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Star Trek Deaths in 2015
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Chuck
Mar 11, 2016, 1:37:32 PM3/11/16
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My sincerest apologies for being so late with this year's STAR TREK
DEATHS post. Work, family and other obligations have prevented me from
devoting much time to it, and the little bit I had worked on got wiped
out (don't ask). But it's here now, so on we go.
As I'm sure many of you know, 2015 was a particularly difficult one for
STAR TREK fans as it saw the deaths of several key players in the
franchise's success and longevity. The biggest blow, of course, was the
loss of our beloved Leonard Nimoy--Mr. Spock himself--last February at
the age of 83. Though he had been suffering COPD for some time, his
death still came as a shock to fans around the globe (including yours
truly). Because Mr. Nimoy was so integral to the STAR TREK universe, I
am inclined to spend a few paragraphs of this intro paying tribute to
him.
Mr. Nimoy was there from the very beginning, appearing in the rejected
first pilot of the original series ("The Cage") and even uttering the
first line of the franchise ("Check the circuit."). He was the only
actor that pilot to be carried over to the second pilot ("Where No Man
Has Gone Before") and the subsequent series, becoming the only cast
member to appear in all 79 episodes of the show. He would go on to
reprise the role in eight of the STAR TREK films--two of which he
directed--and in the two-part "Unification" episode of STAR TREK: THE
NEXT GENERATION. He made his last appearance as Spock in STAR TREK INTO
DARKNESS in 2013--nearly 50 years after first donning those trademark
pointed ears.
It goes without saying that Spock is one of the most iconic characters
in the world--he may even be more well-known than the very series that
spawned him--and nearly all of that is due to the depth and complexity
that Mr. Nimoy brought to the part. He played the ostensibly stoic and
logical "half-breed" with just the right touch of warmth and humor,
never losing sight of the fact that the character was half *human*. He
perfectly portrays a being of two worlds, both managing to coexist as a
cohesive whole--a living embodiment of the very themes and ideas STAR
TREK represents. During Spock's funeral near the end of STAR TREK II:
THE WRATH OF KHAN, James Kirk (William Shatner) says Spock was the most
"human" soul he had ever encountered. Nimoy *was* that soul, and, in
many ways, the very soul of STAR TREK.
Nimoy was not the only prominent cast member from the original series we
lost in 2015. Grace Lee Whitney, who played Yeoman Janice Rand during
the show's first season, died in May at the age of 85. Whitney would
reprise the role of Rand in several of the STAR TREK films, first as a
transporter chief and later as a communications officer. The success of
those films was due in large part to the creative genius of writer and
producer Harve Bennett, who passed away just two days before Nimoy, at
the age of 84. Bennett was behind what has become known as STAR TREK's
"Holy Trinity"--i.e., STAR TREK II and the Nimoy-directed STAR TREK III:
THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK and STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME--and played an
integral part in securing the future of the franchise. STAR TREK II has
been hailed by many fans as the best film in the series, and part of its
everlasting acclaim and popularity is due to its iconic score by
legendary composer James Horner, whose music is also a highlight of STAR
TREK III. Tragically, Horner perished in a single-engine plane crash in
June; he was only 61.
There are, of course, many other STAR TREK veterans who passed away last
year, and you will find them all below (at least, I hope it's all of
them). I also discovered several who died in 2014 that I missed for that
year's post; you can also find them below, after the 2015 entries. Each
list is in alphabetical order by last name. If you notice any mistakes
or omissions, please let me know.
HOWARD A. ANDERSON JR. (95); died September 27
Visual effects artist and cinematographer who created the title sequence
for the original STAR TREK series and was part of the show's primary
visual effects team alongside his brother, Darrell, as co-heads of the
Howard Anderson Company, the visual effects house founded by their
father in 1927. Among the visuals the brothers created for STAR TREK
were the star fields through which the ENTERPRISE traveled, the
photographic technique used to create the transporter or "beaming"
effect, and matte paintings and other effects for the various alien
worlds seen throughout the show. Besides STAR TREK, Anderson helped
create title sequences and other visual elements for many of the other
programs made by Desilu Productions, including I LOVE LUCY, THE LUCY
SHOW, THE UNTOUCHABLES, and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE. In fact, it was
Anderson who designed the "heart on satin" titles for the daytime
rebroadcasts of I LOVE LUCY that have since become opening familiar to
most viewers. Another particularly notable title sequence he helped
design was that of THE BRADY BUNCH, which featured the show's nine cast
members in a tic-tac-toe board -- a sequence that Anderson shot himself.
Other 1960s shows he designed titles for include THE ADDAMS FAMILY, THE
ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, THE
FUGITIVE, GET SMART, THE MOD SQUAD, THE OUTER LIMITS, THAT GIRL, and THE
TWILIGHT ZONE. In the '70s, he was behind the opening titles of such
shows as HAPPY DAYS, BARNABY JONES, CHARLIE'S ANGELS, DALLAS, THE
INVADERS, KUNG FU, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, LOVE AMERICAN STYLE, THE
LOVE BOAT, MY FAVORITE MARTIAN, THE WALTONS, and WONDER WOMAN. Title
sequences he created during the '80s include those for THE A-TEAM,
CHEERS and DYNASTY. He also created main titles and visual effects for
over 100 films throughout his career, including the Billy Wilder
comedies SOME LIKE IT HOT (1958) and THE APARTMENT (1960), George Pal's
THE TIME MACHINE (1960), JACK THE GIANT KILLER (1962), ESCAPE FROM THE
PLANET OF THE APES (1971), Mel Brooks' BLAZING SADDLES (1974), Warren
Beatty and Buck Henry's HEAVEN CAN WAIT (1978), Richard Donner's
SUPERMAN (1978), and John Huston's ANNIE (1982). He also shot the
inserts for the Americanized version of GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN which was
released in 1959 as GIGANTIS THE FIRE MONSTER. The highlight of
Anderson's film work, however, was Arthur Hiller's war drama TOBRUK
(1967), for which he and Albert Whitlock were nominated for an Oscar for
best visual effects.
RICHARD ANTHONY (77); died April 20
Singer and occasional actor who filmed a scene as a horse rider in the
STAR TREK original series episode "Spectre of the Gun," but the scene
was cut from the final aired version. He also had acting roles on DALLAS
and in Todd Haynes' film POISON (1991), but was mostly a singer -- in
fact, he was one of the few French singers to break into the global
market. He had a number of hits, with perhaps his best known being "Et
j'entends siffler le train" ("I Hear the Whistle of the Train"), a
French version of the folk song "500 Miles" that reached #1 on the
French charts in 1962.
CAROLYNE BARRY (71); died June 16
Actress, dancer, acting coach, casting director, and singer who--
credited as Carole Shelyne--appeared as the Metron in the STAR TREK
original series episode "Arena" in 1966 and returned to the franchise 22
years later--now as Carolyne Barry--to play an engineer in the NEXT
GENERATION episode "Home Soul." Earlier in her career, she was a
featured dancer on ABC's 1964-66 musical variety show SHINDIG! as "the
Girl with the Horn-rimmed Glasses" and released a same-named hit record
1965. That same year, she released a song titled "Boys Do Make Passes at
Girls Who Wear Glasses" and made her TV acting debut in an episode of
'Mr. Novak.' She went on to do guest spots on such shows as THE MAN FROM
U.N.C.L.E., JULIA, IRONSIDE, THE BOB NEWHART SHOW, HOTEL, and DYNASTY,
and had a recurring role the ABC comedy Western series HERE COME THE
BRIDES from 1968 to 1970. Her few film credits include the comedy OUT OF
SIGHT (1966) and the mystery-horror thriller DARK AUGUST (1976), the
latter of which she also co-wrote. She also appeared in over 400
national commercials and cast more than 600 national and regional
commercials, commercial campaigns, industrials, and infomercials. In
1983, she founded the Professional Artist Group, which was at the time
largest training and casting facility in the country and which she ran
from 1983 to 1989. She was recognized as one of the top commercial
audition acting coaches in Los Angeles, and since 1982, her Carolyne
Barry Workshops has been one of the most successful full training acting
schools in the city.
HARVE BENNETT (84); died February 25
Writer and producer who co-wrote the story for and executive produced
STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982), wrote and produced STAR TREK
III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984), co-wrote the story and screenplay for
and produced STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME (1986), and co-wrote the
story for and produced STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER (1989); is
credited with rescuing the STAR TREK film series following the
disappointing reception for STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979) and
with securing the future of the franchise as a whole. He was nominated
for Hugo Awards for Best Dramatic Presentation for STAR TREK II, III and
IV, while the latter film also earned him a Saturn Award nomination for
Best Writing. He had actually acquired some fame much earlier -- between
the ages of 10 and 16 -- when he was the most renowned and prolific
panelist on the immensely popular 1940s radio show THE QUIZ KIDS. He
later served as executive producer on the 1981-82 TV revival of THE QUIZ
KIDS hosted by Norman Lear, for which Bennett was nominated for a
CableACE Award. His best-known work in television, however, was as co-
developer and producer of ABC's 1968-1973 crime drama THE MOD SQUAD, for
which he received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Dramatic Series in
1970. THE MOD SQUAD also earned him two Writers Guild of America Award
nominations in 1970, each for a different episode. He was also known as
the executive producer of THE SIX-MILLION DOLLAR MAN, its spin-off THE
BIONIC WOMAN, and the 1976 landmark miniseries RICH MAN, POOR MAN, the
latter of which earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Limited
Series. He ultimately won an Emmy on his third nomination, in the
category Outstanding Drama Special, as executive producer of A WOMAN
CALLED GOLDA. One of the actors in that special was Leonard Nimoy, with
whom Bennett would collaborate on STAR TREK II-V and who would pass away
just two days after Bennett.
NANCY BERNSTEIN (55); died September 18
Veteran visual effects and animation production executive; was Digital
Domain's visual effects executive producer on STAR TREK NEMESIS (2002).
She held the same position on more than 30 other films between 1997 and
2005, including TITANIC (1997), ARMAGEDDON (1998), WHAT DREAMS MAY COME
(1998), LAKE PLACID (1999), FIGHT CLUB (1999), X-MEN (2000), O BROTHER,
WHERE ARE THOU? (2000), HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000), THE LORD
OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (2001), A BEAUTIFUL MIND
(2001), XxX (2002), DAREDEVIL (2003), PETER PAN (2003), THE DAY AFTER
TOMORROW (2004), I, ROBOT (2004), CINDERELLA MAN (2005), and ÆON FLUX
(2005). She had previously spent ten years at R/GA Digital Studios,
where she worked as visual effects producer on such films as LITTLE
MONSTERS (1989), PREDATOR 2 (1990), LAST ACTION HERO (1993), and IN THE
LINE OF FIRE (1993), and was instrumental in transitioning the company
from optical imaging to digital production. She left Digital Domain in
2005 and became head of production at DreamWorks Animation, where she
oversaw work on SHREK THE THIRD (2007), BEE MOVIE (2007), and the 3D
conversions of the first two SHREK films (2001, 2004). Most recently,
she produced the studio's acclaimed fantasy adventure RISE OF THE
GUARDIANS (2012).
THEODORE BIKEL (91); died July 21
Actor, folk singer and musician who played retired Chief Petty Officer
Sergey Rozhenko, the adoptive father of Worf (Michael Dorn), in the
"Family" episode of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION in 1990. Highly
versatile, prolific and respected, Bikel was most renowned for
portraying the role of Tevye in stage productions of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
over 2,200 times--more often than any other actor. He was a veteran of
Broadway, earning Tony nominations for his work as Dr. Jacobson in the
1957-1958 play THE ROPE DANCERS and as the first actor to play Captain
Georg von Trapp in the original Broadway production of THE SOUND OF
MUSIC in 1959. He is also widely known for his film roles, particularly
his Oscar-nominated performance as Sheriff Max Muller in Stanley
Kramer's classic prison-escape drama THE DEFIANT ONES (1958) and his
portrayal of supposed dialect expert Zoltan Karpathy in George Cukor's
Oscar-winning musical MY FAIR LADY (1964). He made his film debut years
earlier in another classic, appearing as the first officer of the German
ship LEONA at the end of John Huston's THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951), which
he immediately followed with the role of King Milo IV of Serbia in
Houston's MOULIN ROUGE (1952). He went on to land roles in films from
many different directors throughout the 1950s, including Philip
Leacock's British drama THE LITTLE KIDNAPPERS (1953), Guy Hamilton's
prisoner-of-war drama THE COLDITZ STORY (1955), Dick Powell's submarine
thriller THE ENEMY BELOW (1957), Robert Wise's prison drama I WANT TO
LIVE! (1958), Robert Aldrich's war thriller THE ANGRY HILLS (1959), and
James B. Clark's family drama A DOG OF FLANDERS (1959). He also appeared
on numerous television shows during the latter half of the decade,
including CLIMAX!, ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS, THE ALCOA HOUR, STUDIO ONE
and PLAYHOUSE 90. He worked more in television than in film during the
1960s, landing spots on THE TWILIGHT ZONE, DR. KILDARE, GUNSMOKE,
RAWHIDE, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, HAWAII FIVE-0 and several other shows. His
few film roles during this period were memorable, however; in addition
to Karpathy in MY FAIR LADY, he was the Russian captain in Norman
Jewison's war comedy THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING
(1966), Sandy Dennis' vegetarian friend in Robert Ellis Miller's
romantic dramedy SWEET NOVEMBER (1968), and the folk singer "Bando" in
the James B. Clark-directed film adaptation of MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN
(1969). In the decades that followed, Bikel was seen in such films as
200 MOTELS (1971), VICTORY AT ENTEBBE (1976), SEE YOU IN THE MORNING
(1989), SHATTERED (1991), SHADOW CONSPIRACY (1997), CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
(2002), and THE LITTLE TRAITOR (2007), while his episodic work included
brief recurring roles on ALL IN THE FAMILY, DYNASTY, and FALCON CREST
and one-off appearances on IRONSIDE, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE,
CHARLIE'S ANGELS, FANTASY ISLAND, KNIGHT RIDER, THE FALL GUY, BEAUTY AND
THE BEAST, L.A. LAW, LAW & ORDER, BABYLON 5, and JAG. As a singer and
musician, he recorded several albums of Jewish folk songs, co-founded
the Newport Folk Festival with Peter Seeger, Oscar Brand, and George
Wain, and in 1962 became the first singer besides Bob Dylan to perform
"Blowing in the Wind" in public. In addition to performing, he devoted
much of his life as an activist for actors, co-founding the Actors
Federal Credit Union and serving as president of the Actors' Equity in
the late 1970s and early 1980s.
GEORGE COE (86); died July 18
Character actor and activist who played Chancellor Durken in the "First
Contact" episode of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. He had many other
notable television credits, including being an original cast member of
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, the role of Network 23 executive Ben Cheviot on the
cult series MAX HEADROOM, the recurring role of Judge Wallace R. Vance
on L.A. LAW, playing Senator Howard Stackhouse on THE WEST WING, and
voicing Sterling Archer's valet, Woodhouse, on FX's animated spy comedy
ARCHER. He is also known for being part of the original Broadway casts
of the successful musicals MAME (1966), COMPANY (1970), and ON THE
TWENTIETH CENTURY (1978). He had roles in many popular films, as well,
including Bryan Forbes' THE STEPFORD WIVES (1975), Robert Benton's
Oscar-winning KRAMER VS. KRAMER (1979), Brian G. Hutton's THE FIRST
DEADLY SIN (1980), Charles Jarrott's THE AMATEUR (1981), Sidney J.
Furie's THE ENTITY (1982), Blake Edwards' comedies MICKI + MAUDE (1984)
and BLIND DATE (1987), Guy Hamilton's REMO WILLIAMS: THE ADVENTURE
BEGINS (1985), Joel Schumacher's COUSINS (1989), Disney's THE MIGHTY
DUCKS (1992), religious thriller THE OMEGA CODE (1999), Thomas Bezucha's
BIG EDEN (2000), and Judd Apatow's FUNNY PEOPLE (2009). He more recently
voiced the Autobot engineer "Que" (better known as Wheeljack) in Michael
Bay's TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON (2011). Before Coe was in any of
these films, however, he was co-producer, co-director and co-star of the
1968 short film DE DÜVA: THE DOVE, a parody of Ingmar Bergman films for
which he and fellow producers Sidney Davis and Anthony Lover received an
Oscar nomination for best live-action short subject.
CATHERINE E. COULSON (71); died September 28
Actress and camera assistant; was the first assistant camera, or focus
puller, on STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982). She was best known
for her work as an actress, particularly for her role as the Log Lady in
David Lynch's cult-classic 1989-1991 TV series TWIN PEAKS and its 1992
film prequel, TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME. She had previously
collaborated with Lynch on some of his earliest projects, acting
alongside him in his short film THE AMPUTEE (1974) and working as
assistant director and camera assistant on his debut feature, ERASERHEAD
(1977). Coulson was also a camera assistant on John Cassavetes' films
THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE (1976) and OPENING NIGHT (1977) and was
second assistant camera, or clapper loader, on such films as THE TOOLBOX
MURDERS (1978), A FORCE OF ONE (1979), and Albert Brooks' second
directorial effort, MODERN ROMANCE (1981). She made her feature acting
debut in the 1982 horror film TRICK OR TREAT but did not appear in
another film until 1991, when she was seen in the mystery drama FEMME
FATALE and the Richard Pryor-Gene Wilder comedy ANOTHER YOU. She also
served as focus puller on Jim Jarmusch's anthology film NIGHT ON EARTH
(1991) and as a camera assistant on the Oscar-nominated documentary
feature MUSIC FOR THE MOVIES: BERNARD HERRMANN (1992), after which she
began to focus entirely on acting. She spent 22 seasons with the Oregon
Shakespeare Festival, performing in more than 50 productions with the
company between 1994 and 2015. She made occasional returns to the screen
Iin recent years, appearing in Gary Lundgren's films CALVIN MARSHALL
(2009) and REDWOOD HIGHWAY (2013) and on the TV shows PSYCH and
PORTLANDIA. At the time of her death, she was set to reprise her role as
the Log Lady in David Lynch's upcoming revival of TWIN PEAKS on
Showtime.
YVONNE CRAIG (78); died August 17
Actress and ballet dancer who memorably portrayed the insane Orion woman
Marta in the STAR TREK original series episode "Whom Gods Destroy." A
trained ballerina who had been the youngest corps de ballet member at
the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Craig moved to Los Angeles in hopes of
continuing her dancing career but found herself landing acting roles.
She was of course best known for playing Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl,
in 26 episodes of the campy 1960s BATMAN television series between 1967
and 1968, and her ballet training came in handy when performing stunts
on the show. She is also remembered for her roles in the Elvis Presley
pictures IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR (1963) and KISSIN' COUSINS
(1964). Earlier on, she had the female lead opposite Patrick Wayne in
Columbia's Western drama THE YOUNG LAND (1959). She had supporting roles
in several other films released between 1957 and 1971, including GIDGET
(1959), THE GENE KRUPA STORY (1959), Blake Edwards' HIGH TIMES (1960),
John Sturges' BY LOVE POSSESSED (1961), SKI PARTY (1965), IN LIKE FLINT
(1967), and HOW TO FRAME A FIGG (1971). She also appears in the 1966
releases ONE SPY TOO MANY and ONE OF OUR SPIES IS MISSING, two feature-
length films edited from episodes of THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., though she
was only in new footage shot specifically for the film versions and was
not part of the original episodes. She did, however, appear in a 1965
episode of U.N.C.L.E. that was not later incorporated into a film, and
she also appeared on such shows as PERRY MASON, 77 SUNSET STRIP, THE
MANY LOVES OF DOBIE GILLIS, MY THREE SONS, MY FAVORITE MARTIAN, VOYAGE
TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, THE WILD WILD WEST, WAGON TRAIN, THE BIG
VALLEY, DEATH VALLEY DAYS, DR. KILDARE, BEN CASEY, MOD SQUAD, STARSKY
AND HUTCH, KOJAK, MANNIX, THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN, LOVE, AMERICAN
STYLE, and FANTASY ISLAND. After leaving show business, she found a new
career as a a real estate broker, only returning to the entertainment
industry to voice the role of Grandma on the British-American animated
children's series OLIVIA from 2009 to 2011.
ELLEN ALBERTINI DOW (101); died May 4
Character actress who appeared as Felisa Howard, the deceased
grandmother of Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), in the STAR TREK:
THE NEXT GENERATION episode "Sub Rosa"; she was the second STAR TREK
actor to reach the age of 100 after Viola Stimpson (STAR TREK IV: THE
VOYAGE HOME) and became the longest-lived STAR TREK performer,
surpassing Stimpson's lifespan by 88 days. Dow began her screen career
late in life, making her film debut in a comedy called AMERICAN DRIVE-IN
(1985) when she was in her early 70s. She often played feisty old
grannies, with perhaps her best known being the rapping Rosie in THE
WEDDING SINGER (1998), who memorably spat a flawless rendition of The
Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight". She was also famous for her scene-
stealing as the homophobic Grandma Mary Cleary in the hit romantic
comedy WEDDING CRASHERS (2005). Her other film credits include playing a
choir nun in SISTER ACT (1992) and SISTER ACT 2: BACK IN THE HABIT
(1993) and appearances in TOUGH GUYS (1986), WALK LIKE A MAN (1987), MY
BLUE HEAVEN (1990), MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN (1992), RADIOLAND
MURDERS (1994), 54 (1998), PATCH ADAMS (1998), and ROAD TRIP (2000). She
also popped up on TV shows such as NEWHART, MURPHY BROWN, THE GOLDEN
GIRLS, THE WONDER YEARS, SEINFELD, ER, WILL & GRACE, SCRUBS, SIX FEET
UNDER, SHAMELESS, and NEW GIRL, and was one of the main cast members on
the short-lived WB Network sitcom MAYBE IT'S ME (2001-2002).
TERRENCE EVANS (81); died August 7
Actor who appeared as two different Bajoran characters on STAR TREK:
DEEP SPACE NINE, the first being Baltrim in the first-season episode
"Progress" and then Proka Migdal in Season 2's "Cardassians," after
which he played Kradin Ambassador Treen in the fourth-season STAR TREK:
VOYAGER episode "Nemesis." Other TV shows on which he appeared include
THE INCREDIBLE HULK, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, QUINCY M.E., HILL
STREET BLUES, QUANTUM LEAP, ER, COLD CASE, LAS VEGAS, and EAGLEHEART. In
film, he was the tanker truck driver who is killed by the T-1000 in
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY and played Old Monty, the uncle of
Leatherface, in the 2003 remake of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and its
2006 prequel, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING. He can also be
seen in such films as PALE RIDER (1985), WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT
(1993), THE RUNNER (1999), DOWN IN THE VALLEY (2005), and MR. FIX IT
(2006).
EDDIE HICE (85); died March 12
Veteran stuntman and actor who appeared as a security guard in the
original STAR TREK series episodes "Day of the Dove" and "Wink of an
Eye" and also did stunt work in STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME (1986), in
which he played a hospital patient. His more notable television work
included serving as the stunt double for Don Adams on GET SMART, Frank
Gorshin on BATMAN, Charles Dierkop on POLICE WOMAN, and Bruce Lee on THE
GREEN HORNET. He also performed stunts in many classic films of the
1960s and '70s, including BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967), PLANET OF THE APES
(1968), and THE TOWERING INFERNO (1974), and was Robert Duvall's stunt
double Robert Altman's films COUNTDOWN (1968) and MASH (1970). He was
stunt coordinator on a few films and TV projects in the 1980s, most
notably the musical comedy THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS (1982)
and the cult classic sci-fi crime comedy REPO MAN (1984). He did stunt
work in many other acclaimed and/or popular films of the 1980s,
including John Carpenter's ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981) and THEY LIVE
(1988), Lawrence Kasdan's SILVERADO (1985), John Badham's SHORT CIRCUIT
(1986), Martin Brest's MIDNIGHT RUN (1988), Joe Dante's THE 'BURBS
(1989), and Edward Zwick's GLORY (1989). He continued performing stunts
throughout the 1990s and into the late 2000s, with ROBOCOP 2 (1990),
FREAKED (1993), THE CABLE GUY (1996), DANTE'S PEAK (1997), BIG MOMMA'S
HOUSE (2000) and GEORGE RULE (2007) among his many credits during that
time.
JAMES HORNER (61); died June 22
Iconic and highly prolific composer, conductor and orchestrator who
wrote well over 100 films scores, including his breakthrough work in
STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982) and STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR
SPOCK (1983). He is perhaps most famous for his score for James
Cameron's TITANIC (1997), which remains the best selling orchestral film
soundtrack of all time. TITANIC won Horner two Oscars--one for his score
and the other for co-writing the hit song "My Heart Will Go On"--among
many other accolades. He was Cameron's composer on two other films--the
sci-fi blockbusters ALIENS (1986) and AVATAR (2009)--both of which
earned him Oscar nominations for Best Original Score, as did his scores
for Phil Alden Robinson's FIELD OF DREAMS (1989), Mel Gibson's
BRAVEHEART (1995), Ron Howard's APOLLO 13 (1995) and A BEAUTIFUL MIND
(2001), and Vadim Perelman's HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG (2003). He also
received an Oscar nomination for his work on the classic song "Somewhere
Out There" from the animated Don Bluth film AN AMERICAN TAIL (1986). He
was the recipient of six Grammy Awards, as well, including two each for
"Somewhere Out There" and "My Heart Will Go On" and won for his score
for Edward Zwick's GLORY (1989). He also received Grammy nominations for
his FIELD OF DREAMS, A BEAUTIFUL MIND and AVATAR scores and for the
songs "Whatever You Imagine" from THE PAGEMASTER (1994) and "I See You"
from AVATAR. In addition to APOLLO 13 and A BEAUTIFUL MIND, Horner
collaborated with director Ron Howard on many other films, including
COCOON (1985), WILLOW (1988), RANSOM (1996), HOW THE GRINCH STOLE
CHRISTMAS (2000), and THE MISSING (2003). Among the many other films he
scored are Oliver Stone's THE HAND (1981), Wes Craven's DEADLY BLESSING
(1981), Walter Hill's 48 HRS. (1982), RED HEAT (1988) and ANOTHER 48
HRS. (1990), Peter Yates' KRULL and THE DRESSER (both 1983), Mark L.
Lester's COMMANDO (1985), Jean-Jacques Annaud's THE NAME OF THE ROSE
(1986), ENEMY AT THE GATES (2001), DAY OF THE FALCON (2011) and WOLF
TOTEM (2015), Don Bluth's THE LAND BEFORE TIME (1988), Joe Johnston's
HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS (1989), THE ROCKETEER (1991) and JUMANJI
(1995), Phillip Noyce's PATRIOT GAMES (1992) and CLEAR AND PRESENT
DANGER (1994), Phil Alden Robinson's SNEAKERS (1992) and FREEDOM SONG
(2000), Steven Zaillian's SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER (1993), Mel
Gibson's THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE (1993) and APOCALYPTO (2006), Ed Zwick's
LEGENDS OF THE FALL (1994) and COURAGE UNDER FIRE (1996), Martin
Campbell's THE MASK OF ZORRO (1998), BEYOND BORDERS (2003) and THE
LEGEND OF ZORRO (2005), Chris Columbus' BICENTENNIAL MAN (1999),
Wolfgang Petersen's THE PERFECT STORM (2000) and TROY (2004), Terrence
Malick's THE NEW WORLD (2005), Mark Herman's THE BOY IN THE STRIPED
PAJAMAS (2008), Marc Webb's THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2012), and Antoine
Fuqua's SOUTHPAW (2015) and THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (2016). Often ranked
alongside the likes of John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith as one of the
great modern film composers, Horner was--and will forever remain--a
titan and a legend in the world of film music.
MAURICE HURLEY (75); died February 24
TV writer and producer; was a producer on STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
for much of its first season and co-executive producer from the end of
the first season to the end of the second but is better known for his
work as a writer on the show, particularly for the episode "Q Who,"
which introduced the race of cybernetic beings known as the Borg. He
conceived the stories and/or worked on the scripts for several other
NEXT GENERATION episodes, including "Datalore," which introduced the
character of Lore, and the first-season finale "The Neutral Zone," which
marked the 24th-century debut of the Romulans. Though he left the show
at the end of the second season, he returned to write the script for the
fourth-season episode "Galaxy's Child" and also helped conceived the
story for the fifth-season episode "Power Play." Outside of STAR TREK,
he wrote multiple of such shows as MIAMI VICE, THE EQUALIZER (on which
he was also a co-producer and later supervising producer), KUNG FU: THE
LEGEND CONTINUES, LA FEMME NIKITA, BAYWATCH, and 24. He was also a co-
executive producer on BAYWATCH and executive producer of its shorter-
lived spin-off series, BAYWATCH NIGHTS. He also wrote a handful of
films, including FIREBIRD 2015 AD (1981), the KOJAK telepic ARIANA
(1989), Richard Gale's thriller THE PROPOSAL (2001), and the William
Shatner-directed GROOM LAKE (2002).
BRUCE HYDE (74); died October 13
Actor and educator best known for playing Lt. Kevin Riley in the STAR
TREK original series episodes "The Naked Time" (in which he famously
sang the Irish ballad "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen") and "The
Conscience of the King." He appeared in only a few other shows,
including THE TRIALS OF O'BRIEN, DR. KILDARE, THAT GIRL, and THE BEVERLY
HILLBILLIES, and all in the span of just over a year (Nov. 1965-Dec.
1966). He continued performing on stage, however, including Broadway
stints in the comedy THE GIRL IN THE FREUDIAN SLIP and the musical
CANTERBURY TALES. He abandoned acting for a decade after performing in a
San Francisco production of the musical HAIR, opting instead to remain
in the Bay Area, where he worked mostly as a house painter before
finding his calling as a teacher. After earning a master's degree and a
PhD, he joined the faculty of St. Cloud State University in Minnesota,
dividing his time between the Department of Theatre, Film Studies &
Dance and the Department of Communication Studies. He returned to acting
on stage while at St. Cloud, earning critical notices for performances
in roles such as Willy Loman in a 2003 staging of DEATH OF A SALESMAN by
St. Paul's Starting Gate Productions. By the time he left St. Cloud
earlier in 2015, Hyde had chaired the theatre department for more than
two decades and had recently been named professor emeritus of
communication studies.
BARRIE INGHAM (82); died January 23
Actor who played Bringloidi leader Danilo Odell in the STAR TREK: THE
NEXT GENERATION episode "Up the Long Ladder." He was also one of the
actors considered for the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in NEXT
GENERATION before the role went to Patrick Stewart. He was a veteran of
the West End and Broadway stages and appeared in over 200 film and
television productions, but is best known for voicing the title role in
Disney's animated feature THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE (1986). He made his
professional stage debut in 1956; his Broadway debut followed in 1959,
and his TV debut came in 1960. In 1965, he was seen as in the movie DR.
WHO AND THE DALEKS as well as the DOCTOR WHO serial THE MYTH MAKERS, the
latter of which is unfortunately missing in its entirety. He featured
prominently in the acclaimed 1968 miniseries THE CAESARS and in the
final four episodes of the hit drama THE POWER GAME in 1969. He also
played the title role in the 1967 film A CHALLENGE FOR ROBIN HOOD,
featured in Fred Zinnemann's classic thriller THE DAY OF THE JACKAL
(1973), played Irwin 1138 in the JOSH KIRBY... TIME WARRIOR! Movie
series, and appeared on such TV shows as THE AVENGERS, THE SWEENEY, THE
JEFFERSONS, ONE DAY AT A TIME, THE A-TEAM, MURDER, SHE WROTE, and A
TOUCH OF FROST. His notable stage credits included performing opposite
Angela Lansbury and then Dolores Gray in the 1973 London production of
GYPSY, playing King Pellinore in the 1981-82 revival of CAMELOT, being
part of the final cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's ASPECTS OF LOVE on
Broadway (1991-92), and co-starring in the Broadway musical JEKYLL &
HYDE (1997-2001).
JOSEPH R. JENNINGS (93); died April 1
Art director and production designer; was an assistant art director
under Matt Jefferies during the second season of the original STAR TREK
series before going on to become one of the Oscar-nominated art
directors of STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979) and then to serve as
the production designer of STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982). As
Jefferies' assistant on the original series, Jennings did not receive
on-screen credit, but his work impressed Jefferies enough that he later
recommended Jennings be brought on as art director of the proposed spin-
off series STAR TREK: PHASE II, a project which ultimately became STAR
TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE. One of Jennings' duties on the project was co-
designing (with production illustrator Mike Minor) the refit U.S.S.
ENTERPRISE as seen not only in THE MOTION PICTURE but also in the next
five STAR TREK films. Despite enduring behind-the-scenes drama on THE
MOTION PICTURE that prompted his early departure from the project,
Jennings returned to the STAR TREK franchise as production designer of
what ultimately became STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN. While working on
that film, he was partially responsible for the design of the U.S.S.
RELIANT studio model, which went on to appear in many other STAR TREK
productions, representing different starships of the same class. (CGI
versions of the design replaced the studio model in 1996.) Outside of
STAR TREK, Jennings worked on dozens of other projects, mostly for
television. He started out as an assistant art director on the series
THE WILD WILD WEST, after which he served as art director on the last
seven seasons of the long-running Western hit GUNSMOKE. He went on to
earn Emmy nominations for designing the landmark, epic miniseries ROOTS
(1977) and SHOGUN (1980), and he was later the production designer of
the miniseries SPACE (1985) and NORTH AND SOUTH, BOOK II (1986). He also
worked on TV shows such as PETROCELLI, BARBARY COAST, and PROJECT
U.F.O., while his many TV-movie credits include A DEATH OF INNOCENCE
(1971), THE GIRL MOST LIKELY TO... (1973), YESTERDAY'S CHILD (1977),
EVITA PERON (1981), GEORGE WASHINGTON II: THE FORGING OF A NATION
(1986), and GUNSMOKE: THE LAST APACHE (1990). He worked on only a
handful of theatrically-released films aside from the first two STAR
TREK movies, starting with the 1972 sports drama KANSAS CITY BOMBER, on
which he was the film's art director. He was also art director of the
1975 film GONE WITH THE WEST and later served as production designer on
a pair of '80s comedies: Mel Damski's YELLOWBEARD (1983) and Amy
Heckerling's JOHNNY DANGEROUSLY (1984). He retired in 1992 after
designing the Emmy-winning four-hour miniseries THE JACKSONS: AN
AMERICAN DREAM. His death on April 1 was announced by his son in the
September-October 2015 issue of the Art Directors Guild journal
PERSPECTIVE, which has sadly gone largely unnoticed.
GEORGE CLAYTON JOHNSON (86); died December 25
Legendary sci-fi writer who wrote the very first aired episode of the
original STAR TREK series, "The Man Trap." He was best known, for co-
authoring the classic novel LOGAN'S RUN, which served as the basis for
the 1976 film of the same name, and for writing several classic episodes
of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, including "A Penny for Your Thoughts," A Game of
Pool," "Nothing in the Dark" and "Kick the Can." He also wrote the
initial story on which the OCEAN'S ELEVEN films (1960; 2001-2007) were
based, co-scripted the Oscar-nominated animated short ICARUS MONGOLFIER
WRIGHT (1962) with Rod Serling, and worked on stories and/or scripts for
such TV shows as ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS, ROUTE 66, MR. NOVAK, HONEY
WEST and KUNG FU.
RANDY JONSSON (58); died July 7
Visual effects artist and cameraman who worked on STAR TREK III: THE
SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984) and STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME (1986) as a
VFX camera assistant for Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). He spent over
two decades working at ILM, where he also served as VFX camera assistant
on such films as RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983), INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE
OF DOOM (1984), BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985), LABYRINTH (1986), INNERSPACE
(1987), WILLOW (1988), and THE ABYSS (1989) before becoming a matchmove
artist. In this latter capacity, he helped create the effects for CGI
blockbusters such as THE LAST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK (1997), THE MUMMY
(1999), THE PERFECT STORM (2000), PEARL HARBOR (2001), PIRATES OF THE
CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (2003), HARRY POTTER AND THE
PRISONER OF AZKABAN (2004), and STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE
SITH (2005). He moved on to Kerner Optical in the late 2000s, where he
worked as a VFX camera assistant on PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S
END (2007) and WALL·E (2008).
PENNY L. JUDAY (60); died December 19
Art department coordinator for STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE and five
consecutive STAR TREK films: STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY
(1991), STAR TREK GENERATIONS (1994), STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT (1996),
STAR TREK: INSURRECTION (1998) and STAR TREK NEMESIS (2002). She was
also set buyer on DEEP SPACE NINE and production assistant on
GENERATIONS and made cameo appearances as a civilian in Ten Forward in
GENERATIONS and as a Ba'ku in INSURRECTION. As art department
coordinator, she was responsible for managing the props, set pieces,
models, blueprints, photographs, and many other parts of STAR TREK
history. She cataloged everything on the Paramount lot relating to STAR
TREK, and was the first person production designers or set dressers went
to when certain information or objects were needed. She also managed the
History of the Future museum at STAR TREK: THE EXPERIENCE in Las Vegas,
Nevada, in addition to coordinating the attraction's KLINGON ENCOUNTER
adventure. She was also project coordinator of STAR TREK: THE MAGAZINE
and the STAR TREK WORLD TOUR exhibit and was a researcher for the STAR
TREK FACT FILES. Outside of STAR TREK, she was a recurring background
performer on ROSEANNE and was art department coordinator for such films
as ON DEADLY GROUND (1994), ALIEN: RESURRECTION (1997), LARGER THAN LIFE
(1998) and YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN (2009) and on TV shows
including NCIS and E-RING. She died just two months before her husband,
veteran STAR TREK scenic artist Anthony Fredrickson (he'll be in STAR
TREK DEATHS IN 201).
DIANA R. LUPO; died December 5
Stuntwoman and actress who performed utility stunts in STAR TREK:
INSURRECTION (1998). She did stunt work in dozens of other films,
including THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK (1997), BLADE (1998), A.I.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (2001), TRAINING DAY (2001), PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE
(2002), LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION (2003), COLLATERAL (2004), SPIDER-
MAN 2 (2004), POSEIDON (2006), FAST & FURIOUS (2009), G.I. JOE: THE RISE
OF COBRA (2009), IRON MAN 2 (2010), INCEPTION (2010), TRANSFORMERS: DARK
OF THE MOON (2011), JOHN CARTER (2012), THE LAST STAND (2013), and THE
LONE RANGER (2013). She was among those nominated by for the Screen
Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Stunt Ensemble for TRANSFORMERS: DARK
OF THE MOON. She was also Jennifer Connelly's stunt double in THE HOUSE
OF SAND AND FOG (2003), Paula Patton's stunt double in DÉJÀ VU (2006),
Anne Hathaway's stunt double in GET SMART (2008), and Kate Beckinsale's
stunt double in PEARL HARBOR (2001), THE AVIATOR (2004) and VACANCY
(2007). On television, she doubled for Lena Headey on TERMINATOR: THE
SARAH CONOR CHRONICLES, Sarah Wayne Callies on PRISON BREAK, Gina
Bellman on LEVERAGE, Maggie Siff on SONS OF ANARCHY, and various
actresses on CSI: NY. Other TV shows on which she performed include 24,
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, BABYLON 5, BANSHEE, BAYWATCH, BONES, CHARMED, COLD
CASE, CRIMINAL MINDS, CSI, CSI: MIAMI, ER, HEROES, NASH BRIDGES, NCIS:
LOS ANGELES, THE O.C., THE PRETENDER, THAT '70S SHOW, TRUE BLOOD and THE
X-FILES. Please note that I have not been able to independently confirm
Lupo's death, but the source is very reliable.
DON MANKIEWICZ (93); died April 25
Screenwriter and novelist who wrote the story and co-wrote the teleplay
for the classic STAR TREK original series episode "Court Martial." He is
perhaps more widely known for co-scripting Robert Wise's acclaimed 1958
film I WANT TO LIVE!, for which he and co-writer Nelson Gidding received
an Oscar nomination for best adapted screenplay. He went on to earn Emmy
nominations for writing the pilot episodes of IRONSIDE and MARCUS WELBY,
M.D. He wrote for many other TV shows, including STUDIO ONE, ONE STEP
BEYOND, MANNIX, McMILLIAN & WIFE, SIMON & SIMON, and MACGYVER. His most
famous novel is the Harper Prize-winning TRIAL, which he also adapted
into a 1955 film of the same name.
ALAN MARCUS; died January 9
Stuntman and actor who played Yeoman Samno, one of the hitmen who kill
Chancellor Gorkon in STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY (1991), in
which he was also a stunt performer. Other films which feature his stunt
work include LONE WOLF McQUADE (1983), VOLUNTEERS (1985), THE HIDDEN
(1987), FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VII: THE NEW BLOOD (1988), RAMBO III
(1988), DEEPSTAR SIX (1989), THE RAPTURE (1991), MOM AND DAD SAVE THE
WORLD (1992), JASON GOES TO HELL: THE FINAL FRIDAY (1993), and FOUR
ROOMS (1995).
JERI McBRIDE; died March 15
Actress who played an ENTERPRISE technician in STAR TREK: THE MOTION
PICTURE (1979). She was previously featured as Tony Gazzo's (Joe
Spinell) girlfriend in the Oscar-winning drama ROCKY (1976) and also had
part on the soap operas GENERAL HOSPITAL and THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.
Her later career included appearances on the TV shows CHINA BEACH and
COLUMBO a role in the little-known film THE NOVEMBER MAN (1993). She was
married to STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE guest star James Wellington from
1991 until her death.
RUSTY McCLENNON (53); died April 30
Stuntman and actor who was the regular stunt double for Michael Dorn
(Worf) on STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION starting with the third season
and later doubled for Dorn in STAR TREK GENERATIONS (1994). He also
doubled actor-comedian Sinbad in several films, including NECESSARY
ROUGHNESS (1991), HOUSEGUEST (1995), FIRST KID (1996), JINGLE ALL THE
WAY (1996), and GOOD BURGER (1997). He was co-stunt coordinator on FIRST
KID, as well, and was stunt coordinator for WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE
(1993), OUT-OF-SYNC (1995), LOVE AND ACTION IN CHICAGO (1997), and THE
WASH (1997). His stunt work can also be seen in such films as I'M GONNA
GIT YOU SUCKA (1988), GLORY (1989), PREDATOR 2 (1990), DEEP COVER
(1992), FRIDAY (1995), THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU'RE DEAD (1995),
VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN (1995), LIFE (1999), GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS (2000),
and TRAINING DAY (2001).
JOHN MIRANDA (88); died February 3
Actor who appeared as one of the two garbagemen who witness the arrival
of Kirk and crew in STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME (1986). While most of
his other film roles were just as small, he did have the lead role in
his first movie, playing Sweeney Todd in Andy Milligan's low-budget
horror film BLOODTHIRTY BUTCHERS (1970). He later appeared in such films
as FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN (1980), MISCHIEF (1985), NEVER TOO YOUNG TO DIE
(1986), Joe Dante's INNERSPACE (1987), THE INVISBILE KID (1988), and
RESCUE ME (1992), and he also appeared on such TV shows as DARK SHADOWS,
THE PAPER CHASE, THREE'S COMPANY, HAPPY DAYS, MORK & MINDY, LAVERNE &
SHIRLEY, ST. ELSEWHERE, and MURDER, SHE WROTE.
KAREN MONTGOMERY (66); died December 4
Actress and film producer who played Beata in the "Angel One" episode of
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. She also appeared on such TV shows as
KOJAK, NERO WOLFE and L.A. LAW as well as films including Martin Brest's
GOING IN STYLE (1979), Paul Mazursky's WILLIE & PHIL (1980) and AMAZON
WOMEN ON THE MOON (1987). She worked behind-the-scenes on several films,
as well, including as an assistant to director Hal Ashby, screenwriter
Waldo Salt and producer Bruce Gilbert on their Oscar-winning drama
COMING HOME (1978) and as the supervising executive for Gilbert's
American Filmworks on Sidney Lumet's THE MORNING AFTER (1986). She later
served as associate producer on the film DIARY OF A HITMAN (1991), which
was directed by her former acting coach and close friend, Roy London.
Following London's death in 1993, Montgomery teamed with her husband,
director Christopher Monger, to produce the documentary SPECIAL THANKS
TO ROY LONDON (2005). She also worked as a producer on the films 'TIL
THERE WAS YOU (1997), ROW YOUR BOAT (1999), and A SENSE OF WONDER
(2008).
WILLIAM NEWMAN (80); died May 27
Character actor who played Kalin Trose in the STAR TREK: THE NEXT
GENERATION episode "The Host" in 1991. He is perhaps best remembered for
his appearance as the bland children's show host known as "Mr.
Sprinkles" in the hit Robin Williams comedy MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1993) and
for his recurring role as The Cape in the cult live-action version of
TV's THE TICK. He made his screen debut in the cult horror movie SQUIRM
(1976) and went on to appear in many other horror films, including the
Stephen King-written SILVER BULLET (1985), Wes Craven's THE SERPENT AND
THE RAINBOW and George A. Romero's MONKEY SHINES (both 1988), the
original LEPRECHAUN (1993), and Andrew Fleming's THE CRAFT (1993). He
can also be seen in such films as BRUBAKER (1980), Peter Weir's THE
MOSQUITO COAST (1986) and FEARLESS (1993), FUNNY FARM (1988), HERO
(1992), JURY DUTY (1995), TOM AND HUCK (1995), and FOR LOVE OF THE GAME
(1999), while other TV shows he appeared on include MATLOCK, KNOTS
LANDING, DR. QUINN MEDICINE WOMAN, PARTY OF FIVE, MAD ABOUT YOU, THE
DREW CAREY SHOW, and ANGEL.
LEONARD NIMOY (83); died February 27
Actor, director, photographer, poet, singer, songwriter, author, legend,
and mensch most identified with his iconic role of the half-Vulcan,
half-human Mr. Spock -- a character he portrayed on television, in film
and in other media over a period of nearly 50 years. He played Spock in
all 79 episodes of the original STAR TREK series (1966-1969), all 22
episodes of STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES, the first six STAR TREK
films (1979-1991), the two-part "Unification" episode of STAR TREK: THE
NEXT GENERATION, and in the recent J.J. Abrams-directed STAR TREK (2009)
and STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (2013), as well as a number of video games
and audio recordings. He also directed two entries in the film series,
namely STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984) and STAR TREK IV: THE
VOYAGE HOME (1986), and contributed to the stories of both of those
films as well as STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979) and STAR TREK VI:
THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY (1991). He received three consecutive Emmy
nominations between 1967 and 1969 for his portrayal of Spock in the
original series and earned Saturn Award nominations for his performances
in THE MOTION PICTURE and THE VOYAGE HOME and for his directing of THE
SEARCH FOR SPOCK and THE VOYAGE HOME. He also shared Hugo Award
nominations for Best Dramatic Presentation as a co-writer of THE SEARCH
FOR SPOCK, THE VOYAGE HOME and THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY. He is known for
much more than Spock and STAR TREK, however; many will also remember him
as master-of-disguise Paris on TV's MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE from 1969 to
1971, as host of the TV series IN SEARCH OF... from 1977 to 1982, and
as Dr. David Kibner in Philip Kaufman's acclaimed 1978 remake of
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. He also popped up in older films such as
THEM! (1954), THE BRAIN EATERS (1958), and THE BALCONY (1961) and on
classic TV shows including BONANZA, GUNSMOKE, WAGON TRAIN, DRAGNET,
COLUMBO, THE UNTOUCHABLES, GET SMART, and THE TWILIGHT ZONE. Thanks to
the internet (particularly YouTube), many will no doubt remember him for
singing "The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins" and for lip-synching to the song
for a now-famous 1967 guest appearance on the TV show MALIBU U. The
Television Academy recognized Nimoy with Emmy nominations not only for
STAR TREK but for his performance in the made-for-TV movie A WOMAN
CALLED GOLDA (1982). Those who grew up with Shelley Duvall's FAERIE TALE
THEATRE in the '80s will remember him as the Evil Moroccan Magician in
the 1986 episode "Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp." Younger viewers are
also more likely to recognize him for his voice work in such films as
THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE (1986), THE PAGEMASTER (1994), Disney's
ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE (2001), and Michael Bay's TRANSFORMERS: DARK
OF THE MOON (2009) and for his animated appearances on THE SIMPSONS. In
addition to STAR TREK III and IV, he also directed the hit comedy 3 MEN
AND A BABY (1987) and helmed few other films, including THE GOOD MOTHER
(1988), FUNNY ABOUT LOVE (1990) and HOLY MATRIMONY (1994). He more
recently played the recurring role of Dr. William Bell on the popular
FOX sci-fi drama series FRINGE from 2009 to 2012. But it was his work as
Spock for which he will always be most recognized and loved, and it was
in this role that he made his final screen appearance with a surprise
cameo in STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, bringing an end to a legendary career
spanning more than six decades.
JAN ODA (31); died February 25
Actress and model who appeared as a member of an alien race known as the
Ayt in the bar scene with Scotty and Keenser in STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS
(2013). A theater graduate of Fordham University in New York City, she
won an Obie Award for her performance in Matthew Maguire's ABANDON at
the city's La Mama Theatre. She also popped up in such features as
SPIDER-MAN 3 (2007), MAC & DEVIN GO TO HIGH SCHOOL (2012), and FIRE
CITY: END OF DAYS (2015), as well as a number of short films (including
2010's THE HIROSAKI PLAYERS and 2012's TRUE SKIN) and on TV shows
including PARKS AND RECREATION, IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA and
REAL HUSBANDS OF HOLLYWOOD.
GREGG PALMER (88); died October 31
Character actor who appeared, uncredited, as the rancher who is killed
by Morgan Earp (Rex Holman) in the STAR TREK original series episode
"Spectre of the Gun." It was fitting that his lone appearance on STAR
TREK was in a Western-themed episode as he was particularly known for
his prolific work in that genre. In addition to being in multiple
episodes of such Western TV shows as GUNSMOKE, BONANZA, WAGON TRAIN,
DEATH VALLEY DAYS, THE VIRGINIAN, HAVE GUN - WILL TRAVEL, THE LIFE AND
LEGEND OF WYATT EARP, and THE WILD WILD WEST, he also had roles in
several Western features, including six starring John Wayne: THE
COMANCHEROS (1961), Andrew V. McLaglen's THE UNDEFEATED (1969) and
CHISUM (1970), Howard Hawks' RIO LOBO (1970), George Sherman's BIG JAKE
(1971), and Wayne's final film, THE SHOOTIST (1976). He had previously
popped up in Budd Boetticher's THE CIMARRON KID (1952) and had a major
role in Douglas Sirk's Western TAZA, SON OF COCHISE (1954), and can also
be seen in McLaglen's James Stewart-fronted Westerns SHENANDOAH (1965)
and THE RARE BREED (1966). Some of his notable non-Western credits
include pivotal supporting roles in Sirk's MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION (1954),
the Audie Murphy biographical war drama TO HELL AND BACK (1955), and the
cult sci-fi horror movies THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US (1956) and FROM
HELL IT CAME (1957). He also had the starring roles in the horror film
ZOMBIES OF MORA TAU (1957) and the infamously bad crime drama THE REBEL
SET (1959). Other films in which he can be seen include ABBOTT AND
COSTELLO GO TO MARS (1953), the Martin & Lewis comedies MY FRIEND IRMA
GOES WEST (1950) and THAT'S MY BOY (1951), Disney's THE SHAGGY DOG
(1959) and THE ABSENT-MINDED PROFESSOR (1961), Norman Jewison's comedy
40 POUNDS OF TROUBLE (1962), Mark Robson's spy thriller THE PRIZE
(1963), Lamont Johnson's war drama THE MCKENZIE BREAK (1970), and Robert
Day's comedy THE MAN WITH BOGART'S FACE (1980). He has also appeared on
TV programs such as THE DANNY THOMAS SHOW, GET SMART, MISSION:
IMPOSSIBLE, 77 SUNSET STRIP, GOMER PYLE, USMC, CHiPs, QUINCY M.E., and
KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER.
OLAF POOLEY (101); died July 14
Actor and screenwriter who played the Cleric in the STAR TREK: VOYAGER
episode "Blink of an Eye," which was directed by his then-wife,
Gabrielle Beaumont. Pooley is perhaps best known for playing Professor
Stahlman in the seven-part DOCTOR WHO serial INFERNO in 1970 and for
becoming the oldest surviving actor to have appeared on that show. Some
of the other TV programs in which he appeared include MACGYVER, L.A.
LAW, HILL STREET BLUES, SCARECROW AND MRS. KING, THE SANDBAGGERS, THE
EXPERT, DIXON OF DOCK GREEN, H.G. WELLS' THE INVISIBLE MAN, DOOMWATCH,
and DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN, and even starred in the title role of the
short-lived U.K. series THE MASTER in 1966. He also had small roles in a
variety of films, including HIGHLY DANGEROUS (1950), GLORY AT SEA
(1952), ANASTASIA (1956), THE IRON PETTICOAT (1956), SINK THE BISMARCK!
(1960), THE PASSWORD IS COURAGE (1962), and THE ASSASSINATION BUREAU
(1969). In addition, he writer and director of a well-received but
little-known family comedy called THE JOHNSTOWN MONSTER (1971) and both
wrote and had a supporting role in the British horror film THE CORPSE
(1971). He later penned the screenplay of another British horror film,
THE GODSEND (1980), which was directed by Beaumont, and was uncredited
writer on Tobe Hooper's sci-fi horror film LIFEFORCE (1985). With Ellen
Albertini Dow's death on May 4 (see above), Pooley became the oldest-
living person to have been associated with STAR TREK; unfortunately, he
only held that distinction for a little over two months before passing
away himself. With his death, actor Norman Lloyd became the oldest-
living STAR TREK veteran.
ALAN D. PURWIN (54); died September 11
Helicopter pilot, stunt pilot, aerial coordinator, entrepreneur, and
philanthropist who assisted in the filming of well over 100 movies,
including J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK (2009), which utilized his skills as a
helicopter pilot for aerial cinematography. He started working in the
industry in the 1980s, doing aerial helicopter stunts for TV shows such
as THE A-TEAM and AIRWOLF, and earned his first film credit in the
action hit DIE HARD (1988). He went on to take part in the making of
such films as JURASSIC PARK (1993), SPEED (1994), TRUE LIES (1994), THE
ROCK (1996), AIR FORCE ONE (1997), RUSH HOUR (1998), ENEMY OF THE STATE
(1998), CHARLIE'S ANGELS (2000), PEARL HARBOR (2001), THE FAST AND THE
FURIOUS (2001), BAD BOYS II (2003), THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW (2004),
ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY (2004) and THE LEGEND CONTINUES
(2013), NATIONAL TREASURE (2004) and NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS
(2007), MR. & MRS. SMITH (2005), all four TRANSFORMERS movies (2007-
2014), PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END (2007) and ON STRANGER
TIDES (2011), TROPIC THUNDER (2008), FAST & FURIOUS (2009), THE HUNGER
GAMES: MOCKINGBIRD - PART 1 (2014) and PART 2 (2015), DIVERGENT (2014)
and INSURGENT (2015), FURIOUS 7 (2015), and STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
(2015). He also made cameo appearances in many of the films he worked
on, including THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK (1997), THE CELL (2000),
HANCOCK (2008), REAL STEEL (2011), ZERO DARK THIRTY (2013), and JURASSIC
WORLD (2015). He won a Taurus World Stunt Award for his aerial work on
PEARL HARBOR and was among those nominated by for the Screen Actors
Guild Award for Outstanding Stunt Ensemble for TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE
MOON (2011). His entrepreneurial ventures began in 1987 when he co-
founded the Van Nuys-based West Coast Helicopters, which he would merge
with Helinet Aviation after purchasing the latter company in 1998. In
2003 he bought a controlling in Cineflex, which had developed the first
aerial camera system capable of transmitting HD video from a helicopter
without loss of quality. Purwin was also chairman of ShotOver Camera
Systems, which provides gyro-stabilized aerial camera systems, and
founder of VideoFort, a supplier of HD and ultra HD aerial stock
footage. In 2005 Purwin's Helinet & Cineflex assisted the U.S. Coast
Guard and the Department of Homeland Security during Hurricane Katrina,
aiding in the rescue of many people while also providing aerial footage
of the storm zone for news media outlets. Purwin and Helinet also
provided free medical transport services to patients and hospitals in
Los Angeles, which included flying thousands of organ-transfer missions
for various hospitals and the annual transport of nearly 3,000 children
for Children's Hospital Los Angeles, for which Purwin served on the
Board of Trustees. All the while, he continued to work on major
Hollywood movies, and more of his work can be seen in upcoming
blockbusters such as BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, SUICIDE SQUAD,
and WARCRAFT, all due out later this year. Tragically, while in Colombia
working on the Doug Liman-directed Tom Cruise thriller MENA (scheduled
for 2017), Purwin and one other crew member were killed when a small
plane on which they were passengers ran into bad weather conditions and
crashed in the Colombian Andes.
DAVID SOMERVILLE (81); died July 14
Singer and actor who, credited as DAVID-TROY, appeared as Lieutenant
Larry Matson in the STAR TREK original series episode "The Consciences
of the King." He was co-founder and original lead vocalist of the 1950s
doo-wop group The Diamonds, best known for their 1957 hits "Little
Darlin'" and "The Stroll." Besides STAR TREK, he also popped up on shows
such as GOMER PYLE, U.S.M.C., McCLOUD, and QUINCY, M.E., as well as in
the film THE DARING DOBERMANS (1973). He later co-wrote the song
"Unknown Stuntman," the theme tune for ABC's hit Lee Majors-fronted
series THE FALL GUY, and even made an appearance in that show's pilot
episode.
JEREMY TARCHER (83); died September 20
Writer, producer, and publisher; co-wrote the STAR TREK original series
episode "The Lights of Zetar" with then-wife, Shari Lewis of "Lamb
Chop" fame. He had earlier helped develop and produce Lewis' first
network TV show, THE SHARI LEWIS SHOW on NBC, which ran from 1960 to
1963. Years later, in 1994, he and Lewis shared a Daytime Emmy
nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Children's Series for their work
on LAMB CHOP'S PLAY-ALONG. He is most famous, however, as a pioneering
publisher of best-selling non-fiction books on health, psychology and
New Age spirituality.
TOM TOWLES (65); died April 2
Character actor who played the Hon'Tihl, the first officer of the
Klingon attack cruiser Toh'Kaht, in the STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
episode "Dramatis Personae" and Doctor Vatm, a Nezu astrophysicist, in
the STAR TREK: VOYAGER episode "Rise." He was best known for his roles
in several horror films, particularly Otis in John McNaughton's HENRY:
PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (1986) and Harry Cooper in Tom Savini's
remake of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1990). His other notable horror
credits include McNaughton's THE BORROWER and Stuart Gordon's take on
THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM, both released in 1991, and, more recently, the
Rob Zombie-directed films HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES (2003), THE DEVIL'S
REJECTS (2005), and HALLOWEEN (2007). He also had roles in such films as
McNaughton's MAD DOG AND GLORY (1993) and NORMAL LIFE (1996), Gordon's
FORTRESS (1992), Taylor Hackford's BLOOD IN BLOOD OUT (1993), Michael
Bay's THE ROCK (1996), Vondie Curtis-Hall's GRIDLOCK'D (1997), William
Shatner's GROOM LAKE (2002), and Michael Mann's MIAMI VICE (2006). On
television, in addition to his STAR TREK guest spots, he played the
recurring role of Inspector Anthony Lastarza on NYPD BLUE from 1993-1994
and made appearances on such shows as SEINFELD, L.A. LAW, ER, 3RD ROCK
FROM THE SUN, THE DREW CAREY SHOW, FIREFLY, and MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE.
JOHN W. WHEELER (84); died November 26
Film editor who capped off a nearly four-decade career by editing STAR
TREK: FIRST CONTACT (1996). A member of American Cinema Editors (ACE)
for 56 years at the time of his death, Wheeler entered the field in 1957
at ABC before moving on to Republic Studios and then to Paramount, where
he spent a year assisting Ellsworth Hoagland in the editing of BONANZA.
He then worked on his first feature, assisting editor Howard Smith on
the Paramount comedy ALL IN A NIGHT'S WORK (1961) and went on to serve
as assistant editor on 15 more films over the next six years, all at
Paramount. He earned his first screen credits in 1968 as co-editor of
the Western films BUCKSKIN and FADE IN, after which he co-edited THE
STERILE CUCKOO (1969) for director Alan J. Pakula. Following his first
solo editing job on Noel Black's JENNIFER ON MY MIND (1971) and work on
the NBC series SEARCH, Wheeler re-teamed with Pakula to edit the
director's acclaimed political thriller THE PARALLAX VIEW (1974).
Wheeler went on to edit such films as Kirk Douglas' POSSE (1975), Harold
Becker's THE ONION FIELD (1979), Bill Persky's SERIAL (1980), John
Frankenheimer's THE CHALLENGE (1982), Michael Laughlin's STRANGE
INVADERS (1983), Bob Clark's RHINESTONE (1984), Sylvester Stallone's
ROCKY IV (1985), Harry Winer's SPACECAMP (1986), and Sidney J. Furie's
LADYBUGS (1992). He also edited several television projects for director
John Erman, including the TV movies GREEN EYES (1977) and THE BOYS NEXT
DOOR (1996) and the 1994 miniseries SCARLETT. His other TV credits
include seven episodes of the crime drama PETROCELLI, ten episodes of
the family drama FAMILY (including two for Erman and two episodes of the
1979 miniseries ROOTS: THE NEXT GENERATION (including one for Erman). He
also edited George Stevens Jr.'s two-part TV movie SEPARATE BUT EQUAL
(1991), Part II of which earned Wheeler an Emmy nomination for
Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or a Special and an Eddie
nomination from ACE for Best Edited Episode from a Television Mini-
Series. Although STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT was Wheeler's last project as
film editor, he continued working in the industry as a technology
supporter on the animated Disney films MULAN (1998), DINOSAUR (2000),
LILO & STITCH (2002), and BROTHER BEAR (2003) and later as an assistant
editor on Disney's BOLT (2008).
GRACE LEE WHITNEY (85); died May 1
Actress and singer best known for playing Yeoman Janice Rand in the
original STAR TREK series, appearing in eight episodes of the show's
first season before her character was written out. She returned to the
role of Rand--now a chief petty officer serving as transporter chief--in
STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979), after which she made cameo
appearances in the role in STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984)
and STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME (1986) and then twice played her as
the communications officer of the USS EXCELSIOR with the rank of
lieutenant junior grade--first in STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY
(1991) and again in the STAR TREK: VOYAGER episode "Flashback." She even
played Rand in two fan productions: the series STAR TREK NEW VOYAGES:
PHASE II, and the 2007 movie STAR TREK: OF GODS AND MEN, which proved to
be her last project. Earlier in her career, she appeared in Billy
Wilder's classic comedy SOME LIKE IT HOT (1958) as a member of the all-
female band which Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon's characters join to
escape from gangsters. She worked with Wilder again on the film IRMA LA
DOUCE (1963), in which she played the prostitute known as Kiki the
Cossack. She also had minor roles in such classic films as HOUSE OF WAX
(1953), THE NAKED AND THE DEAD (1958), and Frank Capra's POCKETFUL OF
MIRACLES (1961) and also made appearances on TV shows such as GUNSMOKE,
BATMAN, THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP, THE UNTOUCHABLES, THE REAL
McCOYS, 77 SUNSET STRIP, DEATH VALLEY DAYS, WAGON TRAIN, BEWITCHED,
CANNON, THE BIG VALLEY and DIAGNOSIS MURDER.
BERNARD "BERNIE" WILLIAMS (72); died January 4
Film producer, production manager and assistant director; was executive
producer and unit production manager on STAR TREK GENERATIONS (1994). He
started out as a third and later second assistant director on films such
as Robert Day's CALL ME GENIUS (1961), Val Guest's THE DAY THE EARTH
CAUGHT FIRE (1961), Alexander Mackendrick's SAMMY GOING SOUTH/A BOY TEN
FEET TALL (1963), Roger Corman's THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (1964),
Otto Preminger's BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING (1965), and Basil Dearden's
KHARTOUM (1966). He then moved into production, serving as unit manager
on Michael Anderson's THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM (1966) and on most of the
episodes of the cult British TV series THE PRISONER (1967-68). His first
producer credit was in Stanley Kubrick's A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971) as
associate producer, a title he also held on Kubrick's Oscar-winning
period drama BARRY LYNDON (1975). In the 1980s, he produced or executive
produced such films as FLASH GORDON (1980), Milos Forman's RAGTIME
(1981), Roger Donaldson's THE BOUNTY (1984), and Michael Mann's
MANHUNTER (1986). He went on to collaborate with director Frank Oz on
six films, starting with DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS (1988), on which
Williams was the producer and first assistant director. He later teamed
with Oz as co-producer of WHAT ABOUT BOB? (1991) and as both executive
producer and unit production manager of HOUSESITTER (1992), THE INDIAN
IN THE CUPBOARD (1995), BOWFINGER (1999), and THE SCORE (2001). His
other credits as executive producer and unit production manager include
the Mike Myers comedy SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER (1993), Bob
Rafelson's BLOOD AND WINE (1996), the superhero film DAREDEVIL (2003),
and the 2006 film adaptation of CHARLOTTE'S WEB.
JASON WINGREEN (95); died December 25
Prolific character actor who played Dr. Linke in the STAR TREK original
series episode "The Empath." He was best known for his role as bartender
Harry Snowden on the classic sitcom ALL IN THE FAMILY and its spinoff,
ARCHIE BUNKER'S PLACE, and for being the original voice of Boba Fett in
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980). He is also remembered for his brief role
as Police Captain Dorset in four episodes of THE UNTOUCHABLES in 1961
and for recurring as Judge Arthur Beaumont on MATLOCK from 1987 to 1991.
He appeared on countless other TV shows, including three or more
episodes each of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, IRONSIDE, THE F.B.I., THE FUGITIVE,
MANNIX, 12 O'CLOCK HIGH, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., DR. KILDARE, THE OUTER
LIMITS, BONANZA, ADAM-12, KOJAK, MARCUS WELBY, M.D. and others. Notable
films in which he can be seen include THE BRAVADOS (1958), THE SLENDER
THREAD (1965), A GUIDE TO THE MARRIED MAN (1967), THE CHEYENNE SOCIAL
CLUB (1970), THE DUNWICH HORROR (1970), HUSTLE (1975), and, perhaps most
memorably, the beloved disaster-movie spoof AIRPLANE! (1980), in which
he plays the doctor who discusses the needs of a heart transplant
patient -- while the still-beating donated heart bounces around his
desk.
-------------------------------
The following are STAR TREK DEATHS IN 2014 that I missed in last year's
post.
CARL FORTINA (84); died January 30, 2014
Accordionist and orchestra contractor who served the latter function on
STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979), STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME
(1986), STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY (1991) and STAR TREK
GENERATIONS (1994), as well as STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, STAR
TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE and STAR TREK: VOYAGER. His accordion playing can
be heard on the soundtracks of over 550 films, with perhaps his most
famous work being the theme for THE GODFATHER (1972). Other film scores
featuring his accordion include those of GIANT (1956), LOVE ME TENDER
(1956), BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S (1961), HATARI! (1962), HOW THE WEST WAS
WON (1962), CHARADE (1963), THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX (1965), GRAND PRIX
(1966), CAMELOT (1967), BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969), PAINT
YOUR WAGON (1969), KELLY'S HEROES (1970), PAT GARRETT & BILLY THE KID
(1973) and THE PARALLAX VIEW (1974). He also played on over 25,000
television episodes, including over 350 episodes of GUNSMOKE, more than
180 episodes of BONANZA and many of the episodes aforementioned STAR
TREK shows. He can also be heard on musical recordings, most notably the
Beach Boys tune "Wouldn't It Be Nice." He became the orchestra manager
for Paramount Pictures in 1976 and held the position for over 30 years,
during which he worked not only on the STAR TREK productions listed
above but also on such films as GREASE (1978), ESCAPE FROM ALCTATRAZ
(1979), AIRPLANE! (1980), RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981), POLICE ACADEMY
(1984), THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990), THE NAKED GUN 2 1/2: THE SMELL
OF FEAR (1991), THE NAKED GUN 33 1/3: THE FINAL INSULT (1994), CLUELESS
(1995) and John Carpenter's VAMPIRES (1998).
DON INGALLS (95); died March 10, 2014
TV writer and producer; wrote the STAR TREK original series episode "The
Alternative Factor" and, as Jud Crucis, developed the story for the
episode "A Private Little War." He wrote or co-wrote multiple episodes
each of such classic TV shows as HAVE GUN-WILL TRAVEL, GUNSMOKE, THE
VIRGINIAN, THE BIG VALLEY, BONANZA, POLICE STORY, and, most extensively,
FANTASY ISLAND, on which he was also executive story consultant from
1979 to 1980 and then a producer from 1980 until the show's end in 1984.
He also held producer titles on HAVE GUN - WILL TRAVEL, THE VIRGINIAN,
HONEY WEST, 12 O'CLOCK HIGH, and William Shatner's T.J. HOOKER, among
other shows. He was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for a
1967 episode of GUNSMOKE and is also noted for writing the Charles
Bronson-starring Western TV movie THE BULL OF THE WEST (1972), the film
AIRPORT 1975 (1974), the ABC horror movie THE INITIATION OF SARAH
(1978), and the infamous CAPTAIN AMERICA made-for-TV movie from 1979.
RANDY ROBERTS (69); died December 14
Film editor, producer and director; edited the STAR TREK: THE NEXT
GENERATION episode "Code of Honor." He was an assistant editor on films
such as JIMI HENDRIX (1973), FREEBIE AND THE BEAN (1974) and SPARKLE
(1976) before earning his first credit as a film editor with GREASED
LIGHTNING (1977). He went on to co-edit Ulu Grosbard's STRAIGHT TIME
(1978), Francis Ford Coppola's ONE FROM THE HEART (1981), Wim Wenders'
HAMMETT (1982), and JAWS 3-D (1983). He was also the editor of Rob
Cohen's directorial debut, A SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS (1980). He later
edited such TV shows as L.A. LAW, CHICAGO HOPE and EARLY EDITION, all
three of which earned him Eddie Award nominations from the American
Cinema Editors (ACE). He won an Eddie for an episode of CHICAGO HOPE in
1997, while a different episode of that series earned him an Emmy
nomination in 1995. He also directed episodes of all three of those
shows as well as QUANTUM LEAP, MIAMI VICE, TOUR OF DUTY, HUNTER and
more. He more recently served as co-producer, then as producer and
finally as supervising producer on LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT. He
served on ACE's board of directors for nearly two decades and was the
organization's vice president from 2005 to 2008 and its president from
2008 to 2012. In 2014, he received ACE's Heritage Award for his lifetime
commitment to the society and also received a Lifetime Achievement Award
from the Hollywood Post Alliance.
THOMAS W. SMALL (51); died November 27, 2014
Sound editor; was Paramount's assistant sound editor on STAR TREK
GENERATIONS (1994) and later supervising foley editor on STAR TREK:
INSURRECTION (1998), STAR TREK NEMESIS (2002) and J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK
(2009). He joined Paramount as an assistant sound editor in 1991, having
previously worked in that capacity on TriStar's BLIND FURY (1989), Buena
Vista's PRETTY WOMAN (1990), MR. DESTINY (1990) and V.I. WARSHAWSKI
(1991), New Line's TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II: THE SECRET OF THE
OOZE (1991), Paramount's THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1991) and 20th Century Fox's
MY COUSIN VINNY (1992). During his 15 years as an employee of Paramount,
he worked as assistant sound editor on such films as WAYNE'S WORLD
(1992), ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES (1993) and CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER (1994)
and then as a foley editor on films such as TOMMY BOY (1995), VIRTUOSITY
(1995) and PRIMAL FEAR (1996). Between 1996 and 2006, he was supervising
foley editor on dozens of Paramount films, including James Cameron's
Oscar-winning blockbuster TITANIC (1997), John Woo's FACE/OFF (1997) and
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II (2000), Tim Burton's SLEEPY HOLLOW (1999), Simon
West's THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER (1999) and LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER (2001),
John Singleton's SHAFT (2000) and FOUR BROTHERS (2005), Ben Stiller's
ZOOLANDER (2001), Cameron Crowe's VANILLA SKY (2001), F. Gary Gray's THE
ITALIAN JOB (2003), Trey Parker's TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE (2004),
J.J. Abrams' MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III (2006) and Bill Condon's DREAMGIRLS
(2006). He then left Paramount to become a freelance agent, though he
would work on a few more films for the studio, including THE SPIDERWICK
CHRONICLES (2008) and Christopher Nolan's INTERSTELLAR (2014). He also
worked as a foley editor on several Disney films, including PIRATES OF
THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END (2007) and ON STRANGER TIDES (2011),
PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (2010) and THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE
(2010), and was supervising foley editor for Sony's THE AMAZING SPIDER-
MAN (2012). Between 2011 and 2014, he was foley editor for several 20th
Century Fox films, including RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2011),
Crowe's WE BOUGHT A ZOO (2011), THE THREE STOOGES (2012), THE INTERNSHIP
(2013), X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (2014), DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE
APES (2014), THE MAZE RUNNER (2014) and NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: THE SECRET
OF THE TOMB (2014). He won a Golden Reel Award from the Motion Picture
Sound Editors for his work on TITANIC and went on to receive ten Golden
Reel nominations, including one for 2009's STAR TREK.
VENITA WOLF (70); died November 22, 2014
Actress who played Yeoman Teresa Ross in the STAR TREK original series
episode "The Squire of Gothos." She also appeared on such shows as
GUNSMOKE, THE MONKEES, THE FLYING NUN, THE WILD WILD WEST and FELONY
SQUAD, and had two recurring roles on THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, first as
Miss Murray in 1966 and then as Suzy from 1968 to 1969. Her only
feature-film credit was a supporting role in the comedy musical mystery
CATALINA CAPER (1967), though she also made an uncredited appearance in
the drama THE OSCAR (1966). In addition to her brief acting career, she
was a model and winner of numerous beauty contests. In 1962, she was
queen of the 1962 May Festival in Orange, California, and was named Miss
Orange County Press Club later that year. In 1967, she appeared on the
cover of the July issue of PLAYBOY.
-------------------------------
That's it, folks. Until next year -- live long and prosper.
DEATHS post. Work, family and other obligations have prevented me from
devoting much time to it, and the little bit I had worked on got wiped
out (don't ask). But it's here now, so on we go.
As I'm sure many of you know, 2015 was a particularly difficult one for
STAR TREK fans as it saw the deaths of several key players in the
franchise's success and longevity. The biggest blow, of course, was the
loss of our beloved Leonard Nimoy--Mr. Spock himself--last February at
the age of 83. Though he had been suffering COPD for some time, his
death still came as a shock to fans around the globe (including yours
truly). Because Mr. Nimoy was so integral to the STAR TREK universe, I
am inclined to spend a few paragraphs of this intro paying tribute to
him.
Mr. Nimoy was there from the very beginning, appearing in the rejected
first pilot of the original series ("The Cage") and even uttering the
first line of the franchise ("Check the circuit."). He was the only
actor that pilot to be carried over to the second pilot ("Where No Man
Has Gone Before") and the subsequent series, becoming the only cast
member to appear in all 79 episodes of the show. He would go on to
reprise the role in eight of the STAR TREK films--two of which he
directed--and in the two-part "Unification" episode of STAR TREK: THE
NEXT GENERATION. He made his last appearance as Spock in STAR TREK INTO
DARKNESS in 2013--nearly 50 years after first donning those trademark
pointed ears.
It goes without saying that Spock is one of the most iconic characters
in the world--he may even be more well-known than the very series that
spawned him--and nearly all of that is due to the depth and complexity
that Mr. Nimoy brought to the part. He played the ostensibly stoic and
logical "half-breed" with just the right touch of warmth and humor,
never losing sight of the fact that the character was half *human*. He
perfectly portrays a being of two worlds, both managing to coexist as a
cohesive whole--a living embodiment of the very themes and ideas STAR
TREK represents. During Spock's funeral near the end of STAR TREK II:
THE WRATH OF KHAN, James Kirk (William Shatner) says Spock was the most
"human" soul he had ever encountered. Nimoy *was* that soul, and, in
many ways, the very soul of STAR TREK.
Nimoy was not the only prominent cast member from the original series we
lost in 2015. Grace Lee Whitney, who played Yeoman Janice Rand during
the show's first season, died in May at the age of 85. Whitney would
reprise the role of Rand in several of the STAR TREK films, first as a
transporter chief and later as a communications officer. The success of
those films was due in large part to the creative genius of writer and
producer Harve Bennett, who passed away just two days before Nimoy, at
the age of 84. Bennett was behind what has become known as STAR TREK's
"Holy Trinity"--i.e., STAR TREK II and the Nimoy-directed STAR TREK III:
THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK and STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME--and played an
integral part in securing the future of the franchise. STAR TREK II has
been hailed by many fans as the best film in the series, and part of its
everlasting acclaim and popularity is due to its iconic score by
legendary composer James Horner, whose music is also a highlight of STAR
TREK III. Tragically, Horner perished in a single-engine plane crash in
June; he was only 61.
There are, of course, many other STAR TREK veterans who passed away last
year, and you will find them all below (at least, I hope it's all of
them). I also discovered several who died in 2014 that I missed for that
year's post; you can also find them below, after the 2015 entries. Each
list is in alphabetical order by last name. If you notice any mistakes
or omissions, please let me know.
HOWARD A. ANDERSON JR. (95); died September 27
Visual effects artist and cinematographer who created the title sequence
for the original STAR TREK series and was part of the show's primary
visual effects team alongside his brother, Darrell, as co-heads of the
Howard Anderson Company, the visual effects house founded by their
father in 1927. Among the visuals the brothers created for STAR TREK
were the star fields through which the ENTERPRISE traveled, the
photographic technique used to create the transporter or "beaming"
effect, and matte paintings and other effects for the various alien
worlds seen throughout the show. Besides STAR TREK, Anderson helped
create title sequences and other visual elements for many of the other
programs made by Desilu Productions, including I LOVE LUCY, THE LUCY
SHOW, THE UNTOUCHABLES, and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE. In fact, it was
Anderson who designed the "heart on satin" titles for the daytime
rebroadcasts of I LOVE LUCY that have since become opening familiar to
most viewers. Another particularly notable title sequence he helped
design was that of THE BRADY BUNCH, which featured the show's nine cast
members in a tic-tac-toe board -- a sequence that Anderson shot himself.
Other 1960s shows he designed titles for include THE ADDAMS FAMILY, THE
ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, THE
FUGITIVE, GET SMART, THE MOD SQUAD, THE OUTER LIMITS, THAT GIRL, and THE
TWILIGHT ZONE. In the '70s, he was behind the opening titles of such
shows as HAPPY DAYS, BARNABY JONES, CHARLIE'S ANGELS, DALLAS, THE
INVADERS, KUNG FU, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, LOVE AMERICAN STYLE, THE
LOVE BOAT, MY FAVORITE MARTIAN, THE WALTONS, and WONDER WOMAN. Title
sequences he created during the '80s include those for THE A-TEAM,
CHEERS and DYNASTY. He also created main titles and visual effects for
over 100 films throughout his career, including the Billy Wilder
comedies SOME LIKE IT HOT (1958) and THE APARTMENT (1960), George Pal's
THE TIME MACHINE (1960), JACK THE GIANT KILLER (1962), ESCAPE FROM THE
PLANET OF THE APES (1971), Mel Brooks' BLAZING SADDLES (1974), Warren
Beatty and Buck Henry's HEAVEN CAN WAIT (1978), Richard Donner's
SUPERMAN (1978), and John Huston's ANNIE (1982). He also shot the
inserts for the Americanized version of GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN which was
released in 1959 as GIGANTIS THE FIRE MONSTER. The highlight of
Anderson's film work, however, was Arthur Hiller's war drama TOBRUK
(1967), for which he and Albert Whitlock were nominated for an Oscar for
best visual effects.
RICHARD ANTHONY (77); died April 20
Singer and occasional actor who filmed a scene as a horse rider in the
STAR TREK original series episode "Spectre of the Gun," but the scene
was cut from the final aired version. He also had acting roles on DALLAS
and in Todd Haynes' film POISON (1991), but was mostly a singer -- in
fact, he was one of the few French singers to break into the global
market. He had a number of hits, with perhaps his best known being "Et
j'entends siffler le train" ("I Hear the Whistle of the Train"), a
French version of the folk song "500 Miles" that reached #1 on the
French charts in 1962.
CAROLYNE BARRY (71); died June 16
Actress, dancer, acting coach, casting director, and singer who--
credited as Carole Shelyne--appeared as the Metron in the STAR TREK
original series episode "Arena" in 1966 and returned to the franchise 22
years later--now as Carolyne Barry--to play an engineer in the NEXT
GENERATION episode "Home Soul." Earlier in her career, she was a
featured dancer on ABC's 1964-66 musical variety show SHINDIG! as "the
Girl with the Horn-rimmed Glasses" and released a same-named hit record
1965. That same year, she released a song titled "Boys Do Make Passes at
Girls Who Wear Glasses" and made her TV acting debut in an episode of
'Mr. Novak.' She went on to do guest spots on such shows as THE MAN FROM
U.N.C.L.E., JULIA, IRONSIDE, THE BOB NEWHART SHOW, HOTEL, and DYNASTY,
and had a recurring role the ABC comedy Western series HERE COME THE
BRIDES from 1968 to 1970. Her few film credits include the comedy OUT OF
SIGHT (1966) and the mystery-horror thriller DARK AUGUST (1976), the
latter of which she also co-wrote. She also appeared in over 400
national commercials and cast more than 600 national and regional
commercials, commercial campaigns, industrials, and infomercials. In
1983, she founded the Professional Artist Group, which was at the time
largest training and casting facility in the country and which she ran
from 1983 to 1989. She was recognized as one of the top commercial
audition acting coaches in Los Angeles, and since 1982, her Carolyne
Barry Workshops has been one of the most successful full training acting
schools in the city.
HARVE BENNETT (84); died February 25
Writer and producer who co-wrote the story for and executive produced
STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982), wrote and produced STAR TREK
III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984), co-wrote the story and screenplay for
and produced STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME (1986), and co-wrote the
story for and produced STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER (1989); is
credited with rescuing the STAR TREK film series following the
disappointing reception for STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979) and
with securing the future of the franchise as a whole. He was nominated
for Hugo Awards for Best Dramatic Presentation for STAR TREK II, III and
IV, while the latter film also earned him a Saturn Award nomination for
Best Writing. He had actually acquired some fame much earlier -- between
the ages of 10 and 16 -- when he was the most renowned and prolific
panelist on the immensely popular 1940s radio show THE QUIZ KIDS. He
later served as executive producer on the 1981-82 TV revival of THE QUIZ
KIDS hosted by Norman Lear, for which Bennett was nominated for a
CableACE Award. His best-known work in television, however, was as co-
developer and producer of ABC's 1968-1973 crime drama THE MOD SQUAD, for
which he received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Dramatic Series in
1970. THE MOD SQUAD also earned him two Writers Guild of America Award
nominations in 1970, each for a different episode. He was also known as
the executive producer of THE SIX-MILLION DOLLAR MAN, its spin-off THE
BIONIC WOMAN, and the 1976 landmark miniseries RICH MAN, POOR MAN, the
latter of which earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Limited
Series. He ultimately won an Emmy on his third nomination, in the
category Outstanding Drama Special, as executive producer of A WOMAN
CALLED GOLDA. One of the actors in that special was Leonard Nimoy, with
whom Bennett would collaborate on STAR TREK II-V and who would pass away
just two days after Bennett.
NANCY BERNSTEIN (55); died September 18
Veteran visual effects and animation production executive; was Digital
Domain's visual effects executive producer on STAR TREK NEMESIS (2002).
She held the same position on more than 30 other films between 1997 and
2005, including TITANIC (1997), ARMAGEDDON (1998), WHAT DREAMS MAY COME
(1998), LAKE PLACID (1999), FIGHT CLUB (1999), X-MEN (2000), O BROTHER,
WHERE ARE THOU? (2000), HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000), THE LORD
OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (2001), A BEAUTIFUL MIND
(2001), XxX (2002), DAREDEVIL (2003), PETER PAN (2003), THE DAY AFTER
TOMORROW (2004), I, ROBOT (2004), CINDERELLA MAN (2005), and ÆON FLUX
(2005). She had previously spent ten years at R/GA Digital Studios,
where she worked as visual effects producer on such films as LITTLE
MONSTERS (1989), PREDATOR 2 (1990), LAST ACTION HERO (1993), and IN THE
LINE OF FIRE (1993), and was instrumental in transitioning the company
from optical imaging to digital production. She left Digital Domain in
2005 and became head of production at DreamWorks Animation, where she
oversaw work on SHREK THE THIRD (2007), BEE MOVIE (2007), and the 3D
conversions of the first two SHREK films (2001, 2004). Most recently,
she produced the studio's acclaimed fantasy adventure RISE OF THE
GUARDIANS (2012).
THEODORE BIKEL (91); died July 21
Actor, folk singer and musician who played retired Chief Petty Officer
Sergey Rozhenko, the adoptive father of Worf (Michael Dorn), in the
"Family" episode of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION in 1990. Highly
versatile, prolific and respected, Bikel was most renowned for
portraying the role of Tevye in stage productions of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
over 2,200 times--more often than any other actor. He was a veteran of
Broadway, earning Tony nominations for his work as Dr. Jacobson in the
1957-1958 play THE ROPE DANCERS and as the first actor to play Captain
Georg von Trapp in the original Broadway production of THE SOUND OF
MUSIC in 1959. He is also widely known for his film roles, particularly
his Oscar-nominated performance as Sheriff Max Muller in Stanley
Kramer's classic prison-escape drama THE DEFIANT ONES (1958) and his
portrayal of supposed dialect expert Zoltan Karpathy in George Cukor's
Oscar-winning musical MY FAIR LADY (1964). He made his film debut years
earlier in another classic, appearing as the first officer of the German
ship LEONA at the end of John Huston's THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951), which
he immediately followed with the role of King Milo IV of Serbia in
Houston's MOULIN ROUGE (1952). He went on to land roles in films from
many different directors throughout the 1950s, including Philip
Leacock's British drama THE LITTLE KIDNAPPERS (1953), Guy Hamilton's
prisoner-of-war drama THE COLDITZ STORY (1955), Dick Powell's submarine
thriller THE ENEMY BELOW (1957), Robert Wise's prison drama I WANT TO
LIVE! (1958), Robert Aldrich's war thriller THE ANGRY HILLS (1959), and
James B. Clark's family drama A DOG OF FLANDERS (1959). He also appeared
on numerous television shows during the latter half of the decade,
including CLIMAX!, ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS, THE ALCOA HOUR, STUDIO ONE
and PLAYHOUSE 90. He worked more in television than in film during the
1960s, landing spots on THE TWILIGHT ZONE, DR. KILDARE, GUNSMOKE,
RAWHIDE, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, HAWAII FIVE-0 and several other shows. His
few film roles during this period were memorable, however; in addition
to Karpathy in MY FAIR LADY, he was the Russian captain in Norman
Jewison's war comedy THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING
(1966), Sandy Dennis' vegetarian friend in Robert Ellis Miller's
romantic dramedy SWEET NOVEMBER (1968), and the folk singer "Bando" in
the James B. Clark-directed film adaptation of MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN
(1969). In the decades that followed, Bikel was seen in such films as
200 MOTELS (1971), VICTORY AT ENTEBBE (1976), SEE YOU IN THE MORNING
(1989), SHATTERED (1991), SHADOW CONSPIRACY (1997), CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
(2002), and THE LITTLE TRAITOR (2007), while his episodic work included
brief recurring roles on ALL IN THE FAMILY, DYNASTY, and FALCON CREST
and one-off appearances on IRONSIDE, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE,
CHARLIE'S ANGELS, FANTASY ISLAND, KNIGHT RIDER, THE FALL GUY, BEAUTY AND
THE BEAST, L.A. LAW, LAW & ORDER, BABYLON 5, and JAG. As a singer and
musician, he recorded several albums of Jewish folk songs, co-founded
the Newport Folk Festival with Peter Seeger, Oscar Brand, and George
Wain, and in 1962 became the first singer besides Bob Dylan to perform
"Blowing in the Wind" in public. In addition to performing, he devoted
much of his life as an activist for actors, co-founding the Actors
Federal Credit Union and serving as president of the Actors' Equity in
the late 1970s and early 1980s.
GEORGE COE (86); died July 18
Character actor and activist who played Chancellor Durken in the "First
Contact" episode of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. He had many other
notable television credits, including being an original cast member of
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, the role of Network 23 executive Ben Cheviot on the
cult series MAX HEADROOM, the recurring role of Judge Wallace R. Vance
on L.A. LAW, playing Senator Howard Stackhouse on THE WEST WING, and
voicing Sterling Archer's valet, Woodhouse, on FX's animated spy comedy
ARCHER. He is also known for being part of the original Broadway casts
of the successful musicals MAME (1966), COMPANY (1970), and ON THE
TWENTIETH CENTURY (1978). He had roles in many popular films, as well,
including Bryan Forbes' THE STEPFORD WIVES (1975), Robert Benton's
Oscar-winning KRAMER VS. KRAMER (1979), Brian G. Hutton's THE FIRST
DEADLY SIN (1980), Charles Jarrott's THE AMATEUR (1981), Sidney J.
Furie's THE ENTITY (1982), Blake Edwards' comedies MICKI + MAUDE (1984)
and BLIND DATE (1987), Guy Hamilton's REMO WILLIAMS: THE ADVENTURE
BEGINS (1985), Joel Schumacher's COUSINS (1989), Disney's THE MIGHTY
DUCKS (1992), religious thriller THE OMEGA CODE (1999), Thomas Bezucha's
BIG EDEN (2000), and Judd Apatow's FUNNY PEOPLE (2009). He more recently
voiced the Autobot engineer "Que" (better known as Wheeljack) in Michael
Bay's TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON (2011). Before Coe was in any of
these films, however, he was co-producer, co-director and co-star of the
1968 short film DE DÜVA: THE DOVE, a parody of Ingmar Bergman films for
which he and fellow producers Sidney Davis and Anthony Lover received an
Oscar nomination for best live-action short subject.
CATHERINE E. COULSON (71); died September 28
Actress and camera assistant; was the first assistant camera, or focus
puller, on STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982). She was best known
for her work as an actress, particularly for her role as the Log Lady in
David Lynch's cult-classic 1989-1991 TV series TWIN PEAKS and its 1992
film prequel, TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME. She had previously
collaborated with Lynch on some of his earliest projects, acting
alongside him in his short film THE AMPUTEE (1974) and working as
assistant director and camera assistant on his debut feature, ERASERHEAD
(1977). Coulson was also a camera assistant on John Cassavetes' films
THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE (1976) and OPENING NIGHT (1977) and was
second assistant camera, or clapper loader, on such films as THE TOOLBOX
MURDERS (1978), A FORCE OF ONE (1979), and Albert Brooks' second
directorial effort, MODERN ROMANCE (1981). She made her feature acting
debut in the 1982 horror film TRICK OR TREAT but did not appear in
another film until 1991, when she was seen in the mystery drama FEMME
FATALE and the Richard Pryor-Gene Wilder comedy ANOTHER YOU. She also
served as focus puller on Jim Jarmusch's anthology film NIGHT ON EARTH
(1991) and as a camera assistant on the Oscar-nominated documentary
feature MUSIC FOR THE MOVIES: BERNARD HERRMANN (1992), after which she
began to focus entirely on acting. She spent 22 seasons with the Oregon
Shakespeare Festival, performing in more than 50 productions with the
company between 1994 and 2015. She made occasional returns to the screen
Iin recent years, appearing in Gary Lundgren's films CALVIN MARSHALL
(2009) and REDWOOD HIGHWAY (2013) and on the TV shows PSYCH and
PORTLANDIA. At the time of her death, she was set to reprise her role as
the Log Lady in David Lynch's upcoming revival of TWIN PEAKS on
Showtime.
YVONNE CRAIG (78); died August 17
Actress and ballet dancer who memorably portrayed the insane Orion woman
Marta in the STAR TREK original series episode "Whom Gods Destroy." A
trained ballerina who had been the youngest corps de ballet member at
the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Craig moved to Los Angeles in hopes of
continuing her dancing career but found herself landing acting roles.
She was of course best known for playing Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl,
in 26 episodes of the campy 1960s BATMAN television series between 1967
and 1968, and her ballet training came in handy when performing stunts
on the show. She is also remembered for her roles in the Elvis Presley
pictures IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR (1963) and KISSIN' COUSINS
(1964). Earlier on, she had the female lead opposite Patrick Wayne in
Columbia's Western drama THE YOUNG LAND (1959). She had supporting roles
in several other films released between 1957 and 1971, including GIDGET
(1959), THE GENE KRUPA STORY (1959), Blake Edwards' HIGH TIMES (1960),
John Sturges' BY LOVE POSSESSED (1961), SKI PARTY (1965), IN LIKE FLINT
(1967), and HOW TO FRAME A FIGG (1971). She also appears in the 1966
releases ONE SPY TOO MANY and ONE OF OUR SPIES IS MISSING, two feature-
length films edited from episodes of THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., though she
was only in new footage shot specifically for the film versions and was
not part of the original episodes. She did, however, appear in a 1965
episode of U.N.C.L.E. that was not later incorporated into a film, and
she also appeared on such shows as PERRY MASON, 77 SUNSET STRIP, THE
MANY LOVES OF DOBIE GILLIS, MY THREE SONS, MY FAVORITE MARTIAN, VOYAGE
TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, THE WILD WILD WEST, WAGON TRAIN, THE BIG
VALLEY, DEATH VALLEY DAYS, DR. KILDARE, BEN CASEY, MOD SQUAD, STARSKY
AND HUTCH, KOJAK, MANNIX, THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN, LOVE, AMERICAN
STYLE, and FANTASY ISLAND. After leaving show business, she found a new
career as a a real estate broker, only returning to the entertainment
industry to voice the role of Grandma on the British-American animated
children's series OLIVIA from 2009 to 2011.
ELLEN ALBERTINI DOW (101); died May 4
Character actress who appeared as Felisa Howard, the deceased
grandmother of Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), in the STAR TREK:
THE NEXT GENERATION episode "Sub Rosa"; she was the second STAR TREK
actor to reach the age of 100 after Viola Stimpson (STAR TREK IV: THE
VOYAGE HOME) and became the longest-lived STAR TREK performer,
surpassing Stimpson's lifespan by 88 days. Dow began her screen career
late in life, making her film debut in a comedy called AMERICAN DRIVE-IN
(1985) when she was in her early 70s. She often played feisty old
grannies, with perhaps her best known being the rapping Rosie in THE
WEDDING SINGER (1998), who memorably spat a flawless rendition of The
Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight". She was also famous for her scene-
stealing as the homophobic Grandma Mary Cleary in the hit romantic
comedy WEDDING CRASHERS (2005). Her other film credits include playing a
choir nun in SISTER ACT (1992) and SISTER ACT 2: BACK IN THE HABIT
(1993) and appearances in TOUGH GUYS (1986), WALK LIKE A MAN (1987), MY
BLUE HEAVEN (1990), MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN (1992), RADIOLAND
MURDERS (1994), 54 (1998), PATCH ADAMS (1998), and ROAD TRIP (2000). She
also popped up on TV shows such as NEWHART, MURPHY BROWN, THE GOLDEN
GIRLS, THE WONDER YEARS, SEINFELD, ER, WILL & GRACE, SCRUBS, SIX FEET
UNDER, SHAMELESS, and NEW GIRL, and was one of the main cast members on
the short-lived WB Network sitcom MAYBE IT'S ME (2001-2002).
TERRENCE EVANS (81); died August 7
Actor who appeared as two different Bajoran characters on STAR TREK:
DEEP SPACE NINE, the first being Baltrim in the first-season episode
"Progress" and then Proka Migdal in Season 2's "Cardassians," after
which he played Kradin Ambassador Treen in the fourth-season STAR TREK:
VOYAGER episode "Nemesis." Other TV shows on which he appeared include
THE INCREDIBLE HULK, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, QUINCY M.E., HILL
STREET BLUES, QUANTUM LEAP, ER, COLD CASE, LAS VEGAS, and EAGLEHEART. In
film, he was the tanker truck driver who is killed by the T-1000 in
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY and played Old Monty, the uncle of
Leatherface, in the 2003 remake of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and its
2006 prequel, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING. He can also be
seen in such films as PALE RIDER (1985), WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT
(1993), THE RUNNER (1999), DOWN IN THE VALLEY (2005), and MR. FIX IT
(2006).
EDDIE HICE (85); died March 12
Veteran stuntman and actor who appeared as a security guard in the
original STAR TREK series episodes "Day of the Dove" and "Wink of an
Eye" and also did stunt work in STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME (1986), in
which he played a hospital patient. His more notable television work
included serving as the stunt double for Don Adams on GET SMART, Frank
Gorshin on BATMAN, Charles Dierkop on POLICE WOMAN, and Bruce Lee on THE
GREEN HORNET. He also performed stunts in many classic films of the
1960s and '70s, including BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967), PLANET OF THE APES
(1968), and THE TOWERING INFERNO (1974), and was Robert Duvall's stunt
double Robert Altman's films COUNTDOWN (1968) and MASH (1970). He was
stunt coordinator on a few films and TV projects in the 1980s, most
notably the musical comedy THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS (1982)
and the cult classic sci-fi crime comedy REPO MAN (1984). He did stunt
work in many other acclaimed and/or popular films of the 1980s,
including John Carpenter's ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981) and THEY LIVE
(1988), Lawrence Kasdan's SILVERADO (1985), John Badham's SHORT CIRCUIT
(1986), Martin Brest's MIDNIGHT RUN (1988), Joe Dante's THE 'BURBS
(1989), and Edward Zwick's GLORY (1989). He continued performing stunts
throughout the 1990s and into the late 2000s, with ROBOCOP 2 (1990),
FREAKED (1993), THE CABLE GUY (1996), DANTE'S PEAK (1997), BIG MOMMA'S
HOUSE (2000) and GEORGE RULE (2007) among his many credits during that
time.
JAMES HORNER (61); died June 22
Iconic and highly prolific composer, conductor and orchestrator who
wrote well over 100 films scores, including his breakthrough work in
STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982) and STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR
SPOCK (1983). He is perhaps most famous for his score for James
Cameron's TITANIC (1997), which remains the best selling orchestral film
soundtrack of all time. TITANIC won Horner two Oscars--one for his score
and the other for co-writing the hit song "My Heart Will Go On"--among
many other accolades. He was Cameron's composer on two other films--the
sci-fi blockbusters ALIENS (1986) and AVATAR (2009)--both of which
earned him Oscar nominations for Best Original Score, as did his scores
for Phil Alden Robinson's FIELD OF DREAMS (1989), Mel Gibson's
BRAVEHEART (1995), Ron Howard's APOLLO 13 (1995) and A BEAUTIFUL MIND
(2001), and Vadim Perelman's HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG (2003). He also
received an Oscar nomination for his work on the classic song "Somewhere
Out There" from the animated Don Bluth film AN AMERICAN TAIL (1986). He
was the recipient of six Grammy Awards, as well, including two each for
"Somewhere Out There" and "My Heart Will Go On" and won for his score
for Edward Zwick's GLORY (1989). He also received Grammy nominations for
his FIELD OF DREAMS, A BEAUTIFUL MIND and AVATAR scores and for the
songs "Whatever You Imagine" from THE PAGEMASTER (1994) and "I See You"
from AVATAR. In addition to APOLLO 13 and A BEAUTIFUL MIND, Horner
collaborated with director Ron Howard on many other films, including
COCOON (1985), WILLOW (1988), RANSOM (1996), HOW THE GRINCH STOLE
CHRISTMAS (2000), and THE MISSING (2003). Among the many other films he
scored are Oliver Stone's THE HAND (1981), Wes Craven's DEADLY BLESSING
(1981), Walter Hill's 48 HRS. (1982), RED HEAT (1988) and ANOTHER 48
HRS. (1990), Peter Yates' KRULL and THE DRESSER (both 1983), Mark L.
Lester's COMMANDO (1985), Jean-Jacques Annaud's THE NAME OF THE ROSE
(1986), ENEMY AT THE GATES (2001), DAY OF THE FALCON (2011) and WOLF
TOTEM (2015), Don Bluth's THE LAND BEFORE TIME (1988), Joe Johnston's
HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS (1989), THE ROCKETEER (1991) and JUMANJI
(1995), Phillip Noyce's PATRIOT GAMES (1992) and CLEAR AND PRESENT
DANGER (1994), Phil Alden Robinson's SNEAKERS (1992) and FREEDOM SONG
(2000), Steven Zaillian's SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER (1993), Mel
Gibson's THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE (1993) and APOCALYPTO (2006), Ed Zwick's
LEGENDS OF THE FALL (1994) and COURAGE UNDER FIRE (1996), Martin
Campbell's THE MASK OF ZORRO (1998), BEYOND BORDERS (2003) and THE
LEGEND OF ZORRO (2005), Chris Columbus' BICENTENNIAL MAN (1999),
Wolfgang Petersen's THE PERFECT STORM (2000) and TROY (2004), Terrence
Malick's THE NEW WORLD (2005), Mark Herman's THE BOY IN THE STRIPED
PAJAMAS (2008), Marc Webb's THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2012), and Antoine
Fuqua's SOUTHPAW (2015) and THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (2016). Often ranked
alongside the likes of John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith as one of the
great modern film composers, Horner was--and will forever remain--a
titan and a legend in the world of film music.
MAURICE HURLEY (75); died February 24
TV writer and producer; was a producer on STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
for much of its first season and co-executive producer from the end of
the first season to the end of the second but is better known for his
work as a writer on the show, particularly for the episode "Q Who,"
which introduced the race of cybernetic beings known as the Borg. He
conceived the stories and/or worked on the scripts for several other
NEXT GENERATION episodes, including "Datalore," which introduced the
character of Lore, and the first-season finale "The Neutral Zone," which
marked the 24th-century debut of the Romulans. Though he left the show
at the end of the second season, he returned to write the script for the
fourth-season episode "Galaxy's Child" and also helped conceived the
story for the fifth-season episode "Power Play." Outside of STAR TREK,
he wrote multiple of such shows as MIAMI VICE, THE EQUALIZER (on which
he was also a co-producer and later supervising producer), KUNG FU: THE
LEGEND CONTINUES, LA FEMME NIKITA, BAYWATCH, and 24. He was also a co-
executive producer on BAYWATCH and executive producer of its shorter-
lived spin-off series, BAYWATCH NIGHTS. He also wrote a handful of
films, including FIREBIRD 2015 AD (1981), the KOJAK telepic ARIANA
(1989), Richard Gale's thriller THE PROPOSAL (2001), and the William
Shatner-directed GROOM LAKE (2002).
BRUCE HYDE (74); died October 13
Actor and educator best known for playing Lt. Kevin Riley in the STAR
TREK original series episodes "The Naked Time" (in which he famously
sang the Irish ballad "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen") and "The
Conscience of the King." He appeared in only a few other shows,
including THE TRIALS OF O'BRIEN, DR. KILDARE, THAT GIRL, and THE BEVERLY
HILLBILLIES, and all in the span of just over a year (Nov. 1965-Dec.
1966). He continued performing on stage, however, including Broadway
stints in the comedy THE GIRL IN THE FREUDIAN SLIP and the musical
CANTERBURY TALES. He abandoned acting for a decade after performing in a
San Francisco production of the musical HAIR, opting instead to remain
in the Bay Area, where he worked mostly as a house painter before
finding his calling as a teacher. After earning a master's degree and a
PhD, he joined the faculty of St. Cloud State University in Minnesota,
dividing his time between the Department of Theatre, Film Studies &
Dance and the Department of Communication Studies. He returned to acting
on stage while at St. Cloud, earning critical notices for performances
in roles such as Willy Loman in a 2003 staging of DEATH OF A SALESMAN by
St. Paul's Starting Gate Productions. By the time he left St. Cloud
earlier in 2015, Hyde had chaired the theatre department for more than
two decades and had recently been named professor emeritus of
communication studies.
BARRIE INGHAM (82); died January 23
Actor who played Bringloidi leader Danilo Odell in the STAR TREK: THE
NEXT GENERATION episode "Up the Long Ladder." He was also one of the
actors considered for the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in NEXT
GENERATION before the role went to Patrick Stewart. He was a veteran of
the West End and Broadway stages and appeared in over 200 film and
television productions, but is best known for voicing the title role in
Disney's animated feature THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE (1986). He made his
professional stage debut in 1956; his Broadway debut followed in 1959,
and his TV debut came in 1960. In 1965, he was seen as in the movie DR.
WHO AND THE DALEKS as well as the DOCTOR WHO serial THE MYTH MAKERS, the
latter of which is unfortunately missing in its entirety. He featured
prominently in the acclaimed 1968 miniseries THE CAESARS and in the
final four episodes of the hit drama THE POWER GAME in 1969. He also
played the title role in the 1967 film A CHALLENGE FOR ROBIN HOOD,
featured in Fred Zinnemann's classic thriller THE DAY OF THE JACKAL
(1973), played Irwin 1138 in the JOSH KIRBY... TIME WARRIOR! Movie
series, and appeared on such TV shows as THE AVENGERS, THE SWEENEY, THE
JEFFERSONS, ONE DAY AT A TIME, THE A-TEAM, MURDER, SHE WROTE, and A
TOUCH OF FROST. His notable stage credits included performing opposite
Angela Lansbury and then Dolores Gray in the 1973 London production of
GYPSY, playing King Pellinore in the 1981-82 revival of CAMELOT, being
part of the final cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's ASPECTS OF LOVE on
Broadway (1991-92), and co-starring in the Broadway musical JEKYLL &
HYDE (1997-2001).
JOSEPH R. JENNINGS (93); died April 1
Art director and production designer; was an assistant art director
under Matt Jefferies during the second season of the original STAR TREK
series before going on to become one of the Oscar-nominated art
directors of STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979) and then to serve as
the production designer of STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982). As
Jefferies' assistant on the original series, Jennings did not receive
on-screen credit, but his work impressed Jefferies enough that he later
recommended Jennings be brought on as art director of the proposed spin-
off series STAR TREK: PHASE II, a project which ultimately became STAR
TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE. One of Jennings' duties on the project was co-
designing (with production illustrator Mike Minor) the refit U.S.S.
ENTERPRISE as seen not only in THE MOTION PICTURE but also in the next
five STAR TREK films. Despite enduring behind-the-scenes drama on THE
MOTION PICTURE that prompted his early departure from the project,
Jennings returned to the STAR TREK franchise as production designer of
what ultimately became STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN. While working on
that film, he was partially responsible for the design of the U.S.S.
RELIANT studio model, which went on to appear in many other STAR TREK
productions, representing different starships of the same class. (CGI
versions of the design replaced the studio model in 1996.) Outside of
STAR TREK, Jennings worked on dozens of other projects, mostly for
television. He started out as an assistant art director on the series
THE WILD WILD WEST, after which he served as art director on the last
seven seasons of the long-running Western hit GUNSMOKE. He went on to
earn Emmy nominations for designing the landmark, epic miniseries ROOTS
(1977) and SHOGUN (1980), and he was later the production designer of
the miniseries SPACE (1985) and NORTH AND SOUTH, BOOK II (1986). He also
worked on TV shows such as PETROCELLI, BARBARY COAST, and PROJECT
U.F.O., while his many TV-movie credits include A DEATH OF INNOCENCE
(1971), THE GIRL MOST LIKELY TO... (1973), YESTERDAY'S CHILD (1977),
EVITA PERON (1981), GEORGE WASHINGTON II: THE FORGING OF A NATION
(1986), and GUNSMOKE: THE LAST APACHE (1990). He worked on only a
handful of theatrically-released films aside from the first two STAR
TREK movies, starting with the 1972 sports drama KANSAS CITY BOMBER, on
which he was the film's art director. He was also art director of the
1975 film GONE WITH THE WEST and later served as production designer on
a pair of '80s comedies: Mel Damski's YELLOWBEARD (1983) and Amy
Heckerling's JOHNNY DANGEROUSLY (1984). He retired in 1992 after
designing the Emmy-winning four-hour miniseries THE JACKSONS: AN
AMERICAN DREAM. His death on April 1 was announced by his son in the
September-October 2015 issue of the Art Directors Guild journal
PERSPECTIVE, which has sadly gone largely unnoticed.
GEORGE CLAYTON JOHNSON (86); died December 25
Legendary sci-fi writer who wrote the very first aired episode of the
original STAR TREK series, "The Man Trap." He was best known, for co-
authoring the classic novel LOGAN'S RUN, which served as the basis for
the 1976 film of the same name, and for writing several classic episodes
of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, including "A Penny for Your Thoughts," A Game of
Pool," "Nothing in the Dark" and "Kick the Can." He also wrote the
initial story on which the OCEAN'S ELEVEN films (1960; 2001-2007) were
based, co-scripted the Oscar-nominated animated short ICARUS MONGOLFIER
WRIGHT (1962) with Rod Serling, and worked on stories and/or scripts for
such TV shows as ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS, ROUTE 66, MR. NOVAK, HONEY
WEST and KUNG FU.
RANDY JONSSON (58); died July 7
Visual effects artist and cameraman who worked on STAR TREK III: THE
SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984) and STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME (1986) as a
VFX camera assistant for Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). He spent over
two decades working at ILM, where he also served as VFX camera assistant
on such films as RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983), INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE
OF DOOM (1984), BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985), LABYRINTH (1986), INNERSPACE
(1987), WILLOW (1988), and THE ABYSS (1989) before becoming a matchmove
artist. In this latter capacity, he helped create the effects for CGI
blockbusters such as THE LAST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK (1997), THE MUMMY
(1999), THE PERFECT STORM (2000), PEARL HARBOR (2001), PIRATES OF THE
CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (2003), HARRY POTTER AND THE
PRISONER OF AZKABAN (2004), and STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE
SITH (2005). He moved on to Kerner Optical in the late 2000s, where he
worked as a VFX camera assistant on PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S
END (2007) and WALL·E (2008).
PENNY L. JUDAY (60); died December 19
Art department coordinator for STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE and five
consecutive STAR TREK films: STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY
(1991), STAR TREK GENERATIONS (1994), STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT (1996),
STAR TREK: INSURRECTION (1998) and STAR TREK NEMESIS (2002). She was
also set buyer on DEEP SPACE NINE and production assistant on
GENERATIONS and made cameo appearances as a civilian in Ten Forward in
GENERATIONS and as a Ba'ku in INSURRECTION. As art department
coordinator, she was responsible for managing the props, set pieces,
models, blueprints, photographs, and many other parts of STAR TREK
history. She cataloged everything on the Paramount lot relating to STAR
TREK, and was the first person production designers or set dressers went
to when certain information or objects were needed. She also managed the
History of the Future museum at STAR TREK: THE EXPERIENCE in Las Vegas,
Nevada, in addition to coordinating the attraction's KLINGON ENCOUNTER
adventure. She was also project coordinator of STAR TREK: THE MAGAZINE
and the STAR TREK WORLD TOUR exhibit and was a researcher for the STAR
TREK FACT FILES. Outside of STAR TREK, she was a recurring background
performer on ROSEANNE and was art department coordinator for such films
as ON DEADLY GROUND (1994), ALIEN: RESURRECTION (1997), LARGER THAN LIFE
(1998) and YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN (2009) and on TV shows
including NCIS and E-RING. She died just two months before her husband,
veteran STAR TREK scenic artist Anthony Fredrickson (he'll be in STAR
TREK DEATHS IN 201).
DIANA R. LUPO; died December 5
Stuntwoman and actress who performed utility stunts in STAR TREK:
INSURRECTION (1998). She did stunt work in dozens of other films,
including THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK (1997), BLADE (1998), A.I.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (2001), TRAINING DAY (2001), PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE
(2002), LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION (2003), COLLATERAL (2004), SPIDER-
MAN 2 (2004), POSEIDON (2006), FAST & FURIOUS (2009), G.I. JOE: THE RISE
OF COBRA (2009), IRON MAN 2 (2010), INCEPTION (2010), TRANSFORMERS: DARK
OF THE MOON (2011), JOHN CARTER (2012), THE LAST STAND (2013), and THE
LONE RANGER (2013). She was among those nominated by for the Screen
Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Stunt Ensemble for TRANSFORMERS: DARK
OF THE MOON. She was also Jennifer Connelly's stunt double in THE HOUSE
OF SAND AND FOG (2003), Paula Patton's stunt double in DÉJÀ VU (2006),
Anne Hathaway's stunt double in GET SMART (2008), and Kate Beckinsale's
stunt double in PEARL HARBOR (2001), THE AVIATOR (2004) and VACANCY
(2007). On television, she doubled for Lena Headey on TERMINATOR: THE
SARAH CONOR CHRONICLES, Sarah Wayne Callies on PRISON BREAK, Gina
Bellman on LEVERAGE, Maggie Siff on SONS OF ANARCHY, and various
actresses on CSI: NY. Other TV shows on which she performed include 24,
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, BABYLON 5, BANSHEE, BAYWATCH, BONES, CHARMED, COLD
CASE, CRIMINAL MINDS, CSI, CSI: MIAMI, ER, HEROES, NASH BRIDGES, NCIS:
LOS ANGELES, THE O.C., THE PRETENDER, THAT '70S SHOW, TRUE BLOOD and THE
X-FILES. Please note that I have not been able to independently confirm
Lupo's death, but the source is very reliable.
DON MANKIEWICZ (93); died April 25
Screenwriter and novelist who wrote the story and co-wrote the teleplay
for the classic STAR TREK original series episode "Court Martial." He is
perhaps more widely known for co-scripting Robert Wise's acclaimed 1958
film I WANT TO LIVE!, for which he and co-writer Nelson Gidding received
an Oscar nomination for best adapted screenplay. He went on to earn Emmy
nominations for writing the pilot episodes of IRONSIDE and MARCUS WELBY,
M.D. He wrote for many other TV shows, including STUDIO ONE, ONE STEP
BEYOND, MANNIX, McMILLIAN & WIFE, SIMON & SIMON, and MACGYVER. His most
famous novel is the Harper Prize-winning TRIAL, which he also adapted
into a 1955 film of the same name.
ALAN MARCUS; died January 9
Stuntman and actor who played Yeoman Samno, one of the hitmen who kill
Chancellor Gorkon in STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY (1991), in
which he was also a stunt performer. Other films which feature his stunt
work include LONE WOLF McQUADE (1983), VOLUNTEERS (1985), THE HIDDEN
(1987), FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VII: THE NEW BLOOD (1988), RAMBO III
(1988), DEEPSTAR SIX (1989), THE RAPTURE (1991), MOM AND DAD SAVE THE
WORLD (1992), JASON GOES TO HELL: THE FINAL FRIDAY (1993), and FOUR
ROOMS (1995).
JERI McBRIDE; died March 15
Actress who played an ENTERPRISE technician in STAR TREK: THE MOTION
PICTURE (1979). She was previously featured as Tony Gazzo's (Joe
Spinell) girlfriend in the Oscar-winning drama ROCKY (1976) and also had
part on the soap operas GENERAL HOSPITAL and THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.
Her later career included appearances on the TV shows CHINA BEACH and
COLUMBO a role in the little-known film THE NOVEMBER MAN (1993). She was
married to STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE guest star James Wellington from
1991 until her death.
RUSTY McCLENNON (53); died April 30
Stuntman and actor who was the regular stunt double for Michael Dorn
(Worf) on STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION starting with the third season
and later doubled for Dorn in STAR TREK GENERATIONS (1994). He also
doubled actor-comedian Sinbad in several films, including NECESSARY
ROUGHNESS (1991), HOUSEGUEST (1995), FIRST KID (1996), JINGLE ALL THE
WAY (1996), and GOOD BURGER (1997). He was co-stunt coordinator on FIRST
KID, as well, and was stunt coordinator for WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE
(1993), OUT-OF-SYNC (1995), LOVE AND ACTION IN CHICAGO (1997), and THE
WASH (1997). His stunt work can also be seen in such films as I'M GONNA
GIT YOU SUCKA (1988), GLORY (1989), PREDATOR 2 (1990), DEEP COVER
(1992), FRIDAY (1995), THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU'RE DEAD (1995),
VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN (1995), LIFE (1999), GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS (2000),
and TRAINING DAY (2001).
JOHN MIRANDA (88); died February 3
Actor who appeared as one of the two garbagemen who witness the arrival
of Kirk and crew in STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME (1986). While most of
his other film roles were just as small, he did have the lead role in
his first movie, playing Sweeney Todd in Andy Milligan's low-budget
horror film BLOODTHIRTY BUTCHERS (1970). He later appeared in such films
as FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN (1980), MISCHIEF (1985), NEVER TOO YOUNG TO DIE
(1986), Joe Dante's INNERSPACE (1987), THE INVISBILE KID (1988), and
RESCUE ME (1992), and he also appeared on such TV shows as DARK SHADOWS,
THE PAPER CHASE, THREE'S COMPANY, HAPPY DAYS, MORK & MINDY, LAVERNE &
SHIRLEY, ST. ELSEWHERE, and MURDER, SHE WROTE.
KAREN MONTGOMERY (66); died December 4
Actress and film producer who played Beata in the "Angel One" episode of
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. She also appeared on such TV shows as
KOJAK, NERO WOLFE and L.A. LAW as well as films including Martin Brest's
GOING IN STYLE (1979), Paul Mazursky's WILLIE & PHIL (1980) and AMAZON
WOMEN ON THE MOON (1987). She worked behind-the-scenes on several films,
as well, including as an assistant to director Hal Ashby, screenwriter
Waldo Salt and producer Bruce Gilbert on their Oscar-winning drama
COMING HOME (1978) and as the supervising executive for Gilbert's
American Filmworks on Sidney Lumet's THE MORNING AFTER (1986). She later
served as associate producer on the film DIARY OF A HITMAN (1991), which
was directed by her former acting coach and close friend, Roy London.
Following London's death in 1993, Montgomery teamed with her husband,
director Christopher Monger, to produce the documentary SPECIAL THANKS
TO ROY LONDON (2005). She also worked as a producer on the films 'TIL
THERE WAS YOU (1997), ROW YOUR BOAT (1999), and A SENSE OF WONDER
(2008).
WILLIAM NEWMAN (80); died May 27
Character actor who played Kalin Trose in the STAR TREK: THE NEXT
GENERATION episode "The Host" in 1991. He is perhaps best remembered for
his appearance as the bland children's show host known as "Mr.
Sprinkles" in the hit Robin Williams comedy MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1993) and
for his recurring role as The Cape in the cult live-action version of
TV's THE TICK. He made his screen debut in the cult horror movie SQUIRM
(1976) and went on to appear in many other horror films, including the
Stephen King-written SILVER BULLET (1985), Wes Craven's THE SERPENT AND
THE RAINBOW and George A. Romero's MONKEY SHINES (both 1988), the
original LEPRECHAUN (1993), and Andrew Fleming's THE CRAFT (1993). He
can also be seen in such films as BRUBAKER (1980), Peter Weir's THE
MOSQUITO COAST (1986) and FEARLESS (1993), FUNNY FARM (1988), HERO
(1992), JURY DUTY (1995), TOM AND HUCK (1995), and FOR LOVE OF THE GAME
(1999), while other TV shows he appeared on include MATLOCK, KNOTS
LANDING, DR. QUINN MEDICINE WOMAN, PARTY OF FIVE, MAD ABOUT YOU, THE
DREW CAREY SHOW, and ANGEL.
LEONARD NIMOY (83); died February 27
Actor, director, photographer, poet, singer, songwriter, author, legend,
and mensch most identified with his iconic role of the half-Vulcan,
half-human Mr. Spock -- a character he portrayed on television, in film
and in other media over a period of nearly 50 years. He played Spock in
all 79 episodes of the original STAR TREK series (1966-1969), all 22
episodes of STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES, the first six STAR TREK
films (1979-1991), the two-part "Unification" episode of STAR TREK: THE
NEXT GENERATION, and in the recent J.J. Abrams-directed STAR TREK (2009)
and STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (2013), as well as a number of video games
and audio recordings. He also directed two entries in the film series,
namely STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984) and STAR TREK IV: THE
VOYAGE HOME (1986), and contributed to the stories of both of those
films as well as STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979) and STAR TREK VI:
THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY (1991). He received three consecutive Emmy
nominations between 1967 and 1969 for his portrayal of Spock in the
original series and earned Saturn Award nominations for his performances
in THE MOTION PICTURE and THE VOYAGE HOME and for his directing of THE
SEARCH FOR SPOCK and THE VOYAGE HOME. He also shared Hugo Award
nominations for Best Dramatic Presentation as a co-writer of THE SEARCH
FOR SPOCK, THE VOYAGE HOME and THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY. He is known for
much more than Spock and STAR TREK, however; many will also remember him
as master-of-disguise Paris on TV's MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE from 1969 to
1971, as host of the TV series IN SEARCH OF... from 1977 to 1982, and
as Dr. David Kibner in Philip Kaufman's acclaimed 1978 remake of
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. He also popped up in older films such as
THEM! (1954), THE BRAIN EATERS (1958), and THE BALCONY (1961) and on
classic TV shows including BONANZA, GUNSMOKE, WAGON TRAIN, DRAGNET,
COLUMBO, THE UNTOUCHABLES, GET SMART, and THE TWILIGHT ZONE. Thanks to
the internet (particularly YouTube), many will no doubt remember him for
singing "The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins" and for lip-synching to the song
for a now-famous 1967 guest appearance on the TV show MALIBU U. The
Television Academy recognized Nimoy with Emmy nominations not only for
STAR TREK but for his performance in the made-for-TV movie A WOMAN
CALLED GOLDA (1982). Those who grew up with Shelley Duvall's FAERIE TALE
THEATRE in the '80s will remember him as the Evil Moroccan Magician in
the 1986 episode "Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp." Younger viewers are
also more likely to recognize him for his voice work in such films as
THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE (1986), THE PAGEMASTER (1994), Disney's
ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE (2001), and Michael Bay's TRANSFORMERS: DARK
OF THE MOON (2009) and for his animated appearances on THE SIMPSONS. In
addition to STAR TREK III and IV, he also directed the hit comedy 3 MEN
AND A BABY (1987) and helmed few other films, including THE GOOD MOTHER
(1988), FUNNY ABOUT LOVE (1990) and HOLY MATRIMONY (1994). He more
recently played the recurring role of Dr. William Bell on the popular
FOX sci-fi drama series FRINGE from 2009 to 2012. But it was his work as
Spock for which he will always be most recognized and loved, and it was
in this role that he made his final screen appearance with a surprise
cameo in STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, bringing an end to a legendary career
spanning more than six decades.
JAN ODA (31); died February 25
Actress and model who appeared as a member of an alien race known as the
Ayt in the bar scene with Scotty and Keenser in STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS
(2013). A theater graduate of Fordham University in New York City, she
won an Obie Award for her performance in Matthew Maguire's ABANDON at
the city's La Mama Theatre. She also popped up in such features as
SPIDER-MAN 3 (2007), MAC & DEVIN GO TO HIGH SCHOOL (2012), and FIRE
CITY: END OF DAYS (2015), as well as a number of short films (including
2010's THE HIROSAKI PLAYERS and 2012's TRUE SKIN) and on TV shows
including PARKS AND RECREATION, IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA and
REAL HUSBANDS OF HOLLYWOOD.
GREGG PALMER (88); died October 31
Character actor who appeared, uncredited, as the rancher who is killed
by Morgan Earp (Rex Holman) in the STAR TREK original series episode
"Spectre of the Gun." It was fitting that his lone appearance on STAR
TREK was in a Western-themed episode as he was particularly known for
his prolific work in that genre. In addition to being in multiple
episodes of such Western TV shows as GUNSMOKE, BONANZA, WAGON TRAIN,
DEATH VALLEY DAYS, THE VIRGINIAN, HAVE GUN - WILL TRAVEL, THE LIFE AND
LEGEND OF WYATT EARP, and THE WILD WILD WEST, he also had roles in
several Western features, including six starring John Wayne: THE
COMANCHEROS (1961), Andrew V. McLaglen's THE UNDEFEATED (1969) and
CHISUM (1970), Howard Hawks' RIO LOBO (1970), George Sherman's BIG JAKE
(1971), and Wayne's final film, THE SHOOTIST (1976). He had previously
popped up in Budd Boetticher's THE CIMARRON KID (1952) and had a major
role in Douglas Sirk's Western TAZA, SON OF COCHISE (1954), and can also
be seen in McLaglen's James Stewart-fronted Westerns SHENANDOAH (1965)
and THE RARE BREED (1966). Some of his notable non-Western credits
include pivotal supporting roles in Sirk's MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION (1954),
the Audie Murphy biographical war drama TO HELL AND BACK (1955), and the
cult sci-fi horror movies THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US (1956) and FROM
HELL IT CAME (1957). He also had the starring roles in the horror film
ZOMBIES OF MORA TAU (1957) and the infamously bad crime drama THE REBEL
SET (1959). Other films in which he can be seen include ABBOTT AND
COSTELLO GO TO MARS (1953), the Martin & Lewis comedies MY FRIEND IRMA
GOES WEST (1950) and THAT'S MY BOY (1951), Disney's THE SHAGGY DOG
(1959) and THE ABSENT-MINDED PROFESSOR (1961), Norman Jewison's comedy
40 POUNDS OF TROUBLE (1962), Mark Robson's spy thriller THE PRIZE
(1963), Lamont Johnson's war drama THE MCKENZIE BREAK (1970), and Robert
Day's comedy THE MAN WITH BOGART'S FACE (1980). He has also appeared on
TV programs such as THE DANNY THOMAS SHOW, GET SMART, MISSION:
IMPOSSIBLE, 77 SUNSET STRIP, GOMER PYLE, USMC, CHiPs, QUINCY M.E., and
KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER.
OLAF POOLEY (101); died July 14
Actor and screenwriter who played the Cleric in the STAR TREK: VOYAGER
episode "Blink of an Eye," which was directed by his then-wife,
Gabrielle Beaumont. Pooley is perhaps best known for playing Professor
Stahlman in the seven-part DOCTOR WHO serial INFERNO in 1970 and for
becoming the oldest surviving actor to have appeared on that show. Some
of the other TV programs in which he appeared include MACGYVER, L.A.
LAW, HILL STREET BLUES, SCARECROW AND MRS. KING, THE SANDBAGGERS, THE
EXPERT, DIXON OF DOCK GREEN, H.G. WELLS' THE INVISIBLE MAN, DOOMWATCH,
and DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN, and even starred in the title role of the
short-lived U.K. series THE MASTER in 1966. He also had small roles in a
variety of films, including HIGHLY DANGEROUS (1950), GLORY AT SEA
(1952), ANASTASIA (1956), THE IRON PETTICOAT (1956), SINK THE BISMARCK!
(1960), THE PASSWORD IS COURAGE (1962), and THE ASSASSINATION BUREAU
(1969). In addition, he writer and director of a well-received but
little-known family comedy called THE JOHNSTOWN MONSTER (1971) and both
wrote and had a supporting role in the British horror film THE CORPSE
(1971). He later penned the screenplay of another British horror film,
THE GODSEND (1980), which was directed by Beaumont, and was uncredited
writer on Tobe Hooper's sci-fi horror film LIFEFORCE (1985). With Ellen
Albertini Dow's death on May 4 (see above), Pooley became the oldest-
living person to have been associated with STAR TREK; unfortunately, he
only held that distinction for a little over two months before passing
away himself. With his death, actor Norman Lloyd became the oldest-
living STAR TREK veteran.
ALAN D. PURWIN (54); died September 11
Helicopter pilot, stunt pilot, aerial coordinator, entrepreneur, and
philanthropist who assisted in the filming of well over 100 movies,
including J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK (2009), which utilized his skills as a
helicopter pilot for aerial cinematography. He started working in the
industry in the 1980s, doing aerial helicopter stunts for TV shows such
as THE A-TEAM and AIRWOLF, and earned his first film credit in the
action hit DIE HARD (1988). He went on to take part in the making of
such films as JURASSIC PARK (1993), SPEED (1994), TRUE LIES (1994), THE
ROCK (1996), AIR FORCE ONE (1997), RUSH HOUR (1998), ENEMY OF THE STATE
(1998), CHARLIE'S ANGELS (2000), PEARL HARBOR (2001), THE FAST AND THE
FURIOUS (2001), BAD BOYS II (2003), THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW (2004),
ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY (2004) and THE LEGEND CONTINUES
(2013), NATIONAL TREASURE (2004) and NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS
(2007), MR. & MRS. SMITH (2005), all four TRANSFORMERS movies (2007-
2014), PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END (2007) and ON STRANGER
TIDES (2011), TROPIC THUNDER (2008), FAST & FURIOUS (2009), THE HUNGER
GAMES: MOCKINGBIRD - PART 1 (2014) and PART 2 (2015), DIVERGENT (2014)
and INSURGENT (2015), FURIOUS 7 (2015), and STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
(2015). He also made cameo appearances in many of the films he worked
on, including THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK (1997), THE CELL (2000),
HANCOCK (2008), REAL STEEL (2011), ZERO DARK THIRTY (2013), and JURASSIC
WORLD (2015). He won a Taurus World Stunt Award for his aerial work on
PEARL HARBOR and was among those nominated by for the Screen Actors
Guild Award for Outstanding Stunt Ensemble for TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE
MOON (2011). His entrepreneurial ventures began in 1987 when he co-
founded the Van Nuys-based West Coast Helicopters, which he would merge
with Helinet Aviation after purchasing the latter company in 1998. In
2003 he bought a controlling in Cineflex, which had developed the first
aerial camera system capable of transmitting HD video from a helicopter
without loss of quality. Purwin was also chairman of ShotOver Camera
Systems, which provides gyro-stabilized aerial camera systems, and
founder of VideoFort, a supplier of HD and ultra HD aerial stock
footage. In 2005 Purwin's Helinet & Cineflex assisted the U.S. Coast
Guard and the Department of Homeland Security during Hurricane Katrina,
aiding in the rescue of many people while also providing aerial footage
of the storm zone for news media outlets. Purwin and Helinet also
provided free medical transport services to patients and hospitals in
Los Angeles, which included flying thousands of organ-transfer missions
for various hospitals and the annual transport of nearly 3,000 children
for Children's Hospital Los Angeles, for which Purwin served on the
Board of Trustees. All the while, he continued to work on major
Hollywood movies, and more of his work can be seen in upcoming
blockbusters such as BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, SUICIDE SQUAD,
and WARCRAFT, all due out later this year. Tragically, while in Colombia
working on the Doug Liman-directed Tom Cruise thriller MENA (scheduled
for 2017), Purwin and one other crew member were killed when a small
plane on which they were passengers ran into bad weather conditions and
crashed in the Colombian Andes.
DAVID SOMERVILLE (81); died July 14
Singer and actor who, credited as DAVID-TROY, appeared as Lieutenant
Larry Matson in the STAR TREK original series episode "The Consciences
of the King." He was co-founder and original lead vocalist of the 1950s
doo-wop group The Diamonds, best known for their 1957 hits "Little
Darlin'" and "The Stroll." Besides STAR TREK, he also popped up on shows
such as GOMER PYLE, U.S.M.C., McCLOUD, and QUINCY, M.E., as well as in
the film THE DARING DOBERMANS (1973). He later co-wrote the song
"Unknown Stuntman," the theme tune for ABC's hit Lee Majors-fronted
series THE FALL GUY, and even made an appearance in that show's pilot
episode.
JEREMY TARCHER (83); died September 20
Writer, producer, and publisher; co-wrote the STAR TREK original series
episode "The Lights of Zetar" with then-wife, Shari Lewis of "Lamb
Chop" fame. He had earlier helped develop and produce Lewis' first
network TV show, THE SHARI LEWIS SHOW on NBC, which ran from 1960 to
1963. Years later, in 1994, he and Lewis shared a Daytime Emmy
nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Children's Series for their work
on LAMB CHOP'S PLAY-ALONG. He is most famous, however, as a pioneering
publisher of best-selling non-fiction books on health, psychology and
New Age spirituality.
TOM TOWLES (65); died April 2
Character actor who played the Hon'Tihl, the first officer of the
Klingon attack cruiser Toh'Kaht, in the STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
episode "Dramatis Personae" and Doctor Vatm, a Nezu astrophysicist, in
the STAR TREK: VOYAGER episode "Rise." He was best known for his roles
in several horror films, particularly Otis in John McNaughton's HENRY:
PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (1986) and Harry Cooper in Tom Savini's
remake of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1990). His other notable horror
credits include McNaughton's THE BORROWER and Stuart Gordon's take on
THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM, both released in 1991, and, more recently, the
Rob Zombie-directed films HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES (2003), THE DEVIL'S
REJECTS (2005), and HALLOWEEN (2007). He also had roles in such films as
McNaughton's MAD DOG AND GLORY (1993) and NORMAL LIFE (1996), Gordon's
FORTRESS (1992), Taylor Hackford's BLOOD IN BLOOD OUT (1993), Michael
Bay's THE ROCK (1996), Vondie Curtis-Hall's GRIDLOCK'D (1997), William
Shatner's GROOM LAKE (2002), and Michael Mann's MIAMI VICE (2006). On
television, in addition to his STAR TREK guest spots, he played the
recurring role of Inspector Anthony Lastarza on NYPD BLUE from 1993-1994
and made appearances on such shows as SEINFELD, L.A. LAW, ER, 3RD ROCK
FROM THE SUN, THE DREW CAREY SHOW, FIREFLY, and MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE.
JOHN W. WHEELER (84); died November 26
Film editor who capped off a nearly four-decade career by editing STAR
TREK: FIRST CONTACT (1996). A member of American Cinema Editors (ACE)
for 56 years at the time of his death, Wheeler entered the field in 1957
at ABC before moving on to Republic Studios and then to Paramount, where
he spent a year assisting Ellsworth Hoagland in the editing of BONANZA.
He then worked on his first feature, assisting editor Howard Smith on
the Paramount comedy ALL IN A NIGHT'S WORK (1961) and went on to serve
as assistant editor on 15 more films over the next six years, all at
Paramount. He earned his first screen credits in 1968 as co-editor of
the Western films BUCKSKIN and FADE IN, after which he co-edited THE
STERILE CUCKOO (1969) for director Alan J. Pakula. Following his first
solo editing job on Noel Black's JENNIFER ON MY MIND (1971) and work on
the NBC series SEARCH, Wheeler re-teamed with Pakula to edit the
director's acclaimed political thriller THE PARALLAX VIEW (1974).
Wheeler went on to edit such films as Kirk Douglas' POSSE (1975), Harold
Becker's THE ONION FIELD (1979), Bill Persky's SERIAL (1980), John
Frankenheimer's THE CHALLENGE (1982), Michael Laughlin's STRANGE
INVADERS (1983), Bob Clark's RHINESTONE (1984), Sylvester Stallone's
ROCKY IV (1985), Harry Winer's SPACECAMP (1986), and Sidney J. Furie's
LADYBUGS (1992). He also edited several television projects for director
John Erman, including the TV movies GREEN EYES (1977) and THE BOYS NEXT
DOOR (1996) and the 1994 miniseries SCARLETT. His other TV credits
include seven episodes of the crime drama PETROCELLI, ten episodes of
the family drama FAMILY (including two for Erman and two episodes of the
1979 miniseries ROOTS: THE NEXT GENERATION (including one for Erman). He
also edited George Stevens Jr.'s two-part TV movie SEPARATE BUT EQUAL
(1991), Part II of which earned Wheeler an Emmy nomination for
Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or a Special and an Eddie
nomination from ACE for Best Edited Episode from a Television Mini-
Series. Although STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT was Wheeler's last project as
film editor, he continued working in the industry as a technology
supporter on the animated Disney films MULAN (1998), DINOSAUR (2000),
LILO & STITCH (2002), and BROTHER BEAR (2003) and later as an assistant
editor on Disney's BOLT (2008).
GRACE LEE WHITNEY (85); died May 1
Actress and singer best known for playing Yeoman Janice Rand in the
original STAR TREK series, appearing in eight episodes of the show's
first season before her character was written out. She returned to the
role of Rand--now a chief petty officer serving as transporter chief--in
STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979), after which she made cameo
appearances in the role in STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984)
and STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME (1986) and then twice played her as
the communications officer of the USS EXCELSIOR with the rank of
lieutenant junior grade--first in STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY
(1991) and again in the STAR TREK: VOYAGER episode "Flashback." She even
played Rand in two fan productions: the series STAR TREK NEW VOYAGES:
PHASE II, and the 2007 movie STAR TREK: OF GODS AND MEN, which proved to
be her last project. Earlier in her career, she appeared in Billy
Wilder's classic comedy SOME LIKE IT HOT (1958) as a member of the all-
female band which Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon's characters join to
escape from gangsters. She worked with Wilder again on the film IRMA LA
DOUCE (1963), in which she played the prostitute known as Kiki the
Cossack. She also had minor roles in such classic films as HOUSE OF WAX
(1953), THE NAKED AND THE DEAD (1958), and Frank Capra's POCKETFUL OF
MIRACLES (1961) and also made appearances on TV shows such as GUNSMOKE,
BATMAN, THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP, THE UNTOUCHABLES, THE REAL
McCOYS, 77 SUNSET STRIP, DEATH VALLEY DAYS, WAGON TRAIN, BEWITCHED,
CANNON, THE BIG VALLEY and DIAGNOSIS MURDER.
BERNARD "BERNIE" WILLIAMS (72); died January 4
Film producer, production manager and assistant director; was executive
producer and unit production manager on STAR TREK GENERATIONS (1994). He
started out as a third and later second assistant director on films such
as Robert Day's CALL ME GENIUS (1961), Val Guest's THE DAY THE EARTH
CAUGHT FIRE (1961), Alexander Mackendrick's SAMMY GOING SOUTH/A BOY TEN
FEET TALL (1963), Roger Corman's THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (1964),
Otto Preminger's BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING (1965), and Basil Dearden's
KHARTOUM (1966). He then moved into production, serving as unit manager
on Michael Anderson's THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM (1966) and on most of the
episodes of the cult British TV series THE PRISONER (1967-68). His first
producer credit was in Stanley Kubrick's A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971) as
associate producer, a title he also held on Kubrick's Oscar-winning
period drama BARRY LYNDON (1975). In the 1980s, he produced or executive
produced such films as FLASH GORDON (1980), Milos Forman's RAGTIME
(1981), Roger Donaldson's THE BOUNTY (1984), and Michael Mann's
MANHUNTER (1986). He went on to collaborate with director Frank Oz on
six films, starting with DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS (1988), on which
Williams was the producer and first assistant director. He later teamed
with Oz as co-producer of WHAT ABOUT BOB? (1991) and as both executive
producer and unit production manager of HOUSESITTER (1992), THE INDIAN
IN THE CUPBOARD (1995), BOWFINGER (1999), and THE SCORE (2001). His
other credits as executive producer and unit production manager include
the Mike Myers comedy SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER (1993), Bob
Rafelson's BLOOD AND WINE (1996), the superhero film DAREDEVIL (2003),
and the 2006 film adaptation of CHARLOTTE'S WEB.
JASON WINGREEN (95); died December 25
Prolific character actor who played Dr. Linke in the STAR TREK original
series episode "The Empath." He was best known for his role as bartender
Harry Snowden on the classic sitcom ALL IN THE FAMILY and its spinoff,
ARCHIE BUNKER'S PLACE, and for being the original voice of Boba Fett in
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980). He is also remembered for his brief role
as Police Captain Dorset in four episodes of THE UNTOUCHABLES in 1961
and for recurring as Judge Arthur Beaumont on MATLOCK from 1987 to 1991.
He appeared on countless other TV shows, including three or more
episodes each of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, IRONSIDE, THE F.B.I., THE FUGITIVE,
MANNIX, 12 O'CLOCK HIGH, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., DR. KILDARE, THE OUTER
LIMITS, BONANZA, ADAM-12, KOJAK, MARCUS WELBY, M.D. and others. Notable
films in which he can be seen include THE BRAVADOS (1958), THE SLENDER
THREAD (1965), A GUIDE TO THE MARRIED MAN (1967), THE CHEYENNE SOCIAL
CLUB (1970), THE DUNWICH HORROR (1970), HUSTLE (1975), and, perhaps most
memorably, the beloved disaster-movie spoof AIRPLANE! (1980), in which
he plays the doctor who discusses the needs of a heart transplant
patient -- while the still-beating donated heart bounces around his
desk.
-------------------------------
The following are STAR TREK DEATHS IN 2014 that I missed in last year's
post.
CARL FORTINA (84); died January 30, 2014
Accordionist and orchestra contractor who served the latter function on
STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979), STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME
(1986), STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY (1991) and STAR TREK
GENERATIONS (1994), as well as STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, STAR
TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE and STAR TREK: VOYAGER. His accordion playing can
be heard on the soundtracks of over 550 films, with perhaps his most
famous work being the theme for THE GODFATHER (1972). Other film scores
featuring his accordion include those of GIANT (1956), LOVE ME TENDER
(1956), BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S (1961), HATARI! (1962), HOW THE WEST WAS
WON (1962), CHARADE (1963), THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX (1965), GRAND PRIX
(1966), CAMELOT (1967), BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969), PAINT
YOUR WAGON (1969), KELLY'S HEROES (1970), PAT GARRETT & BILLY THE KID
(1973) and THE PARALLAX VIEW (1974). He also played on over 25,000
television episodes, including over 350 episodes of GUNSMOKE, more than
180 episodes of BONANZA and many of the episodes aforementioned STAR
TREK shows. He can also be heard on musical recordings, most notably the
Beach Boys tune "Wouldn't It Be Nice." He became the orchestra manager
for Paramount Pictures in 1976 and held the position for over 30 years,
during which he worked not only on the STAR TREK productions listed
above but also on such films as GREASE (1978), ESCAPE FROM ALCTATRAZ
(1979), AIRPLANE! (1980), RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981), POLICE ACADEMY
(1984), THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990), THE NAKED GUN 2 1/2: THE SMELL
OF FEAR (1991), THE NAKED GUN 33 1/3: THE FINAL INSULT (1994), CLUELESS
(1995) and John Carpenter's VAMPIRES (1998).
DON INGALLS (95); died March 10, 2014
TV writer and producer; wrote the STAR TREK original series episode "The
Alternative Factor" and, as Jud Crucis, developed the story for the
episode "A Private Little War." He wrote or co-wrote multiple episodes
each of such classic TV shows as HAVE GUN-WILL TRAVEL, GUNSMOKE, THE
VIRGINIAN, THE BIG VALLEY, BONANZA, POLICE STORY, and, most extensively,
FANTASY ISLAND, on which he was also executive story consultant from
1979 to 1980 and then a producer from 1980 until the show's end in 1984.
He also held producer titles on HAVE GUN - WILL TRAVEL, THE VIRGINIAN,
HONEY WEST, 12 O'CLOCK HIGH, and William Shatner's T.J. HOOKER, among
other shows. He was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for a
1967 episode of GUNSMOKE and is also noted for writing the Charles
Bronson-starring Western TV movie THE BULL OF THE WEST (1972), the film
AIRPORT 1975 (1974), the ABC horror movie THE INITIATION OF SARAH
(1978), and the infamous CAPTAIN AMERICA made-for-TV movie from 1979.
RANDY ROBERTS (69); died December 14
Film editor, producer and director; edited the STAR TREK: THE NEXT
GENERATION episode "Code of Honor." He was an assistant editor on films
such as JIMI HENDRIX (1973), FREEBIE AND THE BEAN (1974) and SPARKLE
(1976) before earning his first credit as a film editor with GREASED
LIGHTNING (1977). He went on to co-edit Ulu Grosbard's STRAIGHT TIME
(1978), Francis Ford Coppola's ONE FROM THE HEART (1981), Wim Wenders'
HAMMETT (1982), and JAWS 3-D (1983). He was also the editor of Rob
Cohen's directorial debut, A SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS (1980). He later
edited such TV shows as L.A. LAW, CHICAGO HOPE and EARLY EDITION, all
three of which earned him Eddie Award nominations from the American
Cinema Editors (ACE). He won an Eddie for an episode of CHICAGO HOPE in
1997, while a different episode of that series earned him an Emmy
nomination in 1995. He also directed episodes of all three of those
shows as well as QUANTUM LEAP, MIAMI VICE, TOUR OF DUTY, HUNTER and
more. He more recently served as co-producer, then as producer and
finally as supervising producer on LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT. He
served on ACE's board of directors for nearly two decades and was the
organization's vice president from 2005 to 2008 and its president from
2008 to 2012. In 2014, he received ACE's Heritage Award for his lifetime
commitment to the society and also received a Lifetime Achievement Award
from the Hollywood Post Alliance.
THOMAS W. SMALL (51); died November 27, 2014
Sound editor; was Paramount's assistant sound editor on STAR TREK
GENERATIONS (1994) and later supervising foley editor on STAR TREK:
INSURRECTION (1998), STAR TREK NEMESIS (2002) and J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK
(2009). He joined Paramount as an assistant sound editor in 1991, having
previously worked in that capacity on TriStar's BLIND FURY (1989), Buena
Vista's PRETTY WOMAN (1990), MR. DESTINY (1990) and V.I. WARSHAWSKI
(1991), New Line's TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II: THE SECRET OF THE
OOZE (1991), Paramount's THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1991) and 20th Century Fox's
MY COUSIN VINNY (1992). During his 15 years as an employee of Paramount,
he worked as assistant sound editor on such films as WAYNE'S WORLD
(1992), ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES (1993) and CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER (1994)
and then as a foley editor on films such as TOMMY BOY (1995), VIRTUOSITY
(1995) and PRIMAL FEAR (1996). Between 1996 and 2006, he was supervising
foley editor on dozens of Paramount films, including James Cameron's
Oscar-winning blockbuster TITANIC (1997), John Woo's FACE/OFF (1997) and
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II (2000), Tim Burton's SLEEPY HOLLOW (1999), Simon
West's THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER (1999) and LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER (2001),
John Singleton's SHAFT (2000) and FOUR BROTHERS (2005), Ben Stiller's
ZOOLANDER (2001), Cameron Crowe's VANILLA SKY (2001), F. Gary Gray's THE
ITALIAN JOB (2003), Trey Parker's TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE (2004),
J.J. Abrams' MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III (2006) and Bill Condon's DREAMGIRLS
(2006). He then left Paramount to become a freelance agent, though he
would work on a few more films for the studio, including THE SPIDERWICK
CHRONICLES (2008) and Christopher Nolan's INTERSTELLAR (2014). He also
worked as a foley editor on several Disney films, including PIRATES OF
THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END (2007) and ON STRANGER TIDES (2011),
PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (2010) and THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE
(2010), and was supervising foley editor for Sony's THE AMAZING SPIDER-
MAN (2012). Between 2011 and 2014, he was foley editor for several 20th
Century Fox films, including RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2011),
Crowe's WE BOUGHT A ZOO (2011), THE THREE STOOGES (2012), THE INTERNSHIP
(2013), X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (2014), DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE
APES (2014), THE MAZE RUNNER (2014) and NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: THE SECRET
OF THE TOMB (2014). He won a Golden Reel Award from the Motion Picture
Sound Editors for his work on TITANIC and went on to receive ten Golden
Reel nominations, including one for 2009's STAR TREK.
VENITA WOLF (70); died November 22, 2014
Actress who played Yeoman Teresa Ross in the STAR TREK original series
episode "The Squire of Gothos." She also appeared on such shows as
GUNSMOKE, THE MONKEES, THE FLYING NUN, THE WILD WILD WEST and FELONY
SQUAD, and had two recurring roles on THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, first as
Miss Murray in 1966 and then as Suzy from 1968 to 1969. Her only
feature-film credit was a supporting role in the comedy musical mystery
CATALINA CAPER (1967), though she also made an uncredited appearance in
the drama THE OSCAR (1966). In addition to her brief acting career, she
was a model and winner of numerous beauty contests. In 1962, she was
queen of the 1962 May Festival in Orange, California, and was named Miss
Orange County Press Club later that year. In 1967, she appeared on the
cover of the July issue of PLAYBOY.
-------------------------------
That's it, folks. Until next year -- live long and prosper.
Chuck
Mar 12, 2016, 5:53:04 PM3/12/16
to
Reposting the second half of the list because the text cuts off halfway
through on mobile devices without the option to show what's been
trimmed. You have to switch to desktop view and click "show trimmed
content" to view the entire post. I guess this year's post went a bit
too long. Anyway, below is the what was cut off.
-------------------------------------
through on mobile devices without the option to show what's been
trimmed. You have to switch to desktop view and click "show trimmed
content" to view the entire post. I guess this year's post went a bit
too long. Anyway, below is the what was cut off.
-------------------------------------
Sarah Ehrett
Mar 12, 2016, 9:07:54 PM3/12/16
to
On Fri, 11 Mar 2016 18:34:23 -0000 (UTC), Chuck
<trekke...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>My sincerest apologies for being so late with this year's STAR TREK
>DEATHS post. Work, family and other obligations have prevented me from
>devoting much time to it, and the little bit I had worked on got wiped
>out (don't ask). But it's here now, so on we go.
Chuck, thank you for putting in the time and effort to compile these
<trekke...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>My sincerest apologies for being so late with this year's STAR TREK
>DEATHS post. Work, family and other obligations have prevented me from
>devoting much time to it, and the little bit I had worked on got wiped
>out (don't ask). But it's here now, so on we go.
lists. I'm a Star Trek fan and hope you will continue to do them in
the future.
Sarah
Chuck
Mar 13, 2016, 7:01:56 AM3/13/16
to
Sarah Ehrett <nine...@cox.net> wrote in
news:epi9ebl4jvpho7kqv...@4ax.com:
You're very welcome, Sarah. Always glad to hear from people who appreciate
these posts. As for the future, I've been doing these for going on ten
years now, and I presently have no intention of stopping. :) Thank you very
much for the feedback and, of course, for reading! :)
~~~Chuck
news:epi9ebl4jvpho7kqv...@4ax.com:
these posts. As for the future, I've been doing these for going on ten
years now, and I presently have no intention of stopping. :) Thank you very
much for the feedback and, of course, for reading! :)
~~~Chuck
Sarah Ehrett
Mar 15, 2016, 7:36:59 PM3/15/16
to
On Sun, 13 Mar 2016 10:58:48 -0000 (UTC), Chuck
Death Lists and I should have thanked you before this.
Sadly, in increasing frequency, my favorites from TV, movies, and
music are dying off.
Two names on this years list were particularly hard on me to read.
The first of course was Leonard Nimoy. While his death may not have
been a shock considering his age and health issues [COPD] nonetheless
it was a jolt to the system when he passed in February. Damn
cigarettes.
The second was James Horner. I've always been a huge fan of film
scores, soundtracks, and even gaming music. :)
From your write up:
" Often ranked alongside the likes of John Williams and Jerry
Goldsmith as one of the great modern film composers, Horner was--and
will forever remain--a titan and a legend in the world of film music.
I couldn't have said it better.
Thanks again.
Cheers,
Sarah
<trekke...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Sarah Ehrett <nine...@cox.net> wrote in
>news:epi9ebl4jvpho7kqv...@4ax.com:
>
>> On Fri, 11 Mar 2016 18:34:23 -0000 (UTC), Chuck
>> <trekke...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>My sincerest apologies for being so late with this year's STAR TREK
>>>DEATHS post. Work, family and other obligations have prevented me from
>>>devoting much time to it, and the little bit I had worked on got wiped
>>>out (don't ask). But it's here now, so on we go.
>>
>> Chuck, thank you for putting in the time and effort to compile these
>> lists. I'm a Star Trek fan and hope you will continue to do them in
>> the future.
>>
>> Sarah
>>
>
>You're very welcome, Sarah. Always glad to hear from people who appreciate
>these posts. As for the future, I've been doing these for going on ten
>years now, and I presently have no intention of stopping. :) Thank you very
>much for the feedback and, of course, for reading! :)
>
>~~~Chuck
You're very welcome, Chuck. I've always read your annual Star Trek
>Sarah Ehrett <nine...@cox.net> wrote in
>news:epi9ebl4jvpho7kqv...@4ax.com:
>
>> On Fri, 11 Mar 2016 18:34:23 -0000 (UTC), Chuck
>> <trekke...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>My sincerest apologies for being so late with this year's STAR TREK
>>>DEATHS post. Work, family and other obligations have prevented me from
>>>devoting much time to it, and the little bit I had worked on got wiped
>>>out (don't ask). But it's here now, so on we go.
>>
>> Chuck, thank you for putting in the time and effort to compile these
>> lists. I'm a Star Trek fan and hope you will continue to do them in
>> the future.
>>
>> Sarah
>>
>
>You're very welcome, Sarah. Always glad to hear from people who appreciate
>these posts. As for the future, I've been doing these for going on ten
>years now, and I presently have no intention of stopping. :) Thank you very
>much for the feedback and, of course, for reading! :)
>
>~~~Chuck
Death Lists and I should have thanked you before this.
Sadly, in increasing frequency, my favorites from TV, movies, and
music are dying off.
Two names on this years list were particularly hard on me to read.
The first of course was Leonard Nimoy. While his death may not have
been a shock considering his age and health issues [COPD] nonetheless
it was a jolt to the system when he passed in February. Damn
cigarettes.
The second was James Horner. I've always been a huge fan of film
scores, soundtracks, and even gaming music. :)
From your write up:
" Often ranked alongside the likes of John Williams and Jerry
Goldsmith as one of the great modern film composers, Horner was--and
will forever remain--a titan and a legend in the world of film music.
Thanks again.
Cheers,
Sarah
danny burstein
Mar 16, 2016, 2:50:14 PM3/16/16
to
In <4e9jebtks8mqngtli...@4ax.com> David Carson <da...@neosoft.com> writes:
>>LEONARD NIMOY (83); died February 27
>>LEONARD NIMOY (83); died February 27
>>as Dr. David Kibner in Philip Kaufman's acclaimed 1978 remake of
>>INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. He also popped up in older films such as
>>THEM! (1954), THE BRAIN EATERS (1958),
In which he was credit as Leanord Nemoy
>>INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. He also popped up in older films such as
>>THEM! (1954), THE BRAIN EATERS (1958),
>Don't forget this:
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C70QRbawN8
What I'd love to track down:
About a decade ago one of the Religious Channels showed
an inspirational piece from 1960 or so. The plot, so
to speak, had a bunch of people on an airplane flying
from the US to a European country.
This is back when places actually had walking
around room in the cabin.
One of the passengers was some sort of important person
(scientist, maybe?) who was going to defect. There was
a priest on board trying to convince him not to.
I don't quite recall whether Nimoy was the potential
defector or the priest.
- Memory on this is a bit vague, alas. And never been
able to track it back.
--
_____________________________________________________
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
dan...@panix.com
[to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]
norabbi...@gmail.com
Mar 16, 2016, 6:10:55 PM3/16/16
to
IMDb says he did an episode of the syndicated drama anthology This is the Life entitled "Destination Unknown", playing "Werner."
A TV Guide listing for Sunday morning December 16, 1962 (WFBC, Channel 4, Greenville. SC) says:
4 This Is The Life - Religion
"Destination Unknown." A Protestant minister and a Communist discuss their philosophies during a jet flight.
A TV Guide listing for Sunday morning December 16, 1962 (WFBC, Channel 4, Greenville. SC) says:
4 This Is The Life - Religion
"Destination Unknown." A Protestant minister and a Communist discuss their philosophies during a jet flight.
danny burstein
Mar 16, 2016, 8:55:59 PM3/16/16
to
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