eighth hour to the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"The aliens plan to explode an anti-matter bomb in Utah during a nuclear test."
"The aliens plan to explode an anti-matter bomb in Utah during a nuclear test."
"The Cloud Minders" aired as part of Star Trek's oft-maligned third season on February 28, 1969. Here's the episode summary from IMDB.com:
"Kirk and Spock are caught up in a revolution on a planet where intellectuals and artists live on a utopian city in the sky while the rest of the population toils in mines on the barren surface below."
"Kirk and Spock are caught up in a revolution on a planet where intellectuals and artists live on a utopian city in the sky while the rest of the population toils in mines on the barren surface below."
On this day in 1988, Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future aired "Freedom One." This served as the eighteenth episode of the program's first (and only) season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"When Freedom One, the voice of the East Coast Resistance radio organizes a meeting between the five most powerful Resistance leaders, she contacts Power and his team to gather the leaders together."
"When Freedom One, the voice of the East Coast Resistance radio organizes a meeting between the five most powerful Resistance leaders, she contacts Power and his team to gather the leaders together."
On this day in 2001, Star Trek: Voyager concluded "Workforce" by airing its second part on UPN. Thankfully, all of the crew's memories were restored so they could continue on the voyage home ... which was coming very soon!
On this day in 2001, Starhunter aired the eighteenth episode of its first season. "Eat Sin" was the follow-up to the previous hour -- "A Twist in Time" -- that saw the crew of the Tulip facing a curious temporal anomaly seemingly manipulated by the convict they had aboard the ship.
On this day in 2003, the first part of Farscape's big finish trilogy -- "We're So Screwed I: Fetal Attraction" -- aired on Syfy. According to IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The crew goes after Aeryn on a Scarran controlled station."
"The crew goes after Aeryn on a Scarran controlled station."
On this day in 2004, Starhunter 2300 aired the seventeenth episode of its second season. It was an hour titled "The Heir and the Spare," and here's the plot summary as provided by Wikipedia.org:
"The hunters capture a conman named Alex Arroyan who, after a medical scan, is found to be an identical DNA match to Marcus. Marcus confronts Alex who admits they are twin brothers despite Marcus being a test-tube baby born in an artificial womb. Alex had also undergone plastic surgery to hide his true identity from a man named Jaten Sarat who is hunting him. When Sarat comes for Alex, he and Marcus escape to Io and meet their uncle Wilkes, who explains that Alex is heir to the Marendola family of Europa whose rule was overthrown in a coup. Marcus finds out he was intended to be Alex "spare" (a medical blank). To quell current uprisings, Sarat wants Alex to return to rule, but as a puppet leader under his control. In the meantime, Percy begins to lose it while trying to fix the Tulip, and decides to take a vacation."
"The hunters capture a conman named Alex Arroyan who, after a medical scan, is found to be an identical DNA match to Marcus. Marcus confronts Alex who admits they are twin brothers despite Marcus being a test-tube baby born in an artificial womb. Alex had also undergone plastic surgery to hide his true identity from a man named Jaten Sarat who is hunting him. When Sarat comes for Alex, he and Marcus escape to Io and meet their uncle Wilkes, who explains that Alex is heir to the Marendola family of Europa whose rule was overthrown in a coup. Marcus finds out he was intended to be Alex "spare" (a medical blank). To quell current uprisings, Sarat wants Alex to return to rule, but as a puppet leader under his control. In the meantime, Percy begins to lose it while trying to fix the Tulip, and decides to take a vacation."
On this day in 2017, Mark Dawidziak's Everything I Need To Know I Learned In The Twilight Zone enjoyed its release to the consumer marketplace. According to our friends at Amazon.com, here's the book's premise:
"Can you live your life by what The Twilight Zone has to teach you? Yes, and maybe you should. The proof is in this lighthearted collection of life lessons, ground rules, inspirational thoughts, and stirring reminders found in Rod Serling’s timeless fantasy series. Written by veteran TV critic, Mark Dawidziak, this unauthorized tribute is a celebration of the classic anthology show, but also, on another level, a kind of fifth-dimension self-help book, with each lesson supported by the morality tales told by Serling and his writers."
"Can you live your life by what The Twilight Zone has to teach you? Yes, and maybe you should. The proof is in this lighthearted collection of life lessons, ground rules, inspirational thoughts, and stirring reminders found in Rod Serling’s timeless fantasy series. Written by veteran TV critic, Mark Dawidziak, this unauthorized tribute is a celebration of the classic anthology show, but also, on another level, a kind of fifth-dimension self-help book, with each lesson supported by the morality tales told by Serling and his writers."
