It's one thing to get a guest starring role in Star Trek; it's another thing to get an opportunity to play one of the program's mythic figures. That's what veteran actor James Cromwell got to do in Star Trek: First Contact, long revered to be the best of the TNG movies. Cromwell played Zephram Cochrane, the man responsible for not only inventing warp drive but also -- in doing so -- setting Earth on a path toward inclusion within the greater galactic community. Cromwell was born on this day in 1940.
Within the greater Star Trek community, director Marc Daniels is a bit of a legend, having directed fifteen different episodes over the classic program's three seasons. Though he's no longer with us, Daniels was born on this day in 1912.
The esteemed Michael Craig (above center) played the equally esteemed 'Commodore' for a four-episode run as part of Doctor Who's "The Trial of a Time Lord." Craig was born on this day in 1928.
Troy Donahue dumped journalism in favor of acting when given the opportunity in interesting roles. To be honest, he didn't appear in many SciFi projects, but he did garner roles aboard Dr. Alien (1989), Omega Cop (1990), and Legion (1998). Though he's no longer with us, Donahue was born on this day in 1936.
The coolness of Peter Burrough's career knows no limits. Throughout his time in the business, he's had the good fortune to appear in The Legend of King Arthur, Flash Gordon (1980), The Talisman, Into The Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal (1982), Doctor Who, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983), Labyrinth (1986), Willow (1988), The 10th Kingdom, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe (2005). Burroughs was born on this day in 1947.
Derek Acorah took time away from his business as a spiritual medium for a single appearance aboard the BBC's Doctor Who back in 2006. Acorah was born on this day in 1950.
Earlier in her acting career, the lovely Susan Skipper enjoyed a guest role aboard Doctor Who's "The Armageddon Factor." Skipper was born on this day in 1951.
The venerable Steve Leialoha is a comic book artist whose wares have been put to good use on such properties as Star Wars, Star Trek, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Dark Horse Presents, Fantastic Four, Howard the Duck, and Spider-Woman. Leialoha was born on this day in 1952.
Confession time: I've always loved Mimi Rogers. Hers is an effortless beauty; and the fact that she has solid acting chops is only another plus. While I was disappointed with 1998's Lost In Space reboot, I'm never disappointed at the chance to watch Mimi do her thing. Rogers was born on this day in 1956.
Comics scribe Frank Miller has been a part of so many graphic benchmarks that it's almost hard to imagine what comic books today would be like if he had explored some other career. He's also tinkered just a bit in the world of sci-fi movies, including the script for Robocop 2. Miller was born on this day in 1957.
The lovely Susanna Thompson remains a joy to watch. She's enjoyed prominent roles as part of the CW's Arrow and NBC's Timeless and Trek fans might recall that she played the Borg Queen on Star Trek: Voyager as well. Thompson was born on this day in 1958.
Glenn Taranto is a talented character actor who has put in good works as part of The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., The Visitor, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Torchwood, and ABC's Agent Carter. Taranto was born on this day in 1959.
Though I was never much of a fan of Babylon 5, I've always agreed that its cast was arguably one of the most talented for a SciFi ensemble, and that includes the lovely Julie Caitlin Brown who appeared sporadically as Na'Toth on the show. The actress also had brief stints aboard Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Sliders. Brown was born on this day in 1961.
Sadly, the lovely Bridget Fonda doesn't act much any longer (if IMDB.com is any indication), but kudos to her for the leading lady work in Snow Queen (2002). Fonda was born on this day in 1964.
Alan Cumming joined the earlier X-Men universe in the role of Kurt Wagner aka Nightcrawler in X-Men 2 (2003). Cumming was born on this day in 1965.
The lovely Tamlyn Tomita began her Hollywood career as the love interest to Ralph Macchio's character in The Karate Kid 2. Since then, she's been a part of many, many productions, not the least of which includes Quantum Leap, Babylon 5, The Burning Zone, Seven Days, Stargate: SG-1, and Eureka. Tomita was born on this day in 1966.
Patton Oswalt's personal politics firmly put him as part of the Liberal/Progressive 'Hate America' crowd, but he's a force for good as an actor in projects like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Oswalt was born on this day in 1969.
Josh Randall is an actor who makes a solid impression whenever he's given the opportunity. Genre fans have appreciated his talent in such properties as Angel, Lost, Pushing Daisies, The Event, and Grimm. Randall was born on this day in 1972.
Chris Gauthier has been a mainstay in the world of genre entertainment. Fans have seen him in Dark Angel, Earthsea, Stargate: Atlantis, Kyle XY, The Butterfly Effect 2 (2006), Bionic Woman, Sanctuary, Smallville, Watchmen (2009), Continuum, Eureka, and Once Upon A Time. Gauthier was born on this day in 1976.
Along with an appearance in the cinematic world of James Bond (she played 'Miranda Frost in 2002's Die Another Day), the fetching Rosamund Pike voices Lady Penelope aboard the latest reboot of the Gerry Anderson classic, Thunderbirds Are Go. Pike was born on this day in 1979.
The lovely Brooke Butler went to the beach but all she found was that something was waiting for her under The Sand (2015). Butler was born on this day in 1989.
Young Braeden Lemasters continues to build fans based on his work in R.L Stine's Monsterville: The Cabinet of Souls (2015) and Hulu's 11.23.63. Lemasters was born on this day in 1996.
On this day in 1978, the Fantasy/Telefilm The Bermuda Depths plumbed the deep of one of our planet's greatest mysteries. The feature starred Connie Sellecca and Carl Weathers, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Scientists investigating the briny deep are threatened by a giant turtle and the spirit of a young brunette swimmer in the Bermuda Triangle."
"Scientists investigating the briny deep are threatened by a giant turtle and the spirit of a young brunette swimmer in the Bermuda Triangle."
On this day in 1998, the SciFi/Telefilm The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy (aka The Osiris Chronicles) was broadcast on the small screen. Originally envisioned as a TV pilot, The Warlord starred the always reliable John Pyper-Ferguson and John Corbett in yet another boob tube attempt at the space opera. According to Wikipedia, here's the plot summary:
"The story takes place several centuries in the future. Mankind has colonized the entire solar system and beyond, and hardships such as war, disease, hunger, and overpopulation have been eliminated. However, boredom spread rapidly throughout the galaxy and as a result, interstellar war broke out."
"The story takes place several centuries in the future. Mankind has colonized the entire solar system and beyond, and hardships such as war, disease, hunger, and overpopulation have been eliminated. However, boredom spread rapidly throughout the galaxy and as a result, interstellar war broke out."
On this day in 2007, the Fantasy/Telefilm Attack of the Gryphon reared its birdy head. The feature starred Larry Drake and Amber Benson, and here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:
"In a mystical land torn apart by civil war, a warrior princess must team up with a rival warrior prince to hunt down an evil sorcerer who has summoned a giant flying demon which is terrorizing their land."
"In a mystical land torn apart by civil war, a warrior princess must team up with a rival warrior prince to hunt down an evil sorcerer who has summoned a giant flying demon which is terrorizing their land."
On this day in 2008, the Fantasy/Telefilm Journey To The Center Of The Earth took another televised stab at bringing the Jules Verne novel to life. The feature starred Ricky Schroder and Victoria Pratt, and here's the premise from IMDB.com:
"An heiress hires an anthropologist/adventurer to track down her husband who has disappeared while searching for a mythic passage to the center of the earth."
"An heiress hires an anthropologist/adventurer to track down her husband who has disappeared while searching for a mythic passage to the center of the earth."
On this day in 2010, the SciFi/Action film Storm Seekers played out against mankind's fears for disaster. The feature starred Daryl Hannah and Dylan Neal, and here's the plot summary from Amazon.com:
"Daryl Hannah is a dedicated scientist who reluctantly agrees to fly with a reporter on a routine storm-seeking mission. But they soon find themselves at the mercy of nature at its most awesome and destructive when a low-level hurricane off the Florida coast unexpectedly turns into one of the most powerful storms in Americas history. As the violent winds buffet and batter the small aircraft, knocking out the pilot, its a race against time as the pair struggle to escape with their lives and warn everyone about the fast-moving danger."
"Daryl Hannah is a dedicated scientist who reluctantly agrees to fly with a reporter on a routine storm-seeking mission. But they soon find themselves at the mercy of nature at its most awesome and destructive when a low-level hurricane off the Florida coast unexpectedly turns into one of the most powerful storms in Americas history. As the violent winds buffet and batter the small aircraft, knocking out the pilot, its a race against time as the pair struggle to escape with their lives and warn everyone about the fast-moving danger."
Shot in 2015 and released on this day in 2016, Lazer Team blended Science Fiction and Comedy in its Earth-saving premise. The feature starred Burnie Burns and Gavin Free, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Four losers are thrust into the position of saving the world when they stumble upon a UFO crash site and become genetically equipped to the battle suit on board."
"Four losers are thrust into the position of saving the world when they stumble upon a UFO crash site and become genetically equipped to the battle suit on board."
On this day in 2017, iBoy treated audiences another look at technology invading our lives. The feature starred Bill Milner and Maisie Williams, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"After being shot, Tom wakes from a coma to discover that fragments of his smart phone have been embedded in his head, and worse, that returning to normal teenage life is impossible because he has developed a strange set of superpowers."
"After being shot, Tom wakes from a coma to discover that fragments of his smart phone have been embedded in his head, and worse, that returning to normal teenage life is impossible because he has developed a strange set of superpowers."
On this day in 1980, the Saga of a Star World began again when Galactica 1980 aired its very first episode. The tale picked up years after the events depicted in the original Battlestar Galactica with Commander Adama still in charge as the signature vessel of the Thirteen Colonies finally found that shining star known as Earth. The first hour was aptly titled "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part 1," and here's the summary provided by IMDB.com:
"After years of searching for Earth, the Galactica finds Earth. Adama would like to land but a child prodigy named Dr. Zee advises Adama against it because he believes that if they do that the Cylons will attack the Earth. So it's decided to send men to go to Earth and to make contact with people who won't treat them as a threat and whom they can ask to help introduce technology that could help the Earth stand up to a possible Cylon attack."
"After years of searching for Earth, the Galactica finds Earth. Adama would like to land but a child prodigy named Dr. Zee advises Adama against it because he believes that if they do that the Cylons will attack the Earth. So it's decided to send men to go to Earth and to make contact with people who won't treat them as a threat and whom they can ask to help introduce technology that could help the Earth stand up to a possible Cylon attack."
On this day in 1982, The Greatest American Hero aired "The Hand-Painted Thai." This served as the eleventh episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"American pilots, hypnotized years ago in Vietnam, are activated to bomb a dam, destroy valuable farm land and disrupt an important scientific meeting. Ralph and Bill must stop the planes before they reach their target."
"American pilots, hypnotized years ago in Vietnam, are activated to bomb a dam, destroy valuable farm land and disrupt an important scientific meeting. Ralph and Bill must stop the planes before they reach their target."
On this day in 1990, Star Trek: The Next Generation aired an episode titled "The High Ground" as part of its third season. Here's the episode summary from IMDB.com:
"While visiting a planet under civil war, Dr. Crusher is taken hostage by an opposing faction of the planet's ruling government."
"While visiting a planet under civil war, Dr. Crusher is taken hostage by an opposing faction of the planet's ruling government."
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had more than its fair share of war stories. While there were many of them that were quite good, I have to admit that I thought they overdid the war themes quite a bit. In fact, one of my very favorite episodes in their entire run was this quieter, gentler episode that aired on this day in 1997. It's called "The Begotton," and it features Odo coming into possession of another Changeling -- essentially an infact -- and he's tasked with nursing the thing back to health. Things don't quite go as planned -- as was often the case aboard the station -- but the story had a very special ending that changed the Constable's life forever.
Star Trek: Voyager's "Bride of Chaotica!" is another one of those episodes where Trek fans tend to love it so much more than I did. I thought it was clever, but honestly I didn't think it was all that interesting. Whatever. It first aired on this day back in 1999.
On this day in 2006, Stargate: SG-1 aired "Stronghold." This served as the fourteenth episode in the long-running program's ninth season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"Leader of the Hak'tyl and their representative on the Jaffa High Council, Ka'lel has fallen in with those who work against a democratic Jaffa nation. Things worsen when she incapacitates and turns a well-spoken brother Jaffa who promoted democracy. Bra'tac comes to Hayes and SG-1 for help in finding a now missing Teal'c and uncovering the shadowy dealings in the Jaffa High Council."
"Leader of the Hak'tyl and their representative on the Jaffa High Council, Ka'lel has fallen in with those who work against a democratic Jaffa nation. Things worsen when she incapacitates and turns a well-spoken brother Jaffa who promoted democracy. Bra'tac comes to Hayes and SG-1 for help in finding a now missing Teal'c and uncovering the shadowy dealings in the Jaffa High Council."
