"The Mark of Gideon" presented Capt. Kirk with a curious challenge: believing to be beaming down to the surface of the planet Gideon, he finds himself aboard a completely deserted Enterprise ... well, completely deserted except for a beautiful woman, that is! If only all Starfleet captains could be so lucky! The Star Trek episode premiered on this day back in 1969.
Actor and stuntman Jack 'Tiny' Lipson (above center) earned the distinction of appearing as King Vultan aboard the Buster Crabbe 1936 serial for Flash Gordon. Though he's no longer with us, Lipson was born on this day in 1901.
What would Flash Gordon be without a Dale Arden to tag along? The lovely Carol Hughes took on the task of traveling the stars with Flash in 1940's Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe. Though she's no longer with us, Hughes was born on this day in 1910.
The lovely Eartha Kitt certainly left a lasting impression in the guise of 'Catwoman' for the late 1960's TV version of Batman. Though she's no longer with us, Kitt was born on this day in 1927. [Source: IMDB.com]
His is the voice of Darth Vader, the Dark Lord of the Sith, throughout all theatrical films in the Star Wars saga. (And, yes, he's also the voice of CNN.) James Earl Jones was born on this day in 1931.
The lovely Sheree North first gave Science Fiction a glance with a lead role in Destination Inner Space (1966). She made a return trip with a guest spot on Future Cop. Though she's no longer with us, North was born on this day in 1932.
Comedy legend Andy Kaufman played a robot with a heart of gold aboard the SciFi/Comedy Heartbeeps (1981). Though he's no longer with us, Kaufman was born on this day in 1949. [Source: IMDB.com]
Funnyman Jim Carrey has come a long way from general goofiness in his projects. His more thoughtful entries -- like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) and even The Truman Show (1998) -- certainly flirt on the fringes of Science Fiction. Carrey was born on this day in 1962. [Source: IMDB.com]
Director D.J. Caruso has a solid track record in genre entertainment, helming such projects as VR.5, Smallville, Dark Angel, and I Am Number Four (2011). Caruso was born on this day in 1965.
Critical darling Joshua Malina has sparingly dipped his feet into SciFi waters with guest spots aboard Sliders, Stargate: SG-1, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and Extant. Malina was born on this day in 1966.
Kang-ho Song might be the only man who can help save the passengers on the Snowpiercer, a state-of-the-art high tech train traveling the world to avoid global catastrophe. Song was born on this day in 1967.
The beautiful and enigmatic Sofia Shinas played an equally beautiful and enigmatic sentient lifeform aboard an early episode of the 1990's version of The Outer Limits. Shinas was born on this day in 1968. [Source: IMDB.com]
Naveen Andrews was one of the original survivors on JJ Abrams' super-popular Lost program for ABC TV. Andrews has also made appearances in such genre properties as Rollerball and Planet Terror, and he'll be seen in 2015 in the anticipated Sense8. Andrews was born on this day in 1969.
Genndy Tartakovsky has one of the most unique animation styles to find major acclaim in the past few decades. Science Fiction fans loved his particular take on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and they were driven insane with their love for his futuristic warrior tale Samurai Jack. In fact, in 2004 both his Clone Wars ("Chapters 1 - 20") and Samurai Jack ("Birth of Evil") were awarded Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Animated Program, while he and his crew took home the same award in 2005 for Chapters 21 - 25 of Clone Wars. Tartakovsky was born on this day in 1970.
Freddy Rodriguez fought a world infected by a degenerative biological plague in writer/director Robert Rodriguez's Grindhouse flick Planet Terror in 2007. Freddy was born on this day in 1975.
Leigh Whannell faced a unique version of the Apocalypse with a decidedly juvenile slant in the SciFi/Horror hybrid Cooties (2014). Whannell was born on this day in 1977. [Source: IMDB.com]
Doe-eyed Zooey Deschanel put on her best 'stink eye' with a role in the M. Night Shyamalan twist-fest, The Happening. Deschanel was born on this day in 1980.
I know that I'm in the minority as having loved SGU: Stargate Universe. (Keep in mind, I wasn't that much of a fan of the other two series, and maybe my fondness for it makes sense.) Young David Blue had a prominent role in the program, and I'd love to see it revisited if only to give it a proper send-off. Blue was born on this day in 1982.
TV's The Magicians certainly qualifies as a modern era Fantasy, and the talented Hale Appleman plays 'Eliot Waugh' for the mystical procedural. Appleman was born on this day in 1986. [Source: IMDB.com]
Kelly Marie Tran entered the greater realm of a galaxy far, far away in the role of 'Rose Tico' aboard Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017). Tran was born on this day in 1989. [Source: IMDB.com]
On this day in 1982, the Ray Bradbury penned The Electric Grandmother premiered on television. The feature starred Maureen Stapleton and Edward Herrmann, and here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:
"A trio of children and their father, get a very special robot grandmother to assist them."
"A trio of children and their father, get a very special robot grandmother to assist them."
On this day in 1988, Part 1 of the fondly remember Earth Star Voyager aired as part of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The Earth Star Voyager is a spaceship sent to another solar system to prepare it for colonization. Earth itself is horribly polluted, so the mission is vitally important. But as the departing starship gets under way, signs begin to emerge that their mission may unwittingly be part of a larger conspiracy."
"The Earth Star Voyager is a spaceship sent to another solar system to prepare it for colonization. Earth itself is horribly polluted, so the mission is vitally important. But as the departing starship gets under way, signs begin to emerge that their mission may unwittingly be part of a larger conspiracy."
On this day in 1992, Emilio Estevez took Rene Russo onto a curious look at tomorrow in Geoff Murphy's Freejack ... a film that had the unfortunate task of casting Mick Jagger as the villain. Audiences weren't all that impressed, but the film does maintain a small but vociferous cult following. Here's the summary compliments of our friends at IMDB.com:
"Bounty hunters from the future transport a doomed race-car driver to 2009 New York, where his mind will be replaced with that of a dead billionaire."
"Bounty hunters from the future transport a doomed race-car driver to 2009 New York, where his mind will be replaced with that of a dead billionaire."
On this day in 2009, the Fantasy-themed telefilm called The Immortal Voyage of Captain Drake premiered. The feature starred Adrian Paul and Wes Ramsey, and here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:
"1592. Four years after England's defeat of the Spanish Armada, tensions still run deep, especially between Sir Francis Drake, "The Queen's Pirate", and his lifelong nemesis, Captain Don Sandovate. An encounter with a mysterious Syrian sultan, however, finds the two men and their crews engaged in a daring race against time, each embarking upon a desperate quest to exotic foreign lands where they face perilous obstacles and untold dangers at every turn."
"1592. Four years after England's defeat of the Spanish Armada, tensions still run deep, especially between Sir Francis Drake, "The Queen's Pirate", and his lifelong nemesis, Captain Don Sandovate. An encounter with a mysterious Syrian sultan, however, finds the two men and their crews engaged in a daring race against time, each embarking upon a desperate quest to exotic foreign lands where they face perilous obstacles and untold dangers at every turn."
On this day in 1967, The Invaders aired "The Experiment." This served as the second episode of the first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"David Vincent meets with an eminent astrophysicist who has proof that aliens are invading the planet."
"David Vincent meets with an eminent astrophysicist who has proof that aliens are invading the planet."
A mysterious satellite enters Earth's orbit with a message for Buck: Earth is about to be destroyed! Capt. Rogers and his friends race against time to figure out not only who may've sent the message but also prevent the attack. The episode of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century aired on this day back in 1980 under the name "A Blast for Buck."
On this day in 1986, Misfits of Science aired "Once Upon A Night." This served as the twelfth episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Gloria's pen-pal Jaye, having stolen a bracelet, is the object of some unidentified assailants. In the following pursuit Gloria gets kidnapped instead, Billy and El get arrested, and Jaye manages to escape with Johnny."
"Gloria's pen-pal Jaye, having stolen a bracelet, is the object of some unidentified assailants. In the following pursuit Gloria gets kidnapped instead, Billy and El get arrested, and Jaye manages to escape with Johnny."
On this day in 1988, Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future aired "And Madness Shall Reign." This served as the thirteenth episode of the program's first (and only) season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Colonel Cypher's resistance group has fallen victim to a insanity inducing drug. Unfortunately Tank has also taken a sip of the contaminated water and soon becomes convinced his teammates are Bio Dreads."
"Colonel Cypher's resistance group has fallen victim to a insanity inducing drug. Unfortunately Tank has also taken a sip of the contaminated water and soon becomes convinced his teammates are Bio Dreads."
On this day in 1993, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine aired "A Man Alone" in syndication as part of its first season. Here's the episode summary from IMDB.com:
"Ibudan, a criminal/murderer Odo has dealt with before, returns to DS9 only to be murdered shortly after. . .leaving Odo to be the prime suspect. Meanwhile, Jake and Nog's trouble making prompt Keiko to do something helpful for the station's children."
"Ibudan, a criminal/murderer Odo has dealt with before, returns to DS9 only to be murdered shortly after. . .leaving Odo to be the prime suspect. Meanwhile, Jake and Nog's trouble making prompt Keiko to do something helpful for the station's children."
On this day in 2000, Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles aired an episode titled "The Inside Story." According to our friends at TV.com, here's the plot summary:
"The Zephyr is still stuck on the ice asteroid and the Roughnecks are running low on ammunition while the Firefries keep attacking. The only chance they have is for Rico, Flores, and T'Phai to act as human bait and draw the bugs away while Gossard and Doc make a toxic barrier to kill the bugs before they can get to the ship. Can Rico, Flores, and T'Phai survive their suicide mission?"
"The Zephyr is still stuck on the ice asteroid and the Roughnecks are running low on ammunition while the Firefries keep attacking. The only chance they have is for Rico, Flores, and T'Phai to act as human bait and draw the bugs away while Gossard and Doc make a toxic barrier to kill the bugs before they can get to the ship. Can Rico, Flores, and T'Phai survive their suicide mission?"
Star Trek: Voyager ran in the start of its last calendar year (2001) on this day back then when "Shattered" aired on UPN. In an episode that's thematically similar to Star Trek: The Next Generation's "All Good Things ...", Commander Chakotay finds himself suddenly given the ability to pass through time spheres all over the spaceship, and he must get others from different realities to cooperate with him in order to save the day.
On this day in 2001, Starhunter continued going boldly wherever it went. This hour was called "Goodbye, So Long," and here's the episode summary from IMDB.com:
"Dante is reunited with Ike, an old friend who was a rival for Dante's deceased wife Penny's affections. Ike's shady business partner Marco works with the Raiders to locate special seeds that can grow in any climate. Meanwhile, Percy suspects that Lucretia has a hidden agenda."
"Dante is reunited with Ike, an old friend who was a rival for Dante's deceased wife Penny's affections. Ike's shady business partner Marco works with the Raiders to locate special seeds that can grow in any climate. Meanwhile, Percy suspects that Lucretia has a hidden agenda."
On this day in 2005, the new-fangled Battlestar Galactica aired the twelfth episode of its first season, "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part 1." Here's the episode summary from IMDB.com:
"Galactica stumbles upon Kobol, the long-lost home world of humanity that the 13 Tribes came from, which legend says holds the only clues to the location of Earth. Roslin convinces Starbuck to steal the captured Cylon raider and return to Cylon-occupied Caprica with it to retrieve a religious artifact that will unlock the secrets on Kobol."
"Galactica stumbles upon Kobol, the long-lost home world of humanity that the 13 Tribes came from, which legend says holds the only clues to the location of Earth. Roslin convinces Starbuck to steal the captured Cylon raider and return to Cylon-occupied Caprica with it to retrieve a religious artifact that will unlock the secrets on Kobol."
