Legendary producer/director/visual effects wizard Ray Harryhausen was responsible for so much of the monster movie magic in so many of the tremendous films of the 20th century. Though he's no longer with us, Harryhausen was born on this day in 1920. [Source: IMDB.com]
In perhaps one of the most dubious posts to "On This Day In Science Fiction History," I'm giving a well-earned birthday shout-out to legendary screen cowboy Slim Pickins. Slim had a hugely pivotal role in Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb, Stanley Kubrick's sci-fi-lite Cold War satire. (If you recall, it was Slim's character who rode the bomb like a buckin' bronco all the way to Ground Zero.) Then, in 1979, Slim provided the voice to an old-timey floating robot named B.O.B. in Walt Disney's The Black Hole. Though he's no longer with us, Pickins was born on this day in 1919.
"The Hand of the Goral" was the ninth episode of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century's second season. In it, screen veteran John Fujioka played the aforementioned 'Hand' (i.e. servant) of some planetary masters who endowed him with powers to alter the perception of guests to their secret world. Fujioka was born on this day in 1925.
Screen veteran Derek Partridge (pictured above left in the classic Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren") only dabbled briefly in Science Fiction, and that's a shame: we'd definitely love to have seen more of him. In 2012, he did return in a little something called The Down Home Alien Blues, but I've not been able to find much information out about that production. Partridge was born on this day in 1935.
The great Soon-Tek Oh (pictured above right from The Final Countdown) was a terrific screen heavy in genre entertainment largely throughout the 1970's and 80's. As far as SciFi goes, he had roles in Earth II (1971), Logan's Run, The Greatest American Hero, Airwolf, Highlander, Time Trax, Babylon 5, and Stargate: SG-1. The actor was born on this day in 1943.
He gets by with a little help from his friends, especially when his friends are toting all of the proper hunting gear! Gary Busey (above center) helped bring Predator 2 to the silver screen back in 1990, and he continues to be a force in pop culture today. The legendary Busey was born on this day in 1944. [Source: IMDB.com]
In the guise of 'Bib Fortuna,' the great Michael Carter brought to life a terrific secondary character within Jabba the Hutt's circle of influence in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi (1983). FYI: the man got his acting start with a small part aboard the BBC's Doctor Who. Carter was born on this day in 1947.
While he'll no doubt always be remembered for the lovable 'Gopher' aboard TV's The Love Boat, the great Fred Grandy had a small role in Roger Corman's SciFi/Cult flick Death Race 2000 (1975). Grandy was born on this day in 1948.
That lovely Latino in distress is none other than actress Maria Conchita Alonso. She shared the screen with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the big-budget adaptation of Stephen King's The Running Man back in 1987, and -- speaking of Predator 2 -- did likewise with Danny Glover in that flick. Alonso was born on this day in 1957.
Back in 2002, the beautiful Sharon Lawrence braved the SciFi/Telefilm Atomic Twister for Once Upon A Time Films. Lawrence was born on this day in 1961.
Amanda Donohoe appeared as Admiral Enolo Phid (pictured above) in 2008's little-seen Starship Troopers 3: Marauder. Donohoe was born on this day in 1962.
Thomas W. Gabrielsson had a role aboard Real Humans, the original version of the artificial intelligence drama upon which AMC's Humans is derived from. Gabrielsson was born on this day in 1963.
Oh, you sexy thing! Back in 1992, Melora Hardin made a terrific two-part appearance alongside Scott Bakula in the time travel favorite Quantum Leap (pictured above right). The versatile actress also went on to parts in such properties as Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Timecop, The Pretender, and Self/Less. Hardin was born on this day in 1967.
Judith Hoag slips almost effortlessly in and out of genre entertainment, though she has been away from our corners for quite some time. She was the first April O'Neil in 1990's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. She's also appeared in Quantum Leap, The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., The Burning Zone, Armageddon, Strange World, Carnivàle, and The X-Files. Hoag was born on this day in 1968.
In his youth, Ilan Mitchell-Smith (above right) created a comic SciFi stir with his role aboard Weird Science (1985). He also enjoyed a guest starring role aboard Superboy. Mitchell-Smith was born on this day in 1969.
Aleks Paunovic continues to be a very busy talent. He's been seen aboard such properties as Roswell: The Aliens Attack (1999), Wishmaster 4: The Prophecy Fulfilled (2002), Jeremiah, Stargate: SG-1, Andromeda, Mutant X, The Dead Zone, Painkiller Jane, Eureka, Kraken: Tentacles of the Deep (2006), Battlestar Galactica (Syfy), Flash Gordon (TV), Bionic Woman, Stargate: Atlantis, Fireball (2009), Sanctuary, Riverworld, Caprica, Smallville, The 100, iZombie, Continuum, and Van Helsing (Syfy). That is some resume! Paunovic was born on this day in 1969. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Zuleikha Robinson had a great guest starring role aboard ABC TV's long-running and popular Lost. She also had a great role on Fox TV's The Lone Gunmen during its single-season existence. Robinson was born on this day in 1977. [Source: IMDB.com]
Bradley Stryker is one of those great character actors who does big things with smaller roles. He's been a part of Angel, Smallville, Fringe, Supernatural, iZombie, and The 100. Stryker was born on this day in 1977. [Source: IMDB.com]
Dreamily sexy singer/songwriter Nicole Scherzinger enjoyed a dreamy cameo-style appearance aboard Columbia Pictures' Men In Black 3. Scherzinger was born on this day in 1978. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Stephanie Lemelin (above right) has left some quality footprints in the realm of genre entertainment. She's been involved with Anonymous Rex (2004), the Aliens: Colonial Marines video game, the Young Justice animated series, and many, many more. Lemelin was born on this day in 1979. [Source: IMDB.com]
The BBC's legendary Sci-Fi time traveler Doctor Who has a tradition of airing a special holiday-themed episode on Christmas Day; and -- for my tastes -- one of its finest adventures played on December 25, 2010. The tale was essentially a Who-flavored retelling of "A Christmas Carol," and one of its stars was the ravishingly lovely Katherine Jenkins who incidentally has the voice of an angel. Jenkins was born on this day in 1980. [Source: IMDB.com]
A youngish Christopher Egan joined forces with Milla Jovovich in 2007's Resident Evil: Extinction. Now, the young man can be found as part of the cast on Syfy's Dominion. Egan was born on this day in 1984. [Source: IMDB.com]
While Addison Timlin's star continues to rise, she's really only dabbled in the realm of Fantasy with roles aboard TV's Zero Hour and Fusion Films' Odd Thomas (2013). Timlin was born on this day in 1991. [Source: IMDB.com]
Erm ... is bullying logical? One of the things JJ Abrams' middling reboot of the popular Star Trek franchise proved back in 2009 was that even Vulcan youth can behave a bit like thugs. Young Lorenzo James Henrie (above left) played one of the heavies, and Henrie was born on this day in 1993. (FYI: the talented young actor has also appeared on Fear The Walking Dead and Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. to expand on his talents.) [Source: IMDB.com]
After the success of Star Wars back in 1977, everybody (and I do mean everybody) wanted to go into outer space. Knowing a good thing when he saw it, even legendary British MI-6 Agent James Bond jumped on that bandwagon, and his producers released Moonraker on this day theatrically back in 1979. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the film's plot summary:
"James Bond investigates the mid-air theft of a space shuttle and discovers a plot to commit global genocide."
Moonraker may not go down in the history books as any fan's favorite James Bond film, but it does have a lovely Lois Chiles as Holly Goodhead. Classic Bond-girl name, if you ask me.
"James Bond investigates the mid-air theft of a space shuttle and discovers a plot to commit global genocide."
Moonraker may not go down in the history books as any fan's favorite James Bond film, but it does have a lovely Lois Chiles as Holly Goodhead. Classic Bond-girl name, if you ask me.
On this day in 2011, Michael Bay served up yet another magnum opus for his hungry fans with Transformers: Dark of the Moon unleashed upon the masses. (To be fair, this one did have a bit of a conspiracy plot involving our moon, and I did like that part of the flick.) According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's what sufficed as a plot:
"The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and to learn its secrets."
"The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and to learn its secrets."
On this day in 2001, Stargate: SG-1 roared out of the gates with an hour for its fifth season called "Enemies." Here's the plot summary, compliments of our friends at IMDB.com:
"Stranded in another galaxy while fleeing their attack on Apophis' fleet, that proves just the beginning of their problems as multiple enemies appear."
"Stranded in another galaxy while fleeing their attack on Apophis' fleet, that proves just the beginning of their problems as multiple enemies appear."
On this day in 2014, Falling Skies aired the second installment of its fourth season. The hour was titled "The Eye," and here's the plot summary from our friends at the Falling Skies Wiki:
"The Espheni reveal their new plan to Tom, and he is faced with an impossible decision. Meanwhile, Weaver and Pope investigate a way out of the Espheni prison, while Matt struggles to hide his true allegiance from the “Team Leaders” at the Espheni Youth Camp. Elsewhere, Anne leads an exhausting search for her daughter Lexi, while Ben’s concerns about Lexi’s increasing powers uncovers a devastating secret she’s been keeping."
"The Espheni reveal their new plan to Tom, and he is faced with an impossible decision. Meanwhile, Weaver and Pope investigate a way out of the Espheni prison, while Matt struggles to hide his true allegiance from the “Team Leaders” at the Espheni Youth Camp. Elsewhere, Anne leads an exhausting search for her daughter Lexi, while Ben’s concerns about Lexi’s increasing powers uncovers a devastating secret she’s been keeping."
On this day in 1952, The Shadow radio serial aired "The Case Of The Heavenly Body." According to our friends at The Shadow Wiki, it would appear that all of the details regarding this episode have been lost to history. Not even The Shadow knows!
