Time Tunnel, Cyborg 2087, The Immortal, LOTR, Andromeda, V, Stargate SG-1, Tarzan, Dark Shadows, Ark 2, Rocky Jone:Space Ranger

All the birthdays for today are of great people who did great work in the field of sci-fi but one in particular surprised me when I saw just how much he had done before his final role. That actor is John Banner. Most of you will know him as the lovable and bumbling Sgt. Shultz from Hogan's Heroes (which falls completely out of the genre of sci-fi but gets mentioned because Dell did a comic book series on it). His work prior to HH began with the Lone Ranger in 1950 and wound it's way through a number of the series that kept kids glued in their seats through to 1964. Take an extra moment and look into the series he worked on, you'll be surprised at some of the ground breaking ideas they created that we think of as common fare in sci-fi today, automatic opening doors being just one of them.

Birthdays

Arnold Moss 1910, actor, Prof. Russell - Tales of Tomorrow (2 episodes, 1952-1953), The Alien - The 27th Day (1957), Karidian - Star Trek (1 episode, 1966), Malek - The Time Tunnel (1 episode, 1967),

John Davis Chandler 1937, actor, Eric - The Incredible Hulk (1 episode, 1979), Gentry - Airwolf (1984) (TV), Zeb - Carnosaur 2 (1995), Flith - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1 episode, 1998).

John Beck 1943, actor, Skinny - Cyborg 2087 (1966), Neil Perry - The Time Machine (1978) (TV), Major Alex McAndrews - The Twilight Zone (1 episode, 1989), Waiter - Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), Boone - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1 episode, 1994), Rebel General - Dark Planet (1996), Frank Castle / The Punisher - Spider-Man (3 episodes, 1995-1997), Forrester Purdue / Mason Fawkes - The Invisible Man (1 episode, 2001), O'Rourke - Timecop: The Berlin Decision (2003) (V).

Jeri Lynn Mooney 1944, actress, Gloria - Tarzan (1 episode, 1968), Mara - Star Trek (1 episode, 1968), Mrs. Garak - Land of the Giants (1 episode, 1969), Annie Williams - The Immortal" (1 episode, 1970), Eve Costigan - The Fantastic Journey (1 episode, 1977).

Elijah Wood 1981, actor, Leo Biederman - Deep Impact (1998), Frodo Baggins - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), Tom Thumb - The Adventures of Tom Thumb & Thumbelina (2002) (voice), Jason - King of the Hill (1 episode, 2004), Kevin - Sin City (2005), Bailiff - Robot Chicken (1 episode, 2006), Mumble - Happy Feet (2006) (voice), Ethan - American Dad (1 episode, 2006).

Keith Hamilton Cobb 1962, actor, Dilah - Total Recall 2070 (1999) TV series, Commander Skyles - The Twilight Zone (1 episode, 2003), Tyr Anasazi - Andromeda (68 episodes, 2000-2003).

John Caliri 1960, actor, The Greatest American Hero (1 episode, 1981), Barry Boddicker - V (1 episode, 1984), Matt Winnaker - The Twilight Zone (segment "Welcome to Winfield") (1 episode, 1986).

Harley Jane Kozak 1957, actress, Karen Garrett - The Android Affair (1995) (TV), Col. Liz Brendan, Rebel - Dark Planet (1996), Prisoner No. 98843 - The Outer Limits (1 episode, 1997), Sara O'Neill - Stargate SG-1 (1 episode, 1997).

Susan Howard 1944, actress, Gloria - Tarzan (1 episode, 1968), Mara - Star Trek (1 episode, 1968), Mrs. Garak - Land of the Giants (1 episode, 1969), Annie Williams - The Immortal (1 episode, 1970), Eve Costigan - The Fantastic Journey (1 episode, 1977).

Joel Crothers 1941, actor, Joe Haskell / Lt. Nathan Forbes - Dark Shadows (169 episodes, 1966-1969).

Vito Scotti 1918, actor, Sanella - Conquest of Space (1955), Tony Trusco - Steve Canyon (1 episode, 1959), Chato - Zorro (2 episodes, 1960), Topage - Master of the World (1961), Peddler /Rudolpho - The Twilight Zone (2 episodes, 1960-1962), Junkyard Manager /Waiter at Lucky Shamrock Cafe - My Favorite Martian (2 episodes, 1963-1964), Matey Dee - Batman (2 episodes, 1966), Peppo - The AristoCats (1970) (voice), 2nd Taxi Driver - The Six Million Dollar Man: Solid Gold Kidnapping (1973) (TV), Scientist #2 - The Lost Saucer (1 episode, 1975), Romero - The Bionic Woman (2 episodes, 1976), Sancho Panza - Ark II (1 episode, 1976).

John Banner 1910, actor, Baron Paul Von Bader - The Lone Ranger (1 episode, 1950), Bovaro - Rocky Jones, Space Ranger (4 episodes, 1954), Goronov / Van Ronk - Captain Midnight (2 episodes, 1954-1955), Brunner - Sheena: Queen of the Jungle (1 episode, 1956), Bronsky - Adventures of Superman (1 episode, 1957), Doctor Molhaus - Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond (1 episode, 1960), Russian Chairman - Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1 episode, 1964), Sgt. Hans Georg Schultz - Hogan's Heroes (168 episodes, 1965-1971).

Events

1998, Babylon 5 Episode 90 - "The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari" first aired

1991, Star Trek:TNG: "The Wounded" airs.

2005, Star Trek:Enterprise "Babel One" airs.