Shroud

Lennie Bluett b. 1/1/1919, Los Angeles, California; died 1/1/2016, same; also appeared in original Mighty Joe Young (1949).

Ann Bupp 1922 - 4/28/2005. Her younger brother Sonny Bupp 1928 - 11/1/2007, Henderson, Nevada is believed to have been last cast member from Citizen Kane (1941).

I take it that the series Kolchak the Night Stalker wasn't aired much (if at all) in the Uk, perhaps not until more recent years as I mentioned the seriesawhile back, and nobody has commented. Frequent Hammer Films scriptwriter Jimmy Sangster contributed one of the better installments, "Horror in the Heights," about a Hindu demon called a Rakesha. This creature could project an image of itself as anybody it wished to, then devoured its victims. This series and the film A Christmas Story are primarily what actor Darren McGavin is remembered for now.

On Angus Scrimm, Morbidkid says he was a British actor. All the data I have been able to find on the fellow says he was American, born Lawrence Rory Guy in Kansas City, Kansas, which, not to be overly sarcastic, I hope, is some distance from the UK. I honestly haven't noticed that many obituaries for the man at all, and suspect he wasn't terribly well-known by name outside the "fan community" despite other activities outside acting. Did his parents possibly come over from England before he was born? In any case, he had completed the final Phantasm film not too long before he passed. he had a recurring role on the series Alias as well.

In mentioning the 1980's version of Twilight Zone, I think two who have been discussed a good deal here were connected, weren't they? Harlan Ellison and George R R Martin?

I have noticed some suggestions of director Bert I. Gordon (aka Mr. B.I.G.) (94) here and there. The old boy still is semi-active, apparently, hard as they may seem to eblieve at his age. Joan Collins has stated that the 1977 Empire of the Ants (allegedly based on the Wells story) is her least-favorite film, although it has taken on cult-status now.

Glad u mentioned Harry Belafonte I'mNotHades - guy looks quite bad these days. One person who might deserve a spot is Joan Weldon (83) although she's been retired since the 1950's due to the fame of Them! Given that James Arness was one of her main co-stars, she might manage an obit over the pond. The lady tends to get rather upset because Them! is pretty much what she is remembered for now as I learned writing her some years ago.

As most have probably heard, charactor actor Richard Libertini died recently @ 82. He had several sci-fi horror TV credits like The Bionic Woman and Supernatural. He also appeared in one of the better installments of 1980's Twilight Zone, "A Saucer of Lonliness" from the Theodore Sturgeon tale. This remake of Zone was often lackluster, yet still superior to later attempts to revive the program. Shows like that rarely work wihtout their creators, after all.

For whatever it's worth, I liked Bowie well enough. his Space Oddity is just called"Major Tom" often as not, and is quite popular still having been covered repeatedly by various. I do recall a "Ziggy Stardust" special on television some years ago which was rather bizarre to say the least.

Actually, the answer to my comment on the passing of fmr US Presidents in the same year is "yes," although the last time was in 1901, and twice in the 19th century, so not a common event, clearly.

I'mNotHades has mentioned many of those I expect to pass fairly-soon, really. A few other names for maybe '17 might include May Britt (1931? and George Kennedy 91925), although I believe Kennedy is on several other lists. On Jimmy Carter, if u think of it, makes sense to try experimental treatments on oldsters like him given they no doubt do not have much longer left anyway; I will be surprised if he makes it through 2016 as well, though. As far as his Presidency goes, he had to deal with the mess left behind by everyone from Johnson through Ford, and was the victim, I think, of simple bad luck in some of the stuff which happened from 1977 to 1980. nOt to excuse his legitimate blunders at all, but this ought to be kept in mind when rating him, I think. With any Luck, Geo. H W Bush won't, either although I would have to check to know if two former US Presidents have passed in the same year before.

Pleased to know Scrimm will receive his due across the pond! He did a TV commercial many years ago for Fangoria magazine when that was unusual, at least here in the States. On lesser-known folks passing, Jason Wingreen from December is still having death-notices appear here and there - various people's passings do seem to appear at differing paces in the States and over in the UK, which might not be a bad thing to keep in mind, really. Given the recent passing of Geo. Clayton Johnson, I checked out the film version of Logan's Run (1976) again; Jenny Agutter was certainly a damned fine looking woman throughout the 1970's and into the 1980's, I have to admit. She is showing her age now from appearance sin the Marvel Universe' films as a member of the secret World Councilfor S.H.I.E.L.D., then again, it's been forty years, now.

I note where actor Angus Scrimm died at 86 a day or two ago - suppose there's a 50-50 chance anyway of his receiving a UK obituary. I understand a final Phantasm film is in post-production presumably for straight-to-video release. Scrimmm stoood 6 feet, four inches tall, and was reported to have worn elevator shoes to make him appear larger. He was apparently an alien from some world with a red sun to judge from a scene in the original film, so these films could be considered sci-fi.

Far as the 2016 election goes, how interesting it proves to be will depend a lot on what happens woth Trump, I think. No doubt he'll run an Indie bid if he feels he's somehow screwed out of the Rep nomination, and there seems to be lots of schemes afloat to see that he does not get-same regardless of popularity, or whatever votes he ends up getting. That debate on the 15th should prove worht the wait, and might knock one more of the lowest-polling ones out before the actual process gets underway. On Nancy Reagan, well, if there was true justice, when she expires,( whenever that is), she would be buried underneath the entrance/exit of the "herr" Reagan presidential Library in California, and "Ronnie" himself re-buried right beside her so all would have to trample on them, coming and going, if you will. Reagan was not universally loved by all in the US by any means. That is one hell of a fancy final resting place for the old buzzard, I have to grant (for those who haven't seen photos of it).

On the subject of Irwin Allen, he attempted to revive The Time Tunnel in 1976 with the pilot-film Time Travelers which featured Richard Basehart in a major role. This was better than the usual Allen fare due to being based on a story by Rod Serling who regrettably had died the previous year. As unlikely as an Allen-Serling series seems, it may well have been a worthwhile project had Serling lived and continued to be the main writer for a potential series.

Come to think of it, writer Hank Searls, who is the same age, btw, has written an alternative history novel which deals with Geo. H.W.'s going down during the war in/ So. Pacific, although in Searls' novel, Bush Senior is eaten by cannibals instead. He seems to have some sense of humor, though, as he reportedly read the book (title of which I can't recall off-hand), and told Searls he liked it. Hard to see "W" doing likewise.

Just a comment here of George H W.; no US president has ever been cremated, it seems, although former VP Spiro Agnew was in the 1990's. I doubt if H.W... will be, but if he is, I have this suggestion. Start matters off with used Iraq or Kuwaiti motor oil, as sort of poetic justice, perhaps.

Yes, Jolly Green.., Starburst was the title I was thinking of, thanks. While on magazines, the 1970's Hammer House of Horror did have some US distribution, and I found it a really well-done 'zine with great covers most by late Brian Lewis, I believe.

I should probably just ignore this, but anyway... Any series which purports to be science fiction(which obviously includes Irwin Allen's junk as well) should make itself clear if it's going to be "hard" science, that is make some effort at realism, or as noted, be an allegory. Star Trek which seems to be so hated here, i have noticed, did allegory quite well, and for the 1960's, was relatively scientific in its presentation, although it's unlikely actual anti-matter engines could be that efficient. My source for the moon being blasted apart was Isaac Asimov, as I recall. Asimov later commented that most of the items in Trek would probably be developed eventually in reality with the possible exception of the transports, at least for living people or creatures. "Cloaking devices' are in a fairly-advanced stage of development by several nations, as are crude version of deflector shields, and other items from the various Star trek series. I did eventually see the entire series on disc; the business with the black hole seemed an attempt to add some sort of explanation for the Moon's travels, although in order to survive passage through one of these things, it's believed to require certain types of them, i.e., ones which are rotating for one requirement, i believe, and a controlled journey through it. Hey, don't get me wrong - I enjoyed some of the episodesall the same. I do wish somebody besides Landau had played the Commander as it would have helped some there. For whatever it's worth, i have noticed that UK critics in sci-fi circles have been more harsh on Space.. than many in the States have. Oh. I do recall Sylvia Anderson commenting that Barry Morse apparently felt himself "above" the material which they didn't realize at the time, although his performances were always good regardless, I agree on that much. Ironically, he later appeared in probably Richard Matheson's weakest effort, that 1980 TV mini-series of Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles, which was cheaply produced even for that period.

I have been intending to post this item about 1980's male model and actor Jon-Erik Hexum (1957 - 1984) who starred in the reasonably well-done sci-fi series Voyagers! from 1982 to 1983 as Phineas Bogg, a time traveler who went on various adventures throughout history. This series was placed for some bizarre reason against the news program 60 Minutes where it had no chance, and was pulled after one relatively-brief season. After some other TV films and such, Hexum became one of the stars of Cover Up in 1984, an adventure-espionage affair in which various team members were sent around the world on covert missions involving disguises and the like. This might be better listed under Ironic Deaths although it seems more one which was the result of simply being (very) uninformed. A scene involving a .44 Magnum handgun loaded with blank cartridges hadn't gone as the director wished, and Hexum reportedly became bored while awaiting for it to be re-done. He seems to have been playing Russian Roulette according to some more recent accounts. In any case, Hexum had left one blank cartridge in the pistol, which are wads of paper or plastic with the gunpowder within. Hexum placed the gun against his right temple and pulled the trigger resulting in a portion of his skull being shattered about the size of a U S quarter coin, which sent fragments of bone throughout his brain. Hexum lived on life-support for six days, then was allowed to pass after brain death was declared. His organs were donated to several people, so the man apparently was a decent sort if not a terribly bright one. I know that the UK has stringent gun control laws, and so I am guessing the majority of people don't know much about firearms in-general (the subject being a very controversial one on this side of the Atlantic presently). One never wants to put any gun against your body, let alone the weakest area of the skull and pull the trigger - even if the "bullet" is a "blank" as the force of the blast is pretty well the same as 'the real thing" would be. This was a shame although many have since remarked about the man's stupidity over the years. I dimly recall the short run of the series myself into which Hexum's death was written; it wasn't one of Glan A Larson's very best ( he could produce good-quality series at times, although most of his efforts in the sci-fi field like original Battlestar Galactica had serious problems), and seemed unable to overcome this tragedy. Hopefully an object lesson if nothing else.

Hope most will find this second run of mostly US sci-fi performers of-interest. Realize that some like Dillman are a stretch to get a UK obituary, but wanted to include a few like him, and Ely who are aging rather rapidly, it seems, as is Waggoner who looks quite elderly the last time I saw him. Wonder Woman was rotated its first season with The Bionic Woman due to a severe auto accident Lindsy Wagner suffered. Waggoner portrayed his own son when Wonder Woman was moved from the war years of its original setting into the (then)-present of the 1970's. George Dzunda may be a stretch to get a UK obituary, but he has been a prolific actor and voice actor for such animated series as Batman-the Animated Series. He has been badly overweight for most of his life, and most likely has diabetes and other related health-issues. Patrick Stewart had heart surgery a decade or so ago if I recall rightly; he is showing his age rather badly in those wine commercials as well I have noted of-late. Gene Wilder battled non-Hodgkin's blood cancer some years ago, and underwent a stem cell transplant which seemed to cure it in the early 2000's. He is looking frail now, though. I thought Booth should be included somewhere as she is one of the last actresses who co-starred with Karloff while he was in his prime. Carlisie is also one of the last living people who appeared in a silent film. Hunt is a stretch to include, but Back from the Dead did feature genre veteran Arthur Franz 91920 - 2007). She is also one of the very last surviving actors who were blacklisted during the infamous communist witch-hunts in Hollywood during the 1950's. The others I picked more or less at my own discretion who i feel have some importance to them although many are much better-known for other films in various genres. On Sutherland, well, I would advise everyone to skip that mid-2000's remake of Salem's Lot which had great effects, but a terrible script, and not-so-great acting. A case of better-left-alone there, I believe, despite the 1979 version's shortcomings.

A further 25 as a selection of those with some sci-fi connections for 2016. Barbara Bain (85), Space:1999 Mary Carlisle (102), Dead Men Walk (1943). Lupita Tovar (106), Spanish-language 1931 version of Dracula. Patricia Laffan (97), Devil Girl from Mars (1954). Arlene Dahl (91),Journey to the Center of the earth (1959). Barbra Steele(79) Black Sunday (1960), many more. John Saxon (80), The Night Caller (1965), Queen of Blood (1966), Battle Beyond the Stars (1980), the Nightmare on Elm Street films. Katherine Ross (76), The Steppord Wives (1975), The Swarm (1978). Gary Lockwood (79), 2001: A Space Odyssey 91968). JIll St. John (76), The Lost World (1960), Batman (TV), Diamonds are Forever (1971). Adrian Booth (formerly Lorna Gray) (98 according to most sources), The Man They Could Not Hang (1939), Captain America (serial) (1944). Max von Sydow (87), The Exorcist (1973). Gene Wilder (86) Willy Wonka.....(1971), Young Frankenstein (1974). Ricco Browning (85) Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) underwater sequences and its sequels. Patrick Stewart (74) Captain Piccard. Barbara Feldon (86) Get Smart. Marsha Hunt (99), Back From the Dead (1956) Ron Ely (79) Tarzan (1960's TV); Doc Savage (1975). Lyle Waggoner (80), co-star Lynda Carter Wonder Woman Henry Silva (88), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century; 1980 FLash Gordon George Dzunda (70) Salem's Lot (1979). Bradford Dillman (86), Moon of the Wolf (1972), Bug (1975), Piranha (1978), etc. Donald Sutherland (80 or 82 according to the source,) The Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978),The Puppet Masters (1994), Salem's Lot (2004). Steve Ditko (*89), comics legend, co-creator of Spider-Man, many, many others. Keir Dullea (80) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).

Ah, yes, the lunch boxes.... some other 1960's series which had them issued were Batman and its better companion series The Green Hornet. Plus Star Trek awhile later in the 1970's once it really took off in repeat syndication, the conventions, etc. Anybody here ever see the old Starlog magazine? This 'zine did push Trek a lot, but Space '99 also as well as the Anderson's UFO (which I do recall with fondess circa 1973, especially Gabrielle Drake). It had some problems, too, like a base on the near the moon which would have been easily visible to even modest telescopes. I often forgot that Ed Bishop (now deceased, sadly) was American as just about everything he appeared in was a UK TV series or film for some odd reason. Anyway, I think the UK version of Starlog was called Starblast?? Never saw a copy, but followed Starlog loyally well into the 1980's when it became gradually more of a general celebrity magazine for the remainder of its run, plus kept increasing in price a LOt as time passed.

Another Voyage... actor who has passed is Terry Becker (19221 - 2014). He did appear on some better series, though, like Perry Mason, Sea Hunt and The Twilight Zone. The late "Dean of sci-fi writers, Murray Leinster (1896 - 1975) wrote some novels tied to Land of the Giants and The TimeTunnel, which were better than the series they were based, not suprisingly, perhaps. Leinster was called the Dean for the length of his career which lasted from the late 'teens of the 20th century to 1969 or 1970.

No, the problem with Space: 1999 was the effort to mix science and mysticism which failed badly - that, and the miscast Martin Landau as the Moonbase Commander. Ratings fell-off so badly many of us in the States didn't see the 2nd season episodes until some years later when sf programs became popular repeat fodder after the original Star Wars was such a huge hit. Sylvia Anderson commented that the late Robert Culp was almost chosen as the Commander instead, but they felt he "oversold"himself. Culp was indeed VERY self-confident, but could generally back up what he said he could so, however. Many also pointed out that a blast strong enough to tear the Moon out of orbit would have shattered it instead, but the scripts were full of weak efforts to explain how they traveled through such distances so quickly. Lots of merchandise was sold for a time in "the colonies" here, and were quite popular at the time, including a number of paperback novels many by the late E.C. Tubb. I recall Barbara Bain was slammed for being an "ice queen" on this series, an argument one could argue both ways, I suppose. actor Richard Bull died in 2014 from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea if nobody else has caught his passing. I have seen very few of the VTTBOS episodes; it's said the first part of the first season was a reasonably well-done adventure-type series until the creatures and such began turning up aboard the Seaview each week. In any case, hobby kits from most of the Allen sci-fi series proved very popular, and have been reissued from time to time until the present. The comic Lost in Space added "Space Family Robinson" while the infamous Lost in Space was first airing, and retained this title for the remainder of its run in the late 1970's. Much less-success comics based on Voyage..and Time Tunnel appeared from Dell/Gold Key Comics in the 1960's for brief runs.