Actor Saul Rubinek flirted around the edges of SciFi for quite a long time before settling in for the long haul as a series regular on SyFy's Warehouse 13. (I only watched a few episodes, finding it more than a bit too sugary for my tastes.) Of course, most Star Trek fans remember him as 'Kivas Fajo' from TNG's "The Most Toys," in which an intergalactic collector of oddities decided he needed a Data in his private collection. Rubinek was born on this day in 1948. [Source: IMDB.com]
That's the face of a man staring down The Killer Shrews (1959)! Ken Curtis gravitated toward scruffier characters, building a reputation in mostly Westerns and conventional dramas ... well, except for that bout with the shrews. Though he's no longer with us, Curtis was born on this day in 1916. [Source: IMDB.com]
Catherine McLeod began her professional career with some uncredited work in the early 1940's, and she built a resume that lasted an impressive four decades in the industry. Though she managed to squeeze in some performances in motion pictures, it honestly appears that the bulk of her characters were in episodic television, perhaps the greatest of which -- so far as SciFi and Fantasy fans are concerned -- would be her time spent in The Outer Limit's signature episode, "Soldier," in 1964. Though she's no longer with us, McLeod was born on this day in 1921.
Veteran character actor Brock Peters came to the universe of Star Trek initially as a rather nebulous Starfleet officer (aka 'Admiral Cartwright'), but it wasn't until Star Trek: Deep Space Nine that he was given a recurring role his gravitas commanded -- that of father to 'Captain Benjamin Sisko.' The man even had a small role in TV's Battlestar Galactica that remains of note, for Pete's sake! Amazing! Though he's no longer with us, Peters was born on this day back in 1927. [Source: IMDB.com]
Robert Ito (pictured above center from Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Coming of Age") has dabbled in SciFi's various realms throughout his illustrious career. He's appeared in Dimension 5, Soylent Green, The Terminal Man, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, The X-Files, and Star Trek: Voyager. Ito was born on this day in 1931. [Source: IMDB.com]
While I'll concede that David Lynch's Dune (1984) adaptation was visually impressive, I still think the film was a narrative failure on so many levels. Still, it was filled with some interesting performances, including Kenneth McMillan's take on 'Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.' Though he's no longer with us, McMillan was born on this day in 1932. [Source: IMDB.com]
Gloria Castillo found a bit of notoriety and perhaps a fair amount of unwanted alien touching for her work aboard Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957). Though she's no longer with us, Castillo was born on this day in 1933. [Source: IMDB.com]
Funny lady Polly Holliday showed up in a terrific supporting role in Joe Dante's Gremlins (1984). In the mid-1980's, she also squeezed in a visit to the world of Amazing Stories. Holliday was born on this day in 1937. [Source: IMDB.com]
If you're gonna do something, then make sure you do it right: Ron Silver ventured into SciFi History when he appeared alongside the grand kickboxer himself -- Jean-Claude Van Damme -- in 1994's Timecop. Interestingly enough, the year before that he had stepped in as director on the SciFi/Telefilm Lifepod (1993) for Fox West Pictures. And in 1996, he joined Charlie Sheen aboard the fondly remembered SciFi conspiracy thriller The Arrival. Though he's no longer with us, Silver was born on this day in 1946. [Source: IMDB.com]
Nancy Stephens is no stranger to the world of genre entertainment, but her SciFi credentials are a bit light. Still, I'll always celebrate anyone who worked in John Carpenter's Escape From New York and NBC's short-lived Dark Skies. Stephens was born on this day in 1949. [Source: IMDB.com]
Swedish model and actress Agneta Eckemyr braved the cold for her foray into the realm of cinematic Fantasy aboard Walt Disney's The Island At The Top Of The World (1974). Though she's no longer with us, Eckemyr was born on this day in 1950. [Source: IMDB.com]
Though she's probably best remembered for her work in The Howling (1981), Elisabeth Brooks did have a few SciFi credits to her name: she booked appearances aboard The Six Million Dollar Man and Deep Space (1988). Though she's no longer with us, Brooks was born on this day in 1951. [Source: IMDB.com]
Wendy Schaal has more than a few solid genre credits to her name. Fans probably recognize her from appearances aboard Fantasy Island, Creature (1985), Knight Rider, Airwolf, Amazing Stories, Innerspace (1987), Batteries Not Included (1987), Out There (1995), Star Trek: Voyager, and The X-Files. Schaal was born on this day in 1954. [Source: IMDB.com]
Eddie Rouse was an accomplished character actor who knew a thing or two about stealing scenes. SciFi fans may recognize him from work aboard Pandorum (2009) and HBO's Westworld. Though he's no longer with us, Rouse was born on this day in 1954. [Source: IMDB.com]
Andrew Divoff is a screen veteran who is most often cast in roles as 'the bad guy.' You may recognize him from his work in The Twilight Zone, Oblivion (1994), Xtro 3: Watch The Skies, Oblivion 2: Backlash, or ABC's long-running Lost. If you want to see him take on the role of the action hero, 1992's Interceptor is an underrated B-movie that's done quite well for the time. Divoff was born on this day in 1955. [Source: IMDB.com]
Jerry Hall played the squeeze (and what a squeeze she'd be!) to Jack Nicholson's 'Jack Napier' aboard Tim Burton's version of Batman (1989). Hall was born on this day in 1956. [Source: IMDB.com]
Kim Wall found herself trapped in one of the many Fantasy worlds coming from the mind of Stephen King for her work aboard The Mist (2007). Wall was born on this day in 1969. [Source: IMDB.com]
As I've often said, Science Fiction fans love 'the tough chick,' and do they come any tougher than Yancy Butler? Back in 1992, she starred in something called Mann & Machine (I hadn't even heard of this) wherein she plays a female robot paired up with a wise-cracking police detective. Plus there's a little Fantasy show in her resume called Witchblade that's worth checking out. Butler was born on this day in 1970. [Source: IMDB.com]
Not only has the lovely Amy Weber showed her toughness as part of the WWE but also she served in the Starforce (2000). Weber was born on this day in 1970. [Source: IMDB.com]
Back in 2006, Peter Kay went for a wild ride (under much make-up) with a guest spot aboard the BBC's Doctor Who. Kay was born on this day in 1973. [Source: IMDB.com]
Former NFL cheerleader turned actress Allison McCurdy enjoyed a bit of screen time aboard Flight 7500 (2014) for CBS Films. McCurdy was born on this day in 1974. [Source: IMDB.com]
Though he's probably far more well known for his role on CBS's popular crime procedural The Mentalist, Owain Yeoman did try to scare the extraterrestrial out of Halle Berry while guest-starring in an arc of episodes on Extant (pictured above right). He also had a role in Fox TV's pilot episode of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. He also played an investigative journalist with a bit of a secret in the short-lived Emergence. Yeoman was born on this day in 1978. [Source: IMDB.com]
When she was but an urchin, Vanessa Lee Chester faced off against those pesky dinosaurs compliments of Steven Spielberg in 1997's The Lost World: Jurassic Park (pictured above). Chester was born on this day in 1984. [Source: IMDB.com]
The young and lovely Ashley Tisdale gave Science Fiction a try with a role aboard Aliens In The Attic (2009). Tisdale was born on this day in 1985. [Source: IMDB.com]
Barbara Dunkelman faced the end of life as we know it aboard the SciFi/Web property Day 5 from Rooster Teeth Productions. Dunkelman was born on this day in 1989. [Source: IMDB.com]
Crazy never looked so good and inviting as when it was played by Margot Robbie as 'Harley Quinn' aboard DC Comics' big budget flick Suicide Squad (2016). Robbie was born on this day in 1990. [Source: IMDB.com]
Critical favorite Abraham Attah enjoyed a bit of Marvel star power with a small role aboard Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). Attah was born on this day in 2001. [Source: IMDB.com]
Young Caitlin Carmichael is well on the way toward making a name for herself in genre entertainment with work aboard True Blood, Daybreak, Agent Carter, Monsters (2015), and Z Nation. Carmichael was born on this day in 2004. [Source: IMDB.com]
On this day in 1957 (in Denmark), the SciFi/Fantasy Mandragore enjoyed its theatrical run. The film starred Hildegard Knef and Erich von Stroheim, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A scientist creates a beautiful "perfect woman", but since she is artificial, she seems soul-less and with no sense of morality, she brings ruin to all around her."
"A scientist creates a beautiful "perfect woman", but since she is artificial, she seems soul-less and with no sense of morality, she brings ruin to all around her."
Not to sound like I'm nitpicking but 1980's Alligator is definitely more Horror than it is Science Fiction; still, the inclusion of some genetic experimentation pushes it into our beloved genre. It was released on this day back then, and -- starring Robert Forster and Robin Riker -- here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A baby alligator is flushed down a Chicago toilet and survives by eating discarded laboratory rats injected with growth hormones. The small reptile grows gigantic, escapes the city sewers, and goes on a rampage."
"A baby alligator is flushed down a Chicago toilet and survives by eating discarded laboratory rats injected with growth hormones. The small reptile grows gigantic, escapes the city sewers, and goes on a rampage."
On this day in 1981 (in the United Kingdom), Condorman took cinematic flight with its first theatrical presentation ever! Based on the novel by Robert Sheckley, the feature was directed by Charles Jarrott and starred Michael Crawford, Oliver Reed, and Barbara Carrera, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Comic artist and writer Woody performs a simple courier operation for his friend Harry who works for the CIA. But when he successfully fends off hostile agents, he earns the respect of the beautiful Natalia, who requests his assistance for her defection. Woody uses this request as leverage to use the CIA's resources to bring his comic book creation, Condorman, to life to battle the evil Krokov."
"Comic artist and writer Woody performs a simple courier operation for his friend Harry who works for the CIA. But when he successfully fends off hostile agents, he earns the respect of the beautiful Natalia, who requests his assistance for her defection. Woody uses this request as leverage to use the CIA's resources to bring his comic book creation, Condorman, to life to battle the evil Krokov."
On this day in 1981 (in Yugoslavia), Visitors From The Arkana Galaxy found modest acclaim at the box office. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A science fiction writer is gifted with the ability to materialize his thoughts and inadvertently brings a group of aliens to Earth."
"A science fiction writer is gifted with the ability to materialize his thoughts and inadvertently brings a group of aliens to Earth."
On this day in 1992, the direct-to-video release of Shadowchaser was coordinated. The film starred Martin Kove and Meg Foster, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Terrorists with an indestructible robot take over a high-rise hospital in order to kidnap the president's daughter."
"Terrorists with an indestructible robot take over a high-rise hospital in order to kidnap the president's daughter."
On this day in 2002, the SciFi/Telefilm known as Teenage Caveman crawled out of the muck and rose for the first time. The film starred Andrew Keegan and Tara Subkoff, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Teens encounter people, who, after being used as guinea pigs for the experimental testing of a virus can live forever in a post apocalyptic world."
"Teens encounter people, who, after being used as guinea pigs for the experimental testing of a virus can live forever in a post apocalyptic world."
No one -- and I do mean no one -- really seemed to much care all that much for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. I think some folks were predisposed against it because it was the first Terminator movie without James Cameron at the head (perish the thought!), but, for all its low-brow posturing and creative shortcomings, I enjoyed it well enough. (Truth be told, I've found something worth enjoying in all of the Terminator flicks.) It certainly offered up a grim ending, proving once and for all that you can't outrun your destiny. The film first screened theatrically on this day in 2003.
Hancock remains one of those films that was probably more fun than it had any right to be; I say that mostly because by its big finish I'm not entirely sure I fully understood all of what was going on in the background. Still, it's nice when Will Smith can make a crowd-pleasing film, no? The flick first premiered on this day in 2008, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Hancock is a superhero whose ill considered behavior regularly causes damage in the millions. He changes when one person he saves helps him improve his public image."
"Hancock is a superhero whose ill considered behavior regularly causes damage in the millions. He changes when one person he saves helps him improve his public image."
On this day in 2011, the cinematic Fantasy known as After The Wizard enjoyed a brief theatrical run. The feature starred Jordan Van Vranken and Orien Richman, and here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:
"A 12-year-old Kansas orphan turns to the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman for help during a difficult time. She imagines that things have not gone well in Oz since the Wizard left and that the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman must travel to Kansas to find Dorothy."
"A 12-year-old Kansas orphan turns to the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman for help during a difficult time. She imagines that things have not gone well in Oz since the Wizard left and that the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman must travel to Kansas to find Dorothy."
This is one of those citations that may not make a lot of sense, but Pig shows as being filmed in 2011 but never getting a major theatrical release until this day in 2015 (in South Korea). Quite possibly it's because the film played for some time on the festival circuit, but I couldn't say for certain. Here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A man wakes up alone in the middle of the desert with a black hood on his head and his hands tied behind his back. At death's door, he is discovered by a woman living alone in the desert and is nursed back to health. Upon regaining consciousness, the man realizes he has amnesia, and has no idea who he is. His only clue, a piece of paper in his pocket with the name "Manny Elder" on it, sends him on a journey to Los Angeles to discover his past. But things and people are not what they seem and clues lead to something bigger and more unusual than the man could have ever imagined."
"A man wakes up alone in the middle of the desert with a black hood on his head and his hands tied behind his back. At death's door, he is discovered by a woman living alone in the desert and is nursed back to health. Upon regaining consciousness, the man realizes he has amnesia, and has no idea who he is. His only clue, a piece of paper in his pocket with the name "Manny Elder" on it, sends him on a journey to Los Angeles to discover his past. But things and people are not what they seem and clues lead to something bigger and more unusual than the man could have ever imagined."
On this day in 1954, Space Patrol aired "Marooned On The Ocean Floor." This served as the twenty-seventh episode of the popular program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary that's provided by TVGuide.com:
"Corry traps a mysterious creature."
"Corry traps a mysterious creature."
On this day in 1955, TV's Science Fiction Theatre aired "One Hundred Years Young." This served as the thirteenth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Though he looks to be in his forties, the man caught breaking into a research laboratory claims he's over 200 years old. He says he learned the secret formula for youth from the medicine man who raised him. The researchers find him to be sad and lonely, afraid to love someone because she will die of old age while he just keeps going."
"Though he looks to be in his forties, the man caught breaking into a research laboratory claims he's over 200 years old. He says he learned the secret formula for youth from the medicine man who raised him. The researchers find him to be sad and lonely, afraid to love someone because she will die of old age while he just keeps going."
On this day in 1966, Doctor Who aired "The War Machines: Part 2." This served as the forty-third episode of the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Dodo is under the control of WOTAN and attempts to lure the Doctor into a trap, while the rest of WOTAN's slaves begin construction on its robotic War Machines."
"Dodo is under the control of WOTAN and attempts to lure the Doctor into a trap, while the rest of WOTAN's slaves begin construction on its robotic War Machines."
On this day in 1979, Battle of The Planets aired "Capture Of The Galaxy Code." This served as the fortieth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by TV.com:
"G-Force has ensure delivery of the central mechanism of the dynastrol computer. No one besides the president of the intergalactic federation is cleared to carry it."
"G-Force has ensure delivery of the central mechanism of the dynastrol computer. No one besides the president of the intergalactic federation is cleared to carry it."
On this day in 1985, The Ray Bradbury Theater aired "The Crowd." This served as the third episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary that's provided by IMDB.com:
"A car crash survivor discovers that the same sinister, mysterious crowd of onlookers somehow always shows up minutes after any potentially fatal car accident at the site of the crash."
"A car crash survivor discovers that the same sinister, mysterious crowd of onlookers somehow always shows up minutes after any potentially fatal car accident at the site of the crash."
On this day in 1999, Stargate: SG-1 aired "Seth." This served as the second episode of the long-running program's third season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"Stargate is visited by general Jacob Carter on a mission -actually requested by his symbiont Selmak, who wants him to deal with his long-repressed break-up with Sam's brother Mark- to ask SG-1's help in the hunt for the sole system-lord the Tok'Ra never tracked down, Seth, the Egyptian god of chaos and total evil, who plausibly never left earth but hides as Ra put a high price on his head. Daniel finds a plausible series of Seth-cults, each ending in a blood-bad for followers, the latest being outside Seattle, led by Seth Fargo. Jacob and SG-1 arrange to take over the case jurisdiction from the ATF by presidential intervention. As Daniel predicts, they find escape tunnels and get in, but are awaited and disarmed, to be exposed to nish'ta, a powerful biological submission drug, and when Seth senses Jolinar's traces destined for elimination..."
"Stargate is visited by general Jacob Carter on a mission -actually requested by his symbiont Selmak, who wants him to deal with his long-repressed break-up with Sam's brother Mark- to ask SG-1's help in the hunt for the sole system-lord the Tok'Ra never tracked down, Seth, the Egyptian god of chaos and total evil, who plausibly never left earth but hides as Ra put a high price on his head. Daniel finds a plausible series of Seth-cults, each ending in a blood-bad for followers, the latest being outside Seattle, led by Seth Fargo. Jacob and SG-1 arrange to take over the case jurisdiction from the ATF by presidential intervention. As Daniel predicts, they find escape tunnels and get in, but are awaited and disarmed, to be exposed to nish'ta, a powerful biological submission drug, and when Seth senses Jolinar's traces destined for elimination..."
On this day in 1999, The Outer Limits aired "The Haven." This served as the fifteenth episode of the program's fifth season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Residents of an apartment house whose lives are isolated and provided for by an internal automated system find that they must now work together when it no longer functions properly."
"Residents of an apartment house whose lives are isolated and provided for by an internal automated system find that they must now work together when it no longer functions properly."
On this day in 1999 (in Australia), Thunderstone aired "Rats In North Col." This served as the twenty-first episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by TV.com:
"Noah fights for his feelings about being the Shadow Master and finally makes the decision to return home. Noah accepts Tao's offer of the vaccine and returns with Becky to North Col. Sundance discovers that Arushka has been bitten by a rat and she asks him not to tell the others. They also decide to move considering the caves not safe enough and head for the ocean and mountains. The Protectors discover more Thunderstone underneath water at the Mountains of the Moon and plan to eliminate the Sandtribers."
"Noah fights for his feelings about being the Shadow Master and finally makes the decision to return home. Noah accepts Tao's offer of the vaccine and returns with Becky to North Col. Sundance discovers that Arushka has been bitten by a rat and she asks him not to tell the others. They also decide to move considering the caves not safe enough and head for the ocean and mountains. The Protectors discover more Thunderstone underneath water at the Mountains of the Moon and plan to eliminate the Sandtribers."
On this day in 2000, Code Name: Eternity aired "Making Love." This served as the eighth episode of the program's first (and only) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by TV.com:
"Ethaniel sees an advert for a new perfume on the TV and immediately likes the model in it. Later news broadcasts show the model and her boss, Michel Couprie world famous fashion designer and creator of the perfume, at a party of some kind, with them is Banning. Laura and Ethaniel want to know what Banning is up to and why he would want to be involved with a new perfume."
"Ethaniel sees an advert for a new perfume on the TV and immediately likes the model in it. Later news broadcasts show the model and her boss, Michel Couprie world famous fashion designer and creator of the perfume, at a party of some kind, with them is Banning. Laura and Ethaniel want to know what Banning is up to and why he would want to be involved with a new perfume."
On this day in 2006, The 4400 aired "Gone, Part 2." This served as the fourth episode of the program's third season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Tom and Diana track down the 4400 children kidnapper."
"Tom and Diana track down the 4400 children kidnapper."
On this day in 2010, A Good Knight's Quest aired the nineteenth episode of its only season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Karen attempts to help Dorian, Gabriel and Adriana find the second crystal, but she also reveals something about Gabriel."
"Karen attempts to help Dorian, Gabriel and Adriana find the second crystal, but she also reveals something about Gabriel."
On this day in 2012, Eureka aired "Mirror, Mirror." This served as the eleventh episode of the program's fifth (and final) season, and here's the plot summary that's provided by IMDB.com:
"When Grace's spying is revealed, mistrust is in the air. Major Shaw shows up to take control of the situation just as a geo-engineering project cuts off communications to the outside world."
"When Grace's spying is revealed, mistrust is in the air. Major Shaw shows up to take control of the situation just as a geo-engineering project cuts off communications to the outside world."
On this day in 2015, Under The Dome aired "Redux." This served as the third episode in the program's third (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The residents of Chester's Mill try to move on after emerging from the cocoons in the tunnels. Big Jim becomes suspicious of Christine and Eva."
"The residents of Chester's Mill try to move on after emerging from the cocoons in the tunnels. Big Jim becomes suspicious of Christine and Eva."
On this day in 2018, Salvation aired "Détente." This served as the second episode of the program's second (and final) season, and here's the plot summary that's provided by IMDB.com:
"Darius and Grace must forge an emotional détente in order to get international cooperation. Also, Liam meets a new scientist with a mysterious past."
"Darius and Grace must forge an emotional détente in order to get international cooperation. Also, Liam meets a new scientist with a mysterious past."
