Last Call: Science Fiction and Horror Passings - May 2008

John Phillip Law, 70. Actor, best-known as Sinbad in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1974) and as Pygar, the blind angel, the male lead in Jane Fonda science-fiction starrer Barbarella (1968). Genre work also included the lead in Mario Bava's Euro comic-based Diabolik (1968), Space Mutiny (1988), Alienator (1990), and an appearance in Bo Derek's Tarzan the Ape Man (1981). Died May 13, 2008.

Bernard Archard, 91. British actor. Appeared in almost 100 films and TV shows. Genre work included TV's original "Dr. Who", Krull (1983), The Horror of Frankenstein (1970), Village of the Damned (1960),and Corridors of Blood (1958). Died May 1, 2008

Terry Duggan, 76. British actor, comedian. Genre work includes his role as a pre-human attacked by a leopard in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Also appeared in "The X-Files" and The Horror of Frankenstien (1970). Died May 1, 2008.

Zekial Marko, 74. Actor, writer and novelist who used pseudonym John Trinian. Genre work included writing "The Zombie" episode of the classic "Kochak: The Night Stalker" in which a trembling Kolchak tries to sew shut the zombie's salt-filled mouth. Of emphysemia, May 9, 2008

Robert Russell, 71. Actor with more than 60 movie and TV roles, best known as Vincent Price's assistant in The Witchfinder General (1968). Also appeared in Bedazzled (1967) and, among numerous TV roles, "Dr. Who" and "Space: 1999". Of a heart attack May 12, 2008

Rosario Prestopino. Italian makeup artist on more than 40 movies. Worked on Dario Argento's Opera(1987), on five Lucio Fulci movies including The New York Ripper (1982), The Black Cat (1989), and Zombie (1979), and on four Lamberto Bava films. Of a heart attack May 13, 2008

John Forbes-Robertson, 80. Played Dracula opposite Peter Cushing's Van Helsing after Christopher Lee turned down the part in the experimental blend of Hammer horror and kung-fu of The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974). He had many other roles, and his genre work also included Hammer's The Vampire Lovers (1970), Vault of Horror (1973), Lifeforce (1985),and Venom (1981). Died May 14, 2008.

Alexander Courage, 88. Composer of the iconic classic "Star Trek" theme. Often worked with Jerry Goldsmith. Had two Oscar nominations and three Emmy nominations on his resume. Worked on more than 100 films and TV shows, including Superman IV (1987), The Mummy (1999), The Haunting (1999), Deep Rising (1998) The Shadow (1994), Jurassic Park (1993), and TV's "Lost in Space." Died May 15, 2008

Sandy Howard, 80 Producer, director. Started out directing on "The Howdy Doody Show", then producer "Captain Kangaroo," went on to produce in film. Genre work includes The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977), the monster movie Blue Monkey (1987), What Waits Below (1984), Meteor (1979), Embryo (1976), The Devil's Rain (1975), and The Neptune Factor (1973). Of Alzheimer's disease May 16, 2008

Donald Murphy, 90. Actor. Appeared in a number of movies and TV shows. Most notable genre work was as Dr. Otto Frank in Frankenstein's Daughter (1958). Died May 19, 2008

Harry Lange, 77. Art director, twice nominated for Oscars. Worked on 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Also, The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), Moonraker (1979), and Superman II (1980). Died May 22, 2008.

Robert Knox, 18. Actor in the pending Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Killed when stabbed while defending his brother in a bar fight, May 24, 2008.

Robert H. Justman, 81. Star Trek producer, and director. Associate producer on the original "Star Trek" series, also supervising producer of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Other genre work included producing George Reeves' "The Adventures of Superman." Of complications from Parkinson's Disease,May 28, 2008.

Harvey Korman, 81. Comedian and actor in more than 100 movies and TV shows. The star of The Carol Burnett Show, did a lot of work for Mel Brooks including the genre comedy Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995) and the "Star Wars Holiday Special." Of abdominal aneurysm, May 29, 2008

Also of note:

Ted Key, 95 Cartoonist, creator of Hazel, the maid, and the time-travelling Mr. Peabody and his boy, Sherman featured on "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle". Writing credits included The Cat From Outer Space (1978) and Gus (1976). Of cancer,May 3, 3008.