Guest guest Posted August 2, 2013 To complement the venerable British science fiction series thread, let's look at some non-Star bloody Trek American shows. Flash Gordon All of the main actors from the 1930s serials are long gone, the last being Jean Rogers (Dale Arden) back in 1991. Likewise, the actors from the 1950s television show and the much-loved 1979 Filmation animated versions all seem to be gone, which leaves us with the notorious 1980 film... Survivors are: Peter Wyngarde (Klytus) born 1928 Max von Sydow (Ming the Merciless) born 1929 Topol (Dr Zarkov) born 1935 Brian Blessed (Vultan) 1936 Timothy Dalton (Barin) 1944 Sam Jones (Flash) 1954 Melody Anderson (Dale Arden) 1955 Ornella Muti (Princess Aura) 1955 Mariangela Melato (Kara) died back on January 11th this year, it seems. Buck Rogers Likewise no survivor from the 1930s serial, the last main cast member, Constance Moore, dying in 2005. Again, there was apparently a short-lived television show in the 1950s, featuring none other than: Eva Marie Saint (Wilma Deering) born 1924 Of the well-known 1979 series, the following are still alive: Michael Ansara (Kane) born 1922 Tim O'Connor (Dr Heuer) born 1927 Henry Silva (also played Kane) 1928 Felix Silla (Tweekie [and Cousin Itt on the Addams Family!]) 1937 Thom Christopher (Hawk) 1940 Gil Gerard (Buck) 1943 Eric Server (Dr Theopolis) 1944 Erin Gray (Wilma) 1950 Pamela Hensley (Aura) 1950 Battlestar Galactica (the original, not that new-fangled stuff) Lorne Green is obviously long gone but nearly all the rest of the very extensive cast are still alive. I won't list them all here as they were a fairly young cast being nearly all born in the 1950s but the oldest survivor is: Terry Carter (Tigh) 1928 Michael Ansara has died Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Zorders 1,271 Posted August 2, 2013 Does anyone know if Michael Ansara is still alive? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grande Pablo 109 Posted August 2, 2013 Does anyone know if Michael Ansara is still alive? Uncanny - some posted this on an Aston Villa fanzine deathlist today: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michael-ansara-star-trek-kang-dies-598786 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davey Jones' Locker 1,324 Posted August 3, 2013 Star Trek fans are mourning the passing of the mighty Khan http://www.hollywood...ang-dies-598786 End of an era Khan was Ricardo Montalban, you pillock! This bloke played Kang, not Khan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Guest Posted November 24, 2013 Roger McGhee who played Lindstrom on Forbidden Planet died last month at 86 http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569129/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davey Jones' Locker 1,324 Posted April 29, 2014 Flash Gordon Max von Sydow (Ming the Merciless) born 1929 Bloody hell! They just announced that von Sydow, at 85 years of age, is going to be one of the main cast for Star Wars 7. Man, if he plays a villain like Ming in that thing.... "Pathetic Jedi! Who will save you now?" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,050 Posted February 27, 2015 Maurice Hurley, writer and producer on Star Trek TNG, passes away, aged 75. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/maurice-hurley-dead-star-trek-778147 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davey Jones' Locker 1,324 Posted April 21, 2015 //Totally off-topic// Wow! I JUST HEARD THE BEST BIT OF NEWS EVER! This is from six months ago but I only just heard about it and I thought Hein, Bibliogryphon and a few other people on here who are science fiction fans might like to hear about it too: it turns out that Jonathon Nolan is attempting to make Asimov's Foundation trilogy into a television series! http://io9.com/hbo-will-make-asimovs-foundation-with-interstellars-jon-1657018306 http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/nov/12/isaac-asimov-foundation-novels-filmable-interstellar-jonathan-nolan :D :D :D :party: :party: :party: :D :D :D //end totally off-topic// 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bibliogryphon 9,586 Posted April 22, 2015 //Totally off-topic// Wow! I JUST HEARD THE BEST BIT OF NEWS EVER! This is from six months ago but I only just heard about it and I thought Hein, Bibliogryphon and a few other people on here who are science fiction fans might like to hear about it too: it turns out that Jonathon Nolan is attempting to make Asimov's Foundation trilogy into a television series! http://io9.com/hbo-will-make-asimovs-foundation-with-interstellars-jon-1657018306 http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/nov/12/isaac-asimov-foundation-novels-filmable-interstellar-jonathan-nolan :D :D :D :party: :party: :party: :D :D :D //end totally off-topic// Hmmmm. TV/Film adaptations of much loved novels can be a mixed blessing. Isaac Asimov has not really had much attention paid to him (Fantastic Voyage doesn't count) but his books are fairly sedate, very readable but often deal with concepts as opposed to action. Having said that I seem to be in a minority in quite liking the film I, Robot which i felt told a story using principles and elements from Asimov's work. I will watch with interest. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,050 Posted November 21, 2015 Here are a few survivors from some of the (marginally) higher-quality SF films of the 1950s: Charles Evans (Earth versus the Flying Saucers) - born 1900 Kirk Douglas (20 000 Leagues Under the Sea [and Saturn 3]) - born 1916 Alan Young (Time Machine) - born 1919 Peter Hansen (When Worlds Collide)- born 1921 Russell Johnson (It Came from Outer Space and This Island Earth) - born 1924 James Best (Forbidden Planet [and also played Sheriff Rosco Coltrane in Dukes of Hazzard]) - born 1926 Richard Anderson (Forbidden Planet, [and the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman]) - born 1926 Barbara Rush (When Worlds Collide and It Came from Outer Space) - born 1927 Rex Reason (This Island Earth) - born 1928 Earl Holliman (Forbidden Planet) - born 1928 Ann Robinson (War of the Worlds) - born 1929 Rod Taylor (Time Machine) - born 1930 James Drury (Forbidden Planet) - born 1934 Billy Gray (The Day the Earth Stood Still) - born 1938 Yvette Mimieux (Time Machine [and The Black Hole]) - born 1942 Everyone involved in the original version of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers appears to have been body-snatched by now. It would be interesting to know if that Charles Evans bloke really is still alive. Neither Wikipedia nor IMDB have any mention of him dying. He last acted in a film as late as 1991. Rex Reason, of This Island Earth, reportedly dead at age 86. http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/61227/Rex-ReasonRIP?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#.VlCJn-QnzNM Also known as Adam MacLean in Man Without A Gun, his brother Rhodes Reason died in December last year, as I reported in the Toho Stars thread. Edit: Went through the DJL list, Wiki now has Charles Evans dead in 1996. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,050 Posted December 8, 2015 Martin E Brooks, best known as Dr Rudy Wells in The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman, has died just after his 90th birthday. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/martin-brooks-million-dollar-man-dies-90-35636703 Edit: https://vimeo.com/17041514 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Creep 7,070 Posted December 8, 2015 Here are a few survivors from some of the (marginally) higher-quality SF films of the 1950s:Charles Evans (Earth versus the Flying Saucers) - born 1900Kirk Douglas (20 000 Leagues Under the Sea [and Saturn 3]) - born 1916Alan Young (Time Machine) - born 1919Peter Hansen (When Worlds Collide)- born 1921Russell Johnson (It Came from Outer Space and This Island Earth) - born 1924James Best (Forbidden Planet [and also played Sheriff Rosco Coltrane in Dukes of Hazzard]) - born 1926Richard Anderson (Forbidden Planet, [and the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman]) - born 1926Barbara Rush (When Worlds Collide and It Came from Outer Space) - born 1927Rex Reason (This Island Earth) - born 1928Earl Holliman (Forbidden Planet) - born 1928Ann Robinson (War of the Worlds) - born 1929Rod Taylor (Time Machine) - born 1930James Drury (Forbidden Planet) - born 1934Billy Gray (The Day the Earth Stood Still) - born 1938Yvette Mimieux (Time Machine [and The Black Hole]) - born 1942 Everyone involved in the original version of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers appears to have been body-snatched by now. It would be interesting to know if that Charles Evans bloke really is still alive. Neither Wikipedia nor IMDB have any mention of him dying. He last acted in a film as late as 1991. Rex Reason, of This Island Earth, reportedly dead at age 86. http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/61227/Rex-ReasonRIP?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#.VlCJn-QnzNM Also known as Adam MacLean in Man Without A Gun, his brother Rhodes Reason died in December last year, as I reported in the Toho Stars thread. Edit: Went through the DJL list, Wiki now has Charles Evans dead in 1996. Here are a few survivors from some of the (marginally) higher-quality SF films of the 1950s:Charles Evans (Earth versus the Flying Saucers) - born 1900Kirk Douglas (20 000 Leagues Under the Sea [and Saturn 3]) - born 1916Alan Young (Time Machine) - born 1919Peter Hansen (When Worlds Collide)- born 1921Russell Johnson (It Came from Outer Space and This Island Earth) - born 1924James Best (Forbidden Planet [and also played Sheriff Rosco Coltrane in Dukes of Hazzard]) - born 1926Richard Anderson (Forbidden Planet, [and the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman]) - born 1926Barbara Rush (When Worlds Collide and It Came from Outer Space) - born 1927Rex Reason (This Island Earth) - born 1928Earl Holliman (Forbidden Planet) - born 1928Ann Robinson (War of the Worlds) - born 1929Rod Taylor (Time Machine) - born 1930James Drury (Forbidden Planet) - born 1934Billy Gray (The Day the Earth Stood Still) - born 1938Yvette Mimieux (Time Machine [and The Black Hole]) - born 1942 Everyone involved in the original version of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers appears to have been body-snatched by now. It would be interesting to know if that Charles Evans bloke really is still alive. Neither Wikipedia nor IMDB have any mention of him dying. He last acted in a film as late as 1991. Rex Reason, of This Island Earth, reportedly dead at age 86. http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/61227/Rex-ReasonRIP?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#.VlCJn-QnzNM Also known as Adam MacLean in Man Without A Gun, his brother Rhodes Reason died in December last year, as I reported in the Toho Stars thread. Edit: Went through the DJL list, Wiki now has Charles Evans dead in 1996. And of course Rod Taylor and Russell Johnson (The Professor) dead in the last 12 months or so. SC Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shroud 19 Posted December 20, 2015 James Best died in April of 2015 @ age 88. This leaves Richard Anderson, James Drury, Earl Holliman and apparently, Robert Dix surviving from the cast of Forbidden Planet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shroud 19 Posted December 20, 2015 On Forbidden Planet again, prolific character actor Morgan Jones (Crewman Nichols) died in 2012 at 83. Jones appeared in a number of other "Yank" sf TV series and films; films included the original Not of this Earth and the infamous The Giant Claw, both 1957. TV series; The Twilight Zone(twice), The Invaders(three times), Land of the Giants, Star Trek, the 1972-1973 TV series The Sixth Sense (which starred the late Gary Collins), Project U.F.O., and others in the genre. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Guest Posted December 21, 2015 James Best died in April of 2015 @ age 88. This leaves Richard Anderson, James Drury, Earl Holliman and apparently, Robert Dix surviving from the cast of Forbidden Planet. I know it was well documented at the time ,esp as he played Roscoe P Coltrane in the Dukes of Hazzard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shroud 19 Posted December 21, 2015 It's a really shame James Best is mostly remembered for The Dukes of Hazzard series as he was a better actor than the Role of Roscoe P Coltrane generally required ( and that was definitely a lightweight series). Since The Twilight Zone has been mentioned, Best also appeared in three episodes of that, one with Ann Francis oddly enough, given the discussion recently of Forbidden Planet. Robert Redford also appeared in a small early role on a TZ episode(maybe "Nothing in the Dark?") in naming surviving famous guest-stars. On Ib Melchior, he passed away in early 2015 at 97, I believe, although others may have mentioned this elsewhere. He scripted other 1950s-style films like Reptilcus (1961) and the somewhat better The Time Travelers (1964 version), among others. A strong case has been made that Irwin Allen 'borrowed" the idea for Lost in Space TV series from him as well; he did earn some money late in life from the 1998 film re-make of this, although i understand he was denied a promised share of profits from the film's take, which wasn't that great, although an improvement over what Allen did with the 1960's TV series. He had other sci-fi film credits as well. Ib served with US forces in World War Two in counterintelligence, and wrote several novels and nonfiction works using those experiences. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shroud 19 Posted December 23, 2015 Discussing Twilight Zone, it's being reported that author George Clayton Johnson died December 22 or 23 @ 86. Johnson wrote several epsiodes of the series, as well as installments for a number of other series. he is no doubt best known as co-author with William F. Nolan of Logan's Run and the films, and TV series based there-on. I would imagine this leaves Earl Hamner, Jr and maybe two, three others left as scriptwriters for Twilight Zone (Hamner is the guy usually forgotten as a TZ scriptwriter). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Guest Posted December 23, 2015 Discussing Twilight Zone, it's being reported that author George Clayton Johnson died December 22 or 23 @ 86. Johnson wrote several epsiodes of the series, as well as installments for a number of other series. he is no doubt best known as co-author with William F. Nolan of Logan's Run and the films, and TV series based there-on. I would imagine this leaves Earl Hamner, Jr and maybe two, three others left as scriptwriters for Twilight Zone (Hamner is the guy usually forgotten as a TZ scriptwriter). I can confirm that he has indeed died.http://www.salem-news.com/articles/december232015/george-clayton-johnson-died-bk.php In fact he wrote the first ever episode of Star Trek Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shroud 19 Posted December 23, 2015 For behind the scenes people on original Twilight Zone, surviving directors are Robert Butler(1927) Richard Donnor(1930)/RobertEllis Miller(1932)/Ralph Senesky(1923)/James Sheldon(1920)/Elliot Silverstein(1927). Richard L. Bare was one of the oldest surviving US directors until his recent death;(1913 - 2015). Earl Hamner, Jr may indeed, be the last surviving scriptwriter from the original series with the death of George Clayton Johnson. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shroud 19 Posted December 24, 2015 Update George Clayton Johnson; he is still alive(as of late on 24/December) depsite widespread reports, people. although said to be terminally-ill with cancer. I apologize to everybodyd for this mistake,-- numerous reliable sources had reported hims deceased, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shroud 19 Posted December 24, 2015 A more-lengthy listing of surviving performers who appeared on the original Twilight Zone-Pt. 1. Shirley Ballard 1925 Barbara Barrie 1931 Bonnie Beecher 1941 Ann Blyth 1928 Antoinette Bower 1932 Carol Burnett 1933 Michael Constantine 1927 Paul Comi 1932 Pat(ricia) Crowley 1933 Bobby Diamond 1943 Charles Duvall 1931 Susan Harrison 1938 Dee Hartford 1927 Mariette Hartley 1940 Chuck Hicks 1927 Earl Holliman 1928 Marsha Hunt 1917 Rex Holman 1928 Geoffrey Horne 1933 Don Gordon 1926 Sherry Jackson 1942 Noah Keen 1920 Martin Landau 1931 Cloris Leachman 1926 Suzanne Lloyd 1934 Joanne Linville 1928 Dewey Martin 1923 * last known survivor from The Thing(1951) Vera Miles 1929 Read Morgan 1931 Tim O'Connor 1927? Nehemiah Persoff 1919 or 1920, depending on source. Robert Redford 1936 Tom Reese 1928 William Reynolds 1931 Peter Mark Richman 1927 Robert Sampson 1927/1929 Dean Stockwell 1936 Jacqueline Scott 1932 Pippa Scott 1935 Wlliam Shatner 1931 James (or Joseph) Turley 1927 Tracey Straford George Takei 1937 Fritz Weaver 1926 H.M. Wynant 1927 Some others who have passed in the last few years include Linden Chiles(d.2013), George Murdock(d.2012), Christine White(d.2015, and Than Wyen (d.2015). Obviously, not all of these are well-known enough to receive obits in the UK or even the uS in some cases. Have tried to concentrate on people who were at least 20 or so when they made their appearances, asmost of those younger are still with us. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shroud 19 Posted December 24, 2015 Twilight Zone- Pt.2 Denise Alexander 1939 Renee Aubry 1936 Orson Bean 1928 Randy Boone 1942 Carol Byron 1937 John Considine 1935 Ron Foster 1930 Michael Forest 1929 Jack Grinnage 1931; last surviving regular cast ember of Kolchak:the night Stalker(Ron Updyke) Wright King 1923 John Lasell 1928 Josie Lloyd 1940 Tom Lowell 1941 William Phipps 1922 David Sheiner 1928 Peggy Stewart 1923; one of the last surviving US westerns actresses Ellen Willard 1941 Jason Wingreen 1920 Some others who have died fairly recently; Robert Boon(1916-2015); Antony Carobone 91926 - 2013), and Don Keefer(1916 - 2014). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shroud 19 Posted December 24, 2015 Twilight Zone 3 Roger Davis 1939 Brooke Hayward 1937 Joanna Heyes 1927 Arte Johnson 1929 Jimmy Lydon 1923 Mark Miller 1925 Naomi Stevens 1926 Juie Van Zandt 1929 A couple of other passings form TZ; Totty Ames 1922-2015 and Lori March 1923 - 2013. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shroud 19 Posted December 25, 2015 Twilight Zone 4 Pamela Austin 1939 Shelley Berman 1925 Conlan Carter 1934 Ben Cooper 1933 Richard Erdman 1925 Tom Gilleran 1936 Vernon Gray 1928 Betty Hartford 1927 Robert Hogan 1933 Asa Maynor 1936 Barbara Perry 1923 Peter Walker 1927 Patrick Westwood 1924 A couple of other passings; Jenna McMahon 1925 - 2015; Cliff Osmond 1937- 2012. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Guest Posted December 26, 2015 Twilight Zone 4 Pamela Austin 1939 Shelley Berman 1925 Conlan Carter 1934 Ben Cooper 1933 Richard Erdman 1925 Tom Gilleran 1936 Vernon Gray 1928 Betty Hartford 1927 Robert Hogan 1933 Asa Maynor 1936 Barbara Perry 1923 Peter Walker 1927 Patrick Westwood 1924 A couple of other passings; Jenna McMahon 1925 - 2015; Cliff Osmond 1937- 2012. something tells me you're not into Christmas much... ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
