Think what you may about Friends' regular Matt LeBlanc, but he was about the only thing that somehow felt right in the 1998 attempted reboot of Lost in Space (1998). The film performed poorly (mostly when you figure in its unwarranted $80M budget), and, alas, that was the last we saw of it. Leblanc was born on this day in 1967.
Veteran funnyman Jack Gilford joined others of his generation in Ron Howard's delightful Cocoon as well as Daniel Petrie's Cocoon: The Return, a franchise that saw our most senior citizens rejuvenated into their second youth via some otherworldly influence. Though he's no longer with us, Gilford was born on this day in 1908.
One of the coolest episodes of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century was "Return of the Fighting 69th," an adventure that gave several screen greats of a previous generation the chance to mix it up SciFi-style with Capt. Rogers. The great Woody Strode made an appearance aboard that hour. Though he's no longer with us, Strode was born on this day in 1914. [Source: IMDB.com]
When the Invisible Man returned in the not-so-subtly named The Invisible Man Returns (1940), he brought along the lovely Nan Grey as his love interest. Though she's no longer with us, Grey was born on this day in 1918. [Source: IMDB.com]
The talented Kevin Stoney had the good fortune of appearing in the greater universe of Doctor Who not once, not twice, but three times. (And -- for the record -- they were three completely different characters!). Though he's no longer with us, Stoney was born on this day in 1920. [Source: IMDB.com]
Mark my words: holding a gun to the Doctor is never a great idea! Still, that's something William Marlowe did in "The Mind Of Evil," a serial from the BBC's Doctor Who. Though he's no longer with us, Marlowe was born on this day in 1930. [Source: IMDB.com]
Another familiar face from my relative TV youth belongs to Ken Swofford. His resume boasts appearances aboard The Six Million Dollar Man, Battlestar Galactica (ABC), Captain America II: Death Too Soon (1979), The Incredible Hulk, Voyagers, Knight Rider, and Max Headroom. Swofford was born on this day in 1933. [Source: IMDB.com]
August Schellenberg turned in a great two-part performance aboard SGU: Stargate Universe during the program's run. Though he's no longer with us, Schellenberg was born on this day in 1936. [Source: IMDB.com]
Todd Armstrong played Jason himself in the 1963 version of Jason and the Argonauts. One of his last roles on film was in a guest-starring player for The Greatest American Hero. Though he's no longer with us, Armstrong was born on this day in 1937.
In an effort to help Montgomery Scott get to the bottom of the murder involved with Star Trek's "Wolf In The Fold," the lovely character played by Pilar Seurat ends up becoming his next victim! Though she's no longer with us, Seurat was born on this day in 1938. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Janet Margolin (above right) joined John Saxon in the Gene Roddenberry property Planet Earth (1974). Though she's no longer with us, Margolin was born on this day in 1943. [Source: IMDB.com]
Aboard the Doctor Who serial named "The Monster of Peladon," the lovely Nina Thomas played Thalira. Thomas was born on this day in 1952. [Source: IMDB.com]
Lynne Frederick broke hearts as the lovely lass facing an Apocalypse (of sorts) against an ant collective in 1974's Phase IV ... and she broke them again when she shook off her Earthly bonds far too early from a substance abuse problem at such a tender young age (39). Though she's no longer with us, Frederick was born on this day in 1954.
What was world-renowned supermodel Iman thinking when she agreed to step into the cast of a Science Fiction movie? Why, she was probably thrilled at the chance to match wits with Star Trek's legendary Captain Kirk! The Undiscovered Country pitted Iman's Martia as a duplicitous shapeshifter who kinda/sorta comes to the Federation's aid even though her motives prove less than stellar. Iman was born on this day in 1955.
Tom McCamus dabbled in the business of cloning with a role as Dr. Nealon in the BBC's cerebral Orphan Black. He also had a prominent spot aboard the cult favorite, Mutant X, back in its day. McCamus was born on this day in 1955.
Though her resume boasts far more exposure in the world of daytime television, Katherine Kelly Lang (pictured) did give genre fans a little something to cheer about with a sexy appearance in 1996's Subliminal Seduction, an adult-themed drama that explored the use of computer and subliminal messaging to control the minds of (ahem) sexy women like Katherine Kelly Lang. (Sign me up!) Lang was born on this day in 1961.
The lovely Dru-Anne Perry headlined 1986's SciFi/Cult flick Vicious Lips, one of the only true SciFi/Musicals in existence. Perry was born on this day in 1962. [Source: IMDB.com]
With as many projects she's had to her name, one would think that the funny and talented Illeana Douglas might make more time for some quality Science Fiction or Fantasy; but except for small roles aboard The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) and the short-lived The Cape I guess it just wasn't meant to be. (Dare I mention 2015's Mega Shark Vs. Kolossus?) Douglas was born on this day in 1965. [Source: IMDB.com]
The great D.B. Woodside (above, with wings!) soared into the realm of Fantasy with a premiere role aboard Fox TV's Lucifer. Woodside was born on this day in 1969. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Chloë Annett has been a part of the Red Dwarf saga for several moons. She also had a prominent role in the time travel and crime procedural, Crime Traveller, back in 1997. Annett was born on this day in 1971.
Folks recognize David Denman (pictured) for his role as Roy Anderson in NBC's popular The Office sitcom, but he did have a small role in 2013's After Earth that bears mentioning here. Denman was born on this day in 1973.
Aaron Craven has built a career out of many small roles in some of the most interesting SciFi properties of record. He's secured appearances on First Wave, The Outer Limits, The 4400, Kyle XY, Stargate: SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis, The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008), Alien Trespass, Smallville, Fringe, Continuum, Independence Daysaster, and The Flash. Craven was born on this day in 1974.
Jay R. Ferguson served as one of the regulars aboard NBC's short-lived SciFi drama Surface during its 2005-2006 television season. Ferguson was born on this day in 1974. [Source: IMDB.com]
Before heading off to play in the world of TV's Quantico, Lenny Platt had the chance to suit up as one of Gotham's finest aboard -- that's right, you guessed it -- Fox TV's Gotham. Platt was born on this day in 1984. [Source: IMDB.com]
When The Flash returned to the CW in the fall of 2015, the super-dreamy Shantel VanSanten joined the show in the recurring role as Patty Spivot for a time (and got her heart broken! Nice going, Barry!). VanSanten was born on this day in 1985.
In his youth, Michael Welch made a splash within Trek mythology when he took on the role of Artim in 1998's lukewarm Star Trek: Insurrection (pictured above right). Since that time, the man has continued building a resume, and he's even dabbled again in SciFi by garnering roles in The X-Files, The Invisible Man, and Stargate: SG-1. Welch was born on this day in 1987.
The lovely Linsey Godfrey squeezed in some work aboard Altergeist (2014) while holding down a regular gig with a daytime soap opera. Godfrey was born on this day in 1988. [Source: IMDB.com]
Jurassic Park is original, you say? My foot, it is! On this day in 1969, man met monster in The Valley of Gwangi, a bit of a sci-fi schlockfest that saw cowboys finding dinosaurs still alive and well in Forbidden Valley. The film even features the creature effects of the legendary Ray Harryhausen.
On this day in 2000, They Nest dished out SciFi/Horror only the way SciFi/Horror films do. It starred Dean Stockwell and John Savage, and here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:
"A Maine island becomes infested with lethal insects that root inside their victims, while a local doctor battles the bugs and incorrigible locals that don't believe him."
"A Maine island becomes infested with lethal insects that root inside their victims, while a local doctor battles the bugs and incorrigible locals that don't believe him."
On this day in 2008, Mulder and Scully kinda/sorta came out of retirement on the silver screen to bring The X-Files: I Want To Believe to the masses. Meh. It wasn't the story longtime fans really wanted to see, but they still went to see it anyway. It was a far more conventional tale, one with little mythology or conspiracy to satiate those who had waited so long. Here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"Mulder and Scully are called back to duty by the FBI when a former priest claims to be receiving psychic visions pertaining to a kidnapped agent."
"Mulder and Scully are called back to duty by the FBI when a former priest claims to be receiving psychic visions pertaining to a kidnapped agent."
On this day in 2014, Lucy beat the box office competition to a bloody pulp. It starred Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A woman, accidentally caught in a dark deal, turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic."
"A woman, accidentally caught in a dark deal, turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic."
On this day in 2015, Lavalantula creeped and crawled into our collective consciousness. The film starred Steve Guttenberg and Nia Peeples, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Volcanic eruptions in Los Angeles unleash a swarm of gigantic, lava-breathing tarantulas."
"Volcanic eruptions in Los Angeles unleash a swarm of gigantic, lava-breathing tarantulas."
On this day in 1964, Doctor Who continued his journey through his inaugural season, airing an episode titled "Kidnap." Here's the summary from IMDB.com:
"The City Administrator is determined to destroy the Doctor and his friends and his paranoia prevents the Doctor's cure from being distributed."
"The City Administrator is determined to destroy the Doctor and his friends and his paranoia prevents the Doctor's cure from being distributed."
On this day in 1997, The Outer Limits aired "A Special Edition." This served as the eighteenth episode of the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"TV journalist Donald Rivers goes on the air with solid proof that the government and private defense contractors have been engaging in secret genetic cloning, however someone will do anything to stop him."
"TV journalist Donald Rivers goes on the air with solid proof that the government and private defense contractors have been engaging in secret genetic cloning, however someone will do anything to stop him."
On this day in 1999, GvsE (aka Good vs Evil) aired "Men Are From Mars, Women Are Evil." This served as the second episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Henry and Chandler infiltrate the world of sleazy strip clubs to capture Dr. Love, a serial killer who preys on red-headed strippers. Chandler comes very close to breaking one of The Corps' main rules, that they are forbidden to have any sort of relationship with humans, when he and one of the strippers, Cherry Vallance, fall in love with each other."
"Henry and Chandler infiltrate the world of sleazy strip clubs to capture Dr. Love, a serial killer who preys on red-headed strippers. Chandler comes very close to breaking one of The Corps' main rules, that they are forbidden to have any sort of relationship with humans, when he and one of the strippers, Cherry Vallance, fall in love with each other."
On this day in 2003, Tremors: The Series aired "The Key." This served as the eleventh episode of the program's first (and only) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Vegas mobsters target El Blanco once again in an attempt to retrieve the precious key he swallowed."
"Vegas mobsters target El Blanco once again in an attempt to retrieve the precious key he swallowed."
On this day in 2004, USA Network's The 4400 aired the third episode of its first season. The hour was titled "Becoming," and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Baldwin and Skouris deal with returnee Oliver Knox, involved in a series of murders. Jordan Collier, hotel magnate, puts himself in front as 4400 spokesman."
"Baldwin and Skouris deal with returnee Oliver Knox, involved in a series of murders. Jordan Collier, hotel magnate, puts himself in front as 4400 spokesman."
On this day in 2011, Alphas aired "Anger Management." This served as the third episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"The team moves to new offices following the attack on Rosen; violent riots break out on the east coast, which are linked to a runaway teen."
"The team moves to new offices following the attack on Rosen; violent riots break out on the east coast, which are linked to a runaway teen."
On this day in 2006, the Star Trek novel Burning Dreams (by Margaret Wander Bonanno) was first released. According to our friends at Amazon.com, here's the plot summary:
"Before James T. Kirk, another captain stood on the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise™, spearheading its mission of exploration into the uncharted reaches of the galaxy. He was a man driven to perfection, a brooding soul whose haunted eyes reflected the burden of the impossible standards he set for himself, and for whom his longtime science officer, Spock, one day would risk everything. Yet, little is truly known about the enigmatic Christopher Pike, the events that defined him...or the secrets that consumed him. From the embers of his early childhood among Earth's blossoming interstellar colonies, to the terrifying conflagration that led him back to the world of his birth; from the mentor who would ignite young Chris's desire to return to the stars, to the career he blazed in Starfleet that would end in supreme sacrifice -- the path of Pike's astonishing life leads through fire again and again. But even amid the ashes of Talos IV, the forbidden world on which he would live out the remainder of his days, the dreams smoldering still within his aging, radiation-ravaged breast fan the flames of Pike's spirit to accomplish one final task...."
"Before James T. Kirk, another captain stood on the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise™, spearheading its mission of exploration into the uncharted reaches of the galaxy. He was a man driven to perfection, a brooding soul whose haunted eyes reflected the burden of the impossible standards he set for himself, and for whom his longtime science officer, Spock, one day would risk everything. Yet, little is truly known about the enigmatic Christopher Pike, the events that defined him...or the secrets that consumed him. From the embers of his early childhood among Earth's blossoming interstellar colonies, to the terrifying conflagration that led him back to the world of his birth; from the mentor who would ignite young Chris's desire to return to the stars, to the career he blazed in Starfleet that would end in supreme sacrifice -- the path of Pike's astonishing life leads through fire again and again. But even amid the ashes of Talos IV, the forbidden world on which he would live out the remainder of his days, the dreams smoldering still within his aging, radiation-ravaged breast fan the flames of Pike's spirit to accomplish one final task...."
On this day in 1957, the SciFi/Radio drama X Minus One aired "The Haunted Corpse." This served as the popular program's 104th episode, and here's the plot summary as provided by the Old Time Radio Downloads website:
"Dr. Horn believed that we were all human corpses inhabited by ghosts an he had invented a machine that could separate the two without destroying them."
"Dr. Horn believed that we were all human corpses inhabited by ghosts an he had invented a machine that could separate the two without destroying them."
On this day in 1985, the BBC Radio Drama Doctor Who aired "Slipback: Episode 01" on Radio 4 in the United Kingdom. The episode saw Colin Baker return to the role of the Timelord, and here's the premise from the TARDIS Data Core:
"The Sixth Doctor and Peri share an adventure on board a starship taken over by its dual personality computer, which tries to take the ship back to the dawn of the universe and start life again. Along the way the duo meet a couple of comedy policemen, an art thief and a captain who wants to infect his crew with one of his diseases... "
"The Sixth Doctor and Peri share an adventure on board a starship taken over by its dual personality computer, which tries to take the ship back to the dawn of the universe and start life again. Along the way the duo meet a couple of comedy policemen, an art thief and a captain who wants to infect his crew with one of his diseases... "
