More From 2004

DAYTON ALLEN-was a voice actor on many cartoons. His most famous include DEPUTY DAWG and both HECKLE & JECKLE. Originally from NYC he died Nov. 24 of a stroke. He was 85.

HARRY LAMPERT-created the original version of the DC comic book superhero "The Flash" in the 1940's. He started out as an inker for The Fleischer Bros. Studio. He later wrote many gag cartoons and instructional books about the card game Bridge. From NYC, he died Nov. 13 of cancer. He was 88.

ROBERT LANG-was a British stage actor and director who appeared in many films including OTHELLO, A WALK WITH LOVE AND DEATH, THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD, SAVAGE MESSIAH, NIGHT WATCH, SHOUT AT THE DEVIL, THE MEDUSA TOUCH, THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY, KING LEAR, THE TRIAL, FOUR WEDDINGS & A FUNERAL and others. He died Nov. 6 of cancer. He was 70.

NORMAN ROSE-was an actor and narrator who appeared in movies including THE JOE LOUIS STORY, PINOCCHIO IN OUTER SPACE, THE ANDERSON TAPES, THE FRONT, MESSAGE FROM SPACE, RADIO DAYS and others. He was also seen in several soap operas and TV shows. He died Nov. 12. He was 87.ED WATERS-was a TV and film writer. His movie credits include Roger Corman's SORORITY GIRL, THE CAPER OF THE GOLDEN BULLS, THE MEANEST MEN IN THE WEST and THE INTRUDER WITHIN. On TV he wrote episodes of COMBAT!, THE FBI, MANNIX, KUNG-FU and BARETTA. He died Oct. 6. He was 74.

TERRY MELCHER-was a record producer and songwriter. He produced records for The Byrds (including "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn, Turn, Turn), Ry Cooder, Paul Revere & The Raiders and The Beach Boys (he co-wrote their later Brian Wilson-less hit "Kokomo"). He was also excutive producer of THE DORIS DAY SHOW from 1968-72, which starred his mother. He became linked with mass murderer Charles Manson (who also had Beach Boy connections) through a house he rented to Manson victim Sharon Tate. Some say Melcher was the real target of Manson's maddness for having turned down Manson for a record contract! He died Nov. 20 of a long illness. He was 64.

KATHERINE VICTOR-Oct. 22-(81)-Actress know for her low budget movie appearances, most notably as the lead in Jerry Warren’s THE WILD WORLD OF BATWOMAN. Originally born Katena Ktenavena in Hell’s Kitchen in NYC, she made her screen debut (as Katina Vea) in the whacked out MESA OF LOST WOMEN in 1953. Warren used her in the added American scenes of two of his infamous “paste-up” jobs: the Lapland produced INVASION OF THE ANIMAL PEOPLE and the Mexico made CURSE OF THE STONE HAND. She also starred in his “original” productions TEENAGE ZOMBIES and CREATURE OF THE WALKING DEAD. She even came out of a 20-year acting retirement for a role in his last movie the confused FRANKENSTEIN’S ISLAND. Other weirdness includes CAPE CANAVERAL MONSTERS, HOUSE OF BLACK DEATH and an episode of TV’s BEN CASEY! She was in Fred Olen Ray’s FUGITIVE RAGE in 1996 and the 2002 obscurity SUPERGUY: BEHIND THE CAPE, though outside of acting she worked in the animation field for almost 40 years doing projects for Walt Disney, Don Buth and Hanna-Barbera.

JIMMY TAPP-Nov. 23-(86)-was a Canadian news broadcaster and game show host who voiced the title character in the 1960’s cartoon THE MIGHTY HERCULES (“Olympia!”).He died one week after being inducted into the Canadian Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

PHILIPPE de BROCA-Nov. 26-(71)-French filmmaker best known in the US for the cult hit KING OF HEARTS. He began his career as an assistant director for Claude Chabrol and Jean Luc Godard.

SHOGO SHIMADA-Nov. 27-(98)-was a veteran Japanese actor who performed in Japan’s New National Theater from 1923 to1987 (the year it was disbanded). Some movie appearances include ZATOICHI AND THE CHEST OF GOLD, TIDAL WAVE, THE CHALLENGE and DOOMED MEGAPOLIS.

LARRY BUCHANAN-The man who made ZONTAR-THE THING FROM VENUS, MARS NEEDS WOMEN, DOWN ON US has left us. Larry Buchanan died in Tucson, Arizona of complications from a collapsed lung on Dec. 8th.
He was 81. As recently as three weeks ago he was finishing up what will become his final film THE COPPER SCROLL OF MARY MADAGLENE, a bio of Jesus Christ. (His version of THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST perhaps?). Buchanan was a big time conspiracy buff and and made several films about The Kennedy Assassination and Marilyn Monroe. He made THE TRIAL OF LEE HARVEY OSWALD (a fictional "What If" story) before it was done on TV and his DOWN ON US (aka BEYOND THE DOORS) tells the story of how the CIA killed off Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. His most notorius films were a bunch he for AIP-TV in the '60's. A most of them were remakes of Roger Corman classics from the '50's but a couple like MARS NEEDS WOMEN were kind of original. His STRAWBERRIES NEED RAIN is said to be "Bergmanesque".

JOHN DREW BARRYMORE-Nov. 29-(72)-son of the legendary actor John Barrymore (The Great Profile). He also acted under the name John Barrymore Jr. His mother was actress Delores Costello and he was the father of actress Drew Barrymore. Movies include: THE SUNDOWNERS, QUEBEC, Joseph Losey’s THE BIG NIGHT, Fritz Lang’s WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS, HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL, NEVER LOVE A STRANGER, THE NIGHT THEY KILLED RASPUTIN, THE TROJAN HORSE (as Ulysses), PONTIUS PILATE (as both Judas & Jesus), THE KEELER AFFAIR, THE CLONES and BABY BLUE MARINE (an uncredited role and his last, in 1976). After the Fifties he made most of his movies in European productions. He appeared on many TV shows including RAWHIDE, THE WILD WILD WEST and KUNG –FU. The cause of death was not announced but he’d suffered from drug, alcohol and mental problems for most of his later life.

MARIA PERSCHY-Dec. 2-(66)-Austrian born actress who made many films in several different genres but many horror fans known her for her appearances in the films of Jess Franco & Paul Naschy. Movies include: John Huston’s FREUD, THE MAD EXECUTIONERS, OPERATION HONG KONG, KISS KISS KILL KILL, WITCH WITHOUT A BROOM, ISLE OF LOST WOMEN, THE CASTLE OF FU MANCHU, MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE, HUNCHBACK OF THE MORGUE, HOUSE OF PSYCHOTIC WOMEN, SHIP OF ZOMBIES, THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THE DARK and many other European productions. She was also a regular on the soap opera GENERAL HOSPITAL in 1977. She died of cancer.

FRANCES CHANEY-Dec. 5-(89)-a radio actress (GANGBUSTERS, TOPPER, TERRY & THE PIRATES) who film career was cut short when she was placed on The Hollywood Blacklist along with her husband author Ring Lardner Jr. (One of the so called “Hollywood Ten”). She later understudied fo many famous actress’ in Broadway and Off-Broadway plays. In the ‘60’s she was a regular on the TV soap opera THE EDGE OF NIGHT. Her few movie appearances include THE SEVEN-UPS, WHEN HARY MET SALLY and PAINT IT BLACK. Originally from The Ukraine, she died of Alzheimer’s disease in her Manhattan home.

BOB HANEY-Nov. 25-(78)-was a long time comic book writer for DC Comics beginning in 1956. He co-created the original Teen Titans, The Doom Patrol and Metamorpho. He also had a long stint the Batman team-up comic The Brave & The Bold. He also wrote scripts for Superman and Aquaman cartoons in the ‘60’s and produced several shows for Rankin-Bass including THUNDER CATS. He worked at DC till the mid ‘80’s and later wrote books on carpentry though he appeared at several San Diego comic cons. He died of complications of a stroke.

WILLIAM SACKHEIM-Dec.6-(84)-was an Emmy winning television producer who co-wrote the first RAMBO movie. Shows he produced included THE FLYING NUN, GIDGET and DELVECCIO. He’s also credited with hiring a young Steven Spielberg to direct an episode of the TV movie pilot NIGHT GALLERY. He also produced the big screen movies THE IN-LAWS, PACIFIC HEIGHTS and THE HARD WAY. He died of a degenerate brain disease.

CARL ESMOND-Dec. 3-(97)-Viennese born actor who began his career in Germany and settled in Hollywood where he made many feature films and TV programs. He played Victor Lazlo in a TV production of CASABLANCA in the early ‘50’s and also guest starred in TV shows including 77 SUNSET STRIP, MAVERICK, McMILLAN & WIFE and others. His feature films include THE DAWN PATROL (his US debut), MINISTRY OF FEAR, WALK A CROOKED MILE, FROM THEEARTH TO THE MOON, CATMAN OF PARIS, HITLER, THE KISS OF THE VAMPIRE, AGENT FOR H.A.R.M. and MY WICKED WICKED WAYS (a TV bio of Errol Flynn; his last film in 1985).