Madeline Carroll b. 1996 (Astro Boy, Resident Evil: Extinction, Lost)
Lily Collins b. 1989 (The Mortal Instruments, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Mirror Mirror)
Duane Henry b. 1985 (The Dark Knight Rises, Doctor Who)
Adam Pally b. 1982 (Iron Man 3)
Chris Geere b. 1981 (After Earth)
Vanessa Evigan b. 1981 (Zombie Hamlet, Sand Sharks)
Sophia Myles b. 1980 (Transformers: Age of Extinction, Outlander, Moonlight, Dracula [2006], Doctor Who, Underworld, From Hell)
Danneel Ackles b. 1979 (Charmed)
Jareb Dauplaise b. 1979 (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen)
Dane Cook b. 1972 (Mystery Men)
Queen Latifah b. 1970 (The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz, Sphere)
Tamer Hassan b. 1968 (Robot Overlords, Dracula [2014], Clash of the Titans [2010], Kick-Ass, Batman Begins, Sucker Punch)
Vanessa Williams b. 1963 (666 Park Avenue, WW 3, Futuresport, The Odyssey, Deep Space Nine)
Thomas Ian Griffith b. 1962 (Timecop: The Berlin Decision, Vampires, Kull the Conqueror, The Guardian [1997])
Richard Biggs b. 1960 died 22 May 2004 (Babylon 5, The Alien Within, Twilight Zone [1986])
Steve Kloves b. 1960 (writer, Harry Potter, The Amazing Spider-Man)
Luc Besson b. 1959 (director, Lucy, The Fifth Element)
Jim Knobeloch b. 1950 (Predestination, The 25th Reich, Iron Sky, Knowing, King Kong)
Brad Dourif b. 1950 (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., End of the World, Child’s Play, Malignant, Once Upon a Time, Fringe, Halloween I & II [21st Century], The Lord of the Rings, Soulkeeper, Prophecy 3, The Hunger [TV], Alien: Resurrection, Star Trek: Voyager, Babylon 5, Escape to Witch Mountain, The X Files, Tales from the Crypt, Critters 4, Graveyard Shift, The Exorcist III, Deadly Nightmares, Dune, Desire, the Vampire)
Drew Struzan b. 1947 (illustrator)
Susan Tyrell b. 1945 died 16 June 2012 (Digital Man, Tales from the Crypt, Rockula, Deadly Nightmares, Forbidden Zone)
Carl Gottlieb b. 1938 (director, Caveman)
John Updike b. 1932 (author, The Witches of Eastwick)
Jack B. Sowards b. 1929 died 8 July 2007 (writer, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
Peggy Dow b. 1928 (Harvey)
Peter Graves b. 1926 died 14 March 2010 (Addams Family Values, The Invaders, Attack of the Eye Creatures, Beginning of the End, It Conquered the World, Red Planet Mars)
Alexander Leydenfrost b. 1888 died 16 June 1961 (illustrator)
Edward Everett Horton b. 1888 died 29 September 1970 (2000 Years Later, Batman, Down to Earth [1947], Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Lost Horizon, Alice in Wonderland [1933])
Notes from the birthday list.
1. The Picture Slot. In previous years, the Picture Slot went to the late Richard Biggs from Babylon 5 and the illustrator Drew Struzan. Not wanting to repeat myself, the actors with the most iconic roles on the list for me are Brad Dourif and Peter Graves. I chose Graves partly because the monster from It Conquered the World is an odd combination of obviously fake and still terrifying, but also as a nod to how the cheaply produced sci-fi of the 1950s was the starting point for a lot of actors who would have very successful careers on TV within a few years.
2. Nepotism FTW. Graves and his brother Jim Arness both got their starts at about the same time, so I don't know how much nepotism is involved. Among our younger birthday celebrants, Lily Collins is the daughter of Phil Collins and Vanessa Evigan is the daughter of Greg Evigan.
3. Living Canadian free. I found no one born north of the border today in today's research. Not quite as rare as no Star Trek, but unusual.
4. MST3K. Of the cheesy sci-fi movies Peter Graves made in the 1950s, only Red Planet Mars avoided being an experiment on the Satellite of Love. He was also in the non sci-fi SST: Death Flight which got the treatment before the show was on Comedy Central.
Many happy returns to all the living on the list and to the dead, thanks for all the memories.
Predictor: George Sutherland in the 1901 book Twentieth Century Inventions
Prediction: By its agency not only will the transport of goods along well-made roads become less costly and more expeditious, but localities in sparsely settled countries--such as those beyond the Missouri in America and the interior regions of South Africa, Australia and China--will become much more readily accessible. A traction-engine and automobile which can run across broad, almost trackless plains at the rate of fifteen miles an hour will bring within quick reach of civilisation many localities in which at present, for lack of such communication, rough men are apt to grow into semi-savages, while those who retain the instincts of civilisation look upon their exile as a living death. It will do more to enlighten the dark places of the earth than any other mechanical agency of the twentieth century.
Reality: Ooh, fifteen miles per hour! Won't that frighten the horses?
It is interesting to note how Sutherland viewed the world and how much it has changed. While the interiors of South Africa and Australia may still be sparsely populated, China is the populous country on earth and not just a population near the sea or the rivers but nearly everywhere. As for America beyond the Missouri, I do not view my life as exile or living death and I am not yet a semi-savage, though the opinions of some may differ on that.
He was also well known for claiming a lot of things were stolen from him. He pitched a story he called Space Family Robinson to Irwin Allen and when he got no credit for Lost in Space, he consulted with lawyers who told him suing would hurt his career. He got paid as a consultant for the 1998 remake, but sued when he didn't get a cut of the profits. He also claims he pitched the original idea of a starship with a brave captain and an alien first officer to Gene Roddenberry, but no one involved with Star Trek ever rolled over and gave him any credit.
Best wishes to the family and friends of Ib Melchoir. He is never to be forgotten.
Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!
Another less than accurate prediction from The Experts Speak.
Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!
Edward Everett Horton (who, for me, is at "Hey, It's Abe Vigoda!" level), was also in "Lost Horizon," in a role which was not in the novel but which added some much needed levity to the story, which is what he did best.
ReplyDeleteI'll add it to the list. Thanks.
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