While it's true that George Lucas is owed for creating Star Wars, I've always felt designer Ralph McQuarrie deserved vastly more credit than he's ever received, mostly because without the man's singular ability to translate George's wishes and desires into something that other people could "see" there would essentially "be" no Star Wars universe. In his career, he also contributed to the redesign of the starship Enterprise for Star Trek: The Motion Picture; designed the alien ships from Close Encounters of the Third Kind; and helped bring the original Battlestar Galactica to life on television. Though he's no longer with us, McQuarrie was born on this day in 1929.
Oh, boo hiss! Malcolm McDowell almost gleefully came aboard our beloved franchise because his character was giving the singularly distinction of becoming the man to kill James T. Kirk. Star Trek: Generations wasn't exactly the grand passing-of-the-torch I would've wanted to see, but it was still plenty fine nonetheless. Mr. McDowell also had the chance to add to his sci-fi legacy by playing H.G. Wells in the wonderful sci-fi rom/com Time After Time (1979), and he had a recurring role throughout the first season of Heroes. McDowell was born on this day back in 1943.
Whitley Strieber's experiences with non-human entities have fueled the imaginations of so very many readers and writers, and his written works have also been tapped for theatrical and/or televised adaptations: right now, Syfy is airing Hunters, a franchise based on his Alien Hunter novels. Strieber was born on this day in 1945.
One of the more interesting aspects to the BBC's long-running Doctor Who is that from time-to-time the writers manage to come up with a story that involves the guest appearance of some revered person from our planet's history. Case in point: in both "The Unquiet Dead" and "The Wedding of River Song," actor Simon Callow was given the opportunity to bring the late Charles Dickens to life on the small screen. Callow was born on this day in 1949.
Though her resume for the last two decades is a bit slim, actress Belinda Bauer made a pretty big splash in Sci-Fi in the 80's. She was a part of Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (1982). She had a terrific role in the original Airwolf tele-film that launched the helicopter action franchise. And, in 1990, she joined the Robocop franchise, appearing in the first sequel as Dr. Juliette Faxx. Bauer was born on this day in 1950.
Award-winning actor Stellan Skarsgard has even dabbled heartily in the Marvel Universe, taking on in Thor, The Avengers, and Thor: The Dark World while still finding time to star in other high-brow projects. Skarsgard was born on this day in 1951.
I've said it before -- and here I am saying it again -- that 1980's Battle Beyond the Stars is one of my very favorite B-movie / Star Wars knock-offs ever. Sure, it gets a bit goofy in the final reel, but this John Sayles-penned riff on The Magnificent Seven (but set in space, mind you) still looks and sounds dynamite with age. The lead was the always fresh-faced Richard Thomas; his 'Shad' was the young man who set out to find a group of warriors who would defend his planet against the coming invaders. Thomas was born on this day in 1951.
Funnyman Tim Allen brought the perfect measure of macho charm and Hollywood cluelessness to his portrayal of an aging actor inadvertently caught up in a real outer space adventure in 1999's Galaxy Quest. Allen was born on this day in 1953.
Brat Packer Ally Sheedy has been and out of sci-fi-friendly roles since she took on the part of Stephanie Speck in 1986's kid-friendly Short Circuit. Since then, she's booked parts on the 1990's redux of The Outer Limits and a recurring stint on Kyle XY. Sheedy was born on this day in 1962.
I suppose it's true to say that Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife is far more fantasy than it is Science Fiction, and I suppose it's equally true to suggest that it's much more romance than it is fantasy, but the book still deserves to be read by SciFi fans everywhere as I think it's probably one of the most compelling uses of time travel in narrative form today. Niffenegger was born on this day in 1963.
As First Lady Christina Martinez, actress Lisa Vidal stayed up-close-and-personal to the sci-fi quandary presented at the heart of NBC's single-season show, The Event. Vidal also booked a fleetingly small cameo as part of JJ Abrams' 2009 STAR TREK reboot. Vidal was born on this day in 1965.
Hubba-Hubba Alert: Missy Crider (above right) wins hearts and takes name whenever she gets the opportunity ... it's just sad that we haven't seen her in a plethora of SciFi projects. She shared headline duties with Jason London in 1999's Alien Cargo, so I guess we'll have to be thankful for that. Crider was born on this day in 1974.
Tygh Runyan had a terrific recurring role aboard Syfy's vastly underrated and under-appreciated SGU: Stargate Universe in the program's two-season run. Runyan was born on this day in 1976.
The great Ethan Embry (pictured second from right from 2003's Timeline) has this unassuming presence: you really rarely notice him until he wants you to, and then he takes full charge of his characters. I've always found him fascinating to watch. Embry was born on this day in 1978.
The grizzled fellow under the stocking cap is none other than Chris Evans. While he's better known for his roles in The Fantastic Four, Captain America, and The Avengers, Evans also headlined an apocalyptic thriller known as Snowpiercer that just can't quite seem to find the light of day in the States. (It is available on home video, and I thought it was a particularly effective SciFi satire.) Evans was born on this day in 1981.
As I've said before, I'm not really a Marvel man. (I prefer DC.) But I still give 'em props: they make highly successful comic book movies, and their fans have no problem embracing them. Kat Dennings made an appearance in the Marvel Universe, playing Darcy Lewis in both Thor and Thor: The Dark World. No word yet on whether or not she'll book another guest role, but I'd be interested in seeing her again. Dennings was born on this day in 1986.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson made a big splash as the teen-turned-vigilante in Kickass and its sequel, but -- in the summer of 2014 -- he was practically the last man standing against and then on the side of Godzilla. Taylor-Johnson was born on this day in 1990.
Fresh-faced Kodi Smit-McPhee looks to have a bright future ahead of him, certainly if box office returns are any indications. He played a small but important role in 2014's Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. What's up next? He was also cast as Nightcrawler in X-Men: Apocalypse. Smit-McPhee was born on this day in 1996.
On this day in 1953, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms was released theatrically. Here's the summary from IMDB.com:
"As a result of an arctic nuclear test, a carnivorous dinosaur thaws out and starts making its way down the east coast of North America. Professor Tom Nesbitt, only witness to the beast's existence, is not believed, even when he identifies it as a "rhedosaurus" to paleontologist Thurgood Elson. All doubts disappear, however, when Elson is swallowed whole during an oceanic bathysphere excursion to search for the creature. Soon thereafter the rhedosaurus emerges from the sea and lays waste to Manhattan Island until Nesbitt comes up with a plan to try to stop the seemingly indestructible beast."
"As a result of an arctic nuclear test, a carnivorous dinosaur thaws out and starts making its way down the east coast of North America. Professor Tom Nesbitt, only witness to the beast's existence, is not believed, even when he identifies it as a "rhedosaurus" to paleontologist Thurgood Elson. All doubts disappear, however, when Elson is swallowed whole during an oceanic bathysphere excursion to search for the creature. Soon thereafter the rhedosaurus emerges from the sea and lays waste to Manhattan Island until Nesbitt comes up with a plan to try to stop the seemingly indestructible beast."
I realize 2008's The Incredible Hulk wasn't exactly to everyone's liking, but I honestly enjoyed it more than I enjoy most Marvel movie projects. It first premiered on this day back then to some modest controversy involving star Edward Norton's preferred 'cut' on the flick, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Bruce Banner, a scientist on the run from the U.S. Government must find a cure for the monster he emerges whenever he loses his temper. However, Banner then must fight a soldier whom unleashes himself as a threat stronger than he."
"Bruce Banner, a scientist on the run from the U.S. Government must find a cure for the monster he emerges whenever he loses his temper. However, Banner then must fight a soldier whom unleashes himself as a threat stronger than he."
On this day in 2008, M. Night Shyamalan gave it another attempt to recover his lost glory with the theatrical release of The Happening. The production was plagued by allegedly 'leaked' endings (there's a twist, you know, to every M. Night picture, in lieu of a captivating story), and audiences were largely divided on its effectiveness. Here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A science teacher, his wife, and a young girl struggle to survive a plague that causes those infected to commit suicide."
"A science teacher, his wife, and a young girl struggle to survive a plague that causes those infected to commit suicide."
On this day in 2014, eighty ordinary Americans found themselves plucked out of their everyday lives and deposited inside some urban arena where they had to face The Human Race, a kinda/sorta Death Race being put on by omnipotent overlords ... but to what end? It's a low budget thriller that I gave high marks to in my Amazon review. Check it out from your local video store if you like B-movies.
On this day in 1952, Tales Of Tomorrow aired "All The Time In The World." This served as the thirty-seventh episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A woman proposes to rob New York's Metropolitan Museum, using a wristwatch which accelerates time for the wearer, so their movements go undetected by anyone more than 5 feet away. The small-time crook she hires for the job doesn't care where the artworks are going or why the woman who identifies herself only as "The Collector," wants the masterpieces."
"A woman proposes to rob New York's Metropolitan Museum, using a wristwatch which accelerates time for the wearer, so their movements go undetected by anyone more than 5 feet away. The small-time crook she hires for the job doesn't care where the artworks are going or why the woman who identifies herself only as "The Collector," wants the masterpieces."
It all began right here: on this day in 1959, H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man premiered on British television. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary for "Secret Experiment":
"Scientist Peter Brady is inadvertently rendered invisible during a botched lab experiment."
"Scientist Peter Brady is inadvertently rendered invisible during a botched lab experiment."
On this day in 1964, Doctor Who aired "The Day of Darkness" as part of its first season. Here's the episode summary from IMDB.com:
"Tlotoxl's machinations result in both Susan and Ian being arrested.With the TARDIS once again trapped inside the tomb, the travelers' only hope for escape lies with Autloc and Cameca."
"Tlotoxl's machinations result in both Susan and Ian being arrested.With the TARDIS once again trapped inside the tomb, the travelers' only hope for escape lies with Autloc and Cameca."
On this day in 1993, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine aired "Duet." This served as the eighteenth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A Cardassian suffering from Kalla-Nohra, a disease that indicates he served in a labor camp, visits DS9. Kira is determined to convict him as a war criminal."
"A Cardassian suffering from Kalla-Nohra, a disease that indicates he served in a labor camp, visits DS9. Kira is determined to convict him as a war criminal."
Star Trek: The Next Generation's fifth season finale -- "Time's Arrow, Part 1" -- aired on this date in 1992, and the time travel (kinda/sorta) yarn featured a Data-centric episode that postulated an alien race had interacted with humanity in the late 1800's. Of course, the crew had to go back and check it out. Wouldn't you?
On this day in 2008, Syfy aired the tenth episode of Battlestar Galactica's fourth season. It was an hour titled "Revelations," and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"D'Anna demands that the four Cylons in the fleet be sent to the basestar. Only Tory goes, while the remaining three are suddenly drawn to Kara's Viper by the music. The route to Earth is finally found."
"D'Anna demands that the four Cylons in the fleet be sent to the basestar. Only Tory goes, while the remaining three are suddenly drawn to Kara's Viper by the music. The route to Earth is finally found."
On this day in 1954, The Shadow radio serial aired "Temple Of Death." According to our friends on The Shadow Wiki, it appears that all of the details involving this tale have been lost to history. Not even The Shadow knows!
