As I've often observed, a good deal of the actors and actresses who get a bit of extra attention in this space of SciFiHistory.Net aren't exactly SciFi and Fantasy icons.
What happens more often than not is that we get to know them in small roles, the kind of background and/or supporting appearances that add just a bit of flavor and/or nuance to an episode of a favorite show or a big-tent franchise. I realize that -- on occasion -- some readers of the site kinda/sorta take issue with that, but because I've made it my responsibility to highlight the big and the small who traffic in these realms along the way I do feel it fitting to give even the most fleeting experiences the proper recognition its owed. After all: for all intents and purposes, we only get one ride through this life, so if they touched us in some fashion along the way, then they deserve an affectionate nod.
Certainly, Mark Margolis was no genre regular.
But -- for those of you who followed both AMC's Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul -- this guy knew a good deal about portraying a sinister menace at the heart of a criminal overlord. His work as 'Hector Salamanca' was great and grand enough to five different nominations (from various organizations), and -- if such programming is welcome in your little corner of the universe -- I'd encourage you to check out both shows. They're masterfully written and performed, and they're incredibly entertaining to top that off.
But -- for the record -- he did make a few other stops in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror that are deserving on mention.
Alas, none of us get out alive (as they say), and word reached SciFiHistory.Net's news desk just this morning that the prolific talent has finally left us after a short illness. Thankfully, there's a solid library of work out there for us to relive some of these moments -- big and small -- and, once more, I can't give the man enough props for his gifts on full display in the Breaking Bad universe. It's truly, truly inspired.
Thoughts, prayers, and wishes are extended to the family, friends, and fans of Mr. Margolis. May he forever rest in peace.
-- EZ
What happens more often than not is that we get to know them in small roles, the kind of background and/or supporting appearances that add just a bit of flavor and/or nuance to an episode of a favorite show or a big-tent franchise. I realize that -- on occasion -- some readers of the site kinda/sorta take issue with that, but because I've made it my responsibility to highlight the big and the small who traffic in these realms along the way I do feel it fitting to give even the most fleeting experiences the proper recognition its owed. After all: for all intents and purposes, we only get one ride through this life, so if they touched us in some fashion along the way, then they deserve an affectionate nod.
Certainly, Mark Margolis was no genre regular.
But -- for those of you who followed both AMC's Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul -- this guy knew a good deal about portraying a sinister menace at the heart of a criminal overlord. His work as 'Hector Salamanca' was great and grand enough to five different nominations (from various organizations), and -- if such programming is welcome in your little corner of the universe -- I'd encourage you to check out both shows. They're masterfully written and performed, and they're incredibly entertaining to top that off.
But -- for the record -- he did make a few other stops in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror that are deserving on mention.
- In 1980's Dressed To Kill -- one of director Brian De Palma's most highly regarded Horror/Thriller -- the actor enjoyed a small role. That same year, he also did some background work in a little feature called Christmas Evil.
- In 1989, he paid a visit to the popular world of NBC's Quantum Leap.
- In 1990, Margolis found himself in the Final Frontier with a guest spot within an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation (pictured above). That same year, he appeared in one of the vignettes that made up the Tales From The Darkside movie.
- In 1991, he enjoyed work of some note aboard director Stuart Gordon's adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's The Pit And The Pendulum for Empire Pictures.
- In 1999, the actor stepped onto the silver screen with a role in End Of Days, a Horror feature of somewhat Biblical proportions headlined by Arnold 'Screw Your Freedom' Schwarzenegger. That same year, he enjoyed a guest spot to the TV world of Now And Again.
- Bugs! What did it have to be bugs? In 2002, Margolis found himself being chased by some nasty little critters with his work aboard Infested for City Block Productions.
- 2003 saw the man entering the Marvel Movie Universe -- well, before it truly was the Marvel Movie Universe -- with a small part in Daredevil.
- In 2006, he brought to life the character of 'Father Avila' for Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain.
- In 2011, the actor enjoyed another small role of screen flavoring aboard Immortals.
- Between the years of 2011 and 2012, Margolis earned a three-episode run aboard the SciFi-lite TV procedural Person Of Interest. At the same time, he was also scaring homegrown audiences silly with a three-episode run as part of American Horror Story.
- In 2015, the DC TV Universe cast the actor with a guest spot aboard the short-lived but popular Constantine serial. That same year, he also paid a visit to Syfy's adaptation of 12 Monkeys. And proving he was a glutton for punishment -- meaning he was an impressive workaholic -- he went even further into the DC TV Universe by appearing in a pair of episodes of Gotham.
- And one of his last small screen outings? Margolis enjoyed a one-time guest spot to TNT's Snowpiercer adaptation.
Alas, none of us get out alive (as they say), and word reached SciFiHistory.Net's news desk just this morning that the prolific talent has finally left us after a short illness. Thankfully, there's a solid library of work out there for us to relive some of these moments -- big and small -- and, once more, I can't give the man enough props for his gifts on full display in the Breaking Bad universe. It's truly, truly inspired.
Thoughts, prayers, and wishes are extended to the family, friends, and fans of Mr. Margolis. May he forever rest in peace.
-- EZ
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