Allow me to just state this unequivocally: those of you people who don't love 1980's deliriously cheesy Flash Gordon remake probably don't understand what makes Flash Gordon (as a serial) tick. Now, that said, I'll concede that Topol is probably my least favorite Dr. Hans Zarkov ever, but that doesn't make the film any less brilliant. Topol was born on this day in 1935.
Not only did Richard Webb enjoy a solid guest appearance aboard the classic Star Trek (he played 'Ben Finney' in "Court-Martial") but also he was previously known as 'Captain Midnight' in the 1950's serial of the same name. Though he's no longer with us, Webb was born on this day in 1915. [Source: IMDB.com]
Screen veteran Cliff Robertson played the U.S. President in 1996's "worst SciFi sequel ever" Escape from L.A. Robertson also played an important role in the Spider-man film as Ben Parker. Though he's no longer with us, Robertson was born on this day in 1923.
Darrell Zwerling -- shown above from his appearance on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century -- left behind a legacy of over fifty roles, most of which took place in conventional fare. He also appeared in 1975's adaptation of Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze. Though he's no longer with us, Zwerling was born on this day in 1928. [Source: IMDB.com]
With over 150 roles to his name, Art LaFleur has a face that has popped up all over the map. In particular, Science Fiction and Fantasy fans probably recognize him from roles in The Incredible Hulk, The Invisible Woman (1983), Wizards and Warriors, WarGames (1983), Trancers (1984), Zone Troopers (1985), Pulse Pounders (1988), Field of Dreams (1989), Trancers II (1991), Tales from the Crypt, Space Rangers, and Strange Luck. LaFleur was born on this day in 1943.
Tom Wopat joined his former Dukes of Hazzard co-star John Schneider in a guest role aboard the WB's Smallville. The actor also had roles aboard Contagious (1997), Meteorites (1998), and Jonah Hex (2010). Wopat was born on this day in 1951.
Growing up, I did watch the original Lost in Space, but I honestly never much cared for it. Its plots were all too contrived and far too similar for my young tastes, but I did appreciate the work the cast did. Angela Cartwright -- as the young Penny Robinson -- did an affable job bringing in the younger viewers, even though her screen brother Will ended up getting much more dialogue and action. Cartwright was born on this day in 1952.
I think it goes without saying that if you've traveled with the Doctor then you're pretty much owed some place in the annals of SciFi History. At the very least, you'll get a mention here. Such is the case with the lovely Janet Fielding: she played the equally lovely companion Tegan as part of Doctor Who between 1981 and 1984. Fielding was born on this day in 1953.
Oh, that face! That smiling, devilish face! Jeffrey Combs did a masterful job playing the conniving Vorta -- Weyoun -- on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. I can distinctly remember hissing every time he came onscreen. The actor has had a long career of some distinction, staring in the cult classic Re-Animator, and he recently chewed scenery as a conniving (who'da thunk it?) millionaire in the screen flick Would You Rather. Happy Birthday, Mr. Combs! He was born on this day in 1954.
Randy Stumpf played a part in one of the original Battlestar Galactica episodes: "Take the Celestra" pitted the Colonials against one another in the midst of a mutiny within the fleet. Stumpf was born on this day in 1956.
Good googley moogley, can we give a little love today to character actor Brent Stait? The man has a solid resume in quality genre roles, including appearances aboard Highlander, The X-Files, Poltergeist: The Legacy, Stargate: SG-1, Viper, Roswell: The Aliens Attack (1999), First Wave, Seven Days, The Outer Limits, Taken (miniseries), Andromeda, Battlestar Galactica (Syfy), The 4400, The Sea Beast (2008), Polar Storm (2009), Smallville, Stonehenge Apocalypse (2010), TRON: Legacy (2010), Fringe, Sanctuary, and Legends of Tomorrow. Stait was born on this day in 1959.
The reliable Kevin Grevioux eats quality genre roles for breakfast. Fans have marveled over his work in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Mask (1994), Alien Nation: Dark Horizon (1994), Batman Forever (1995), Sliders, Planet of the Apes (2001), Men in Black II (2002), Underworld (2003), Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009), as well as a host of voice performances. Grevioux was born on this day in 1962.
Ahem. Adam Sandler. Ahem. Now, just the mere mention of the man's name in mixed company usually tells you right away what the crowd thinks of him. Love him or hate him, he's definitely a phenomenon unto himself with seemingly endless clout to make one box office stinker after another. The summer of 2015 was particular unkind to his Pixels, his attempt to bring his particular brand of yucks to the SciFi invasion film. Sandler was born on this day in 1966.
Oh, what to do if you find yourself cast in something called Piranhaconda (2012)? You thank your lucky stars you're cast opposite something as lovely as Rachel Hunter, that's what you do! Hunter was born on this day in 1969.
Well before he found fortune and fame as part of ABC's popular sitcom, Modern Family, Eric Stonestreet delved into the cinema of Michael Bay with a small role in The Island (2005). Stonestreet was born on this day in 1971.
I guess if I were an alien and I were going to be found by a human who'd take me home and make sure I had plenty of Reese's Pieces to eat then there probably wouldn't be any better 'finder' than Elliott, as played by Henry Thomas in E.T. - The Extraterrestrial. Thomas was born on this day back in 1971.
Goran Visnjic can be seen opposite Halle Berry in the CBS summer SciFi series, Extant. He also had a meaty role in the BBC underwater SciFi miniseries, The Deep. Visnjic was born on this day in 1972.
Michelle Goh's resume isn't what I would call "steeped" in Science Fiction, but it's clear she's been cast in some genre projects. Outside of the above (Alien Lockdown from 2004), she's enjoyed roles aboard Seven Days, Dark Angel, and Smallville. Goh was born on this day in 1973.
In her youth, the always luminous Michelle Williams did some great work as the younger version of the lifeform Sil in one of the finest SciFi B-movies ever, Species. She's since migrated to much more mainstream fare, but I (for one) would love to see her back in the realm of SciFi. Williams was born on this day in 1980.
Amy Manson (pictured above left) made an indelible impression on watchers of the BBC's single season SciFi drama, Outcasts. Since that time, she's found success with work aboard Atlantis and a guest role aboard ABC TV's Once Upon A Time. Manson was born on this day in 1985.
On this day in 1983, the SciFi/Horror anthology film Nightmares put all of its pieces together for audiences. The feature starred Cristina Raines and Joe Lambie, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Anthology of four horror tales with a supernatural twist based on urban legends."
"Anthology of four horror tales with a supernatural twist based on urban legends."
On this day in 2002, the SciFi/Fantasy better known as Fairie premiered. The feature starred Jack Wallace and Ed Gale, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"In the world of nine fairy types who are celebrating New Years Eve at the base of the Hollywood Sign. Little tiny modern creatures, the fay (fairy) folk possess a vast assortment of magical powers and bizarre capabilities. Though physically different, their inner dilemmas are often akin to humans, making them simultaneously 'fantastical' and 'relate-able'. Inhabiting a parallel universe, yet now a separate one, the fay provide valuable life teachings through humor, absurdity, and simply clarity. A dose of social commentary with a pleasant taste, FAIRIE, is a wild coaster ride with a subliminal current of knowledge underlying its various twists and turns."
"In the world of nine fairy types who are celebrating New Years Eve at the base of the Hollywood Sign. Little tiny modern creatures, the fay (fairy) folk possess a vast assortment of magical powers and bizarre capabilities. Though physically different, their inner dilemmas are often akin to humans, making them simultaneously 'fantastical' and 'relate-able'. Inhabiting a parallel universe, yet now a separate one, the fay provide valuable life teachings through humor, absurdity, and simply clarity. A dose of social commentary with a pleasant taste, FAIRIE, is a wild coaster ride with a subliminal current of knowledge underlying its various twists and turns."
On this day in 2009 (in the United Kingdom), the Fantasy-themed Dorian Gray defied the ages. The feature starred Ben Barnes and Colin Firth, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty eternally, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all."
"A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty eternally, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all."
On this day in 2013, the SciFi telefilm Exploding Sun went out over the TV airwaves. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the 'rather involved' plot summary:
"The world watches in awe as the Roebling Clipper is launched into space. Using state-of-the-art scalar engines to fly around the Moon and back in just hours, the maiden voyage of the first-ever trans-lunar passenger ship is about to make history. Among those on board: First Lady Simone Mathany, space-exploration entrepreneur Steve Roebling, Dr. Denise Balaban, pilot Fiona Henslaw, and a very lucky lottery winner. But while en route, a massive solar flare sparks a cosmic-ray burst that accelerates Aurora's engine and blows the ship away from Earth's orbit. Now out of control, it's hurtling straight for the sun. At Mission Control, along with the desperate President Thomas Mathany, an increasingly anxious team of experts puts a plan into motion - an interception by a shuttle attached to the International Space Station. When that ends in disaster, the Aurora only picks up speed. Now being pulled toward the sun at three percent of the speed of light, it's only a matter of hours before it burns. With that, the scalar engine will trigger cosmic ray bursts, and a giant electromagnetic pulse storm that will blow Earth back into the Stone Age. Now, preparing for the inevitable seems the last - and only - terrifying option."
"The world watches in awe as the Roebling Clipper is launched into space. Using state-of-the-art scalar engines to fly around the Moon and back in just hours, the maiden voyage of the first-ever trans-lunar passenger ship is about to make history. Among those on board: First Lady Simone Mathany, space-exploration entrepreneur Steve Roebling, Dr. Denise Balaban, pilot Fiona Henslaw, and a very lucky lottery winner. But while en route, a massive solar flare sparks a cosmic-ray burst that accelerates Aurora's engine and blows the ship away from Earth's orbit. Now out of control, it's hurtling straight for the sun. At Mission Control, along with the desperate President Thomas Mathany, an increasingly anxious team of experts puts a plan into motion - an interception by a shuttle attached to the International Space Station. When that ends in disaster, the Aurora only picks up speed. Now being pulled toward the sun at three percent of the speed of light, it's only a matter of hours before it burns. With that, the scalar engine will trigger cosmic ray bursts, and a giant electromagnetic pulse storm that will blow Earth back into the Stone Age. Now, preparing for the inevitable seems the last - and only - terrifying option."
On this day in 2013 (in the United Kingdom), the SciFi/Drama Extracted found a path into our collective consciousness. The feature starred Sasha Roiz and Jenny Mollen, and here's the plot summary as provided on IMDB.com:
"A scientist who has invented a technique to watch people's memories finds himself in a dangerous situation after he's tasked with entering a heroin addict's mind to see whether the man committed murder."
"A scientist who has invented a technique to watch people's memories finds himself in a dangerous situation after he's tasked with entering a heroin addict's mind to see whether the man committed murder."
It all began right here: on this day in 1973, Moonbase 3 appeared on the BBC's broadcast schedule. The first episod was titled "Departure and Arrival," and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Astronaut Harry Sanders suffers a mental breakdown while piloting a shuttle from the Moon back to Earth, causing an accident that kills him and his passenger, Moonbase 3 director Tony Ransome. Under political pressure to close the Moonbase following the deaths, the Director-General of the European space programme appoints David Caulder to take over as Director of Moonbase 3 and investigate the accident."
"Astronaut Harry Sanders suffers a mental breakdown while piloting a shuttle from the Moon back to Earth, causing an accident that kills him and his passenger, Moonbase 3 director Tony Ransome. Under political pressure to close the Moonbase following the deaths, the Director-General of the European space programme appoints David Caulder to take over as Director of Moonbase 3 and investigate the accident."
It all began right here ... because on this day in 1978 the Saturday morning kids' SciFi show Jason of Star Command launched onto the television airwaves. The first episode was titled "Attack of the Dragonship," and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"The Space Academy is struck by a mysterious force unleashed by an alien ship and Commander Canarvin is abducted by a mysterious beam. Jason and Dr. Parsafoot investigate in their spaceship and find and rescue Canarvin who was floating in outer space. Jason discovers the attacking vessel belongs to the evil Dragos and is captured and placed in prison."
"The Space Academy is struck by a mysterious force unleashed by an alien ship and Commander Canarvin is abducted by a mysterious beam. Jason and Dr. Parsafoot investigate in their spaceship and find and rescue Canarvin who was floating in outer space. Jason discovers the attacking vessel belongs to the evil Dragos and is captured and placed in prison."
On this day in 1986, The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers aired "One Million Emotions." This (technically) served as the program's ninth episode (they were aired wildly out of sequence), and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A priceless work of art is stolen. The Galaxy Rangers are assigned to recover it. The artwork makes anyone who comes into contact with it experience the life and emotions of the artist who created it. The ones who have come into contact with it usually end up catatonic, unable to process all the emotions."
"A priceless work of art is stolen. The Galaxy Rangers are assigned to recover it. The artwork makes anyone who comes into contact with it experience the life and emotions of the artist who created it. The ones who have come into contact with it usually end up catatonic, unable to process all the emotions."
On this day in 2005, Stargate: SG-1 aired "Babylon." This served as the eighth episode of the long-running program's ninth season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"SG-1 investigates a planet that is said to be the home of the Warriors of Sodan, a legendary tribe of Jaffa said to have not served the Goa'uld in hundreds of years. In an encounter with the warriors, Mitchell deals a deadly blow to one of the Sodan and is captured and taken to their village. There he awaits a battle to the death as punishment for his crime."
"SG-1 investigates a planet that is said to be the home of the Warriors of Sodan, a legendary tribe of Jaffa said to have not served the Goa'uld in hundreds of years. In an encounter with the warriors, Mitchell deals a deadly blow to one of the Sodan and is captured and taken to their village. There he awaits a battle to the death as punishment for his crime."
On this day in 2007, The 4400 aired "Tiny Machines." This served as the twelfth episode of the program's fourth (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Marco finds a way to get the old Tom back, but it is dangerous and they don't have a very long time."
"Marco finds a way to get the old Tom back, but it is dangerous and they don't have a very long time."
