SCIFIPEDIA:This Day in SCI FI/June 2006

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June 1

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock opens (1984). Leonard Nimoy directs the third installment in the Star Trek big-screen series. In this outing, Captain Kirk and the Enterprise senior officers plot to steal their own ship from spacedock and rescue Spock's body and soul from the clutches of a homicidal Klingon commander. Needless to say, fans of the series turn this Search into a major summer hit.

Twilight Zone: The Movie opens (1983). Directors Steven Spielberg (E.T.), John Landis (An American Werewolf in London), Joe Dante (Gremlins), and George Miller (The Road Warrior) join forces to translate Rod Serling's classic series to the big screen. Three of the four tales are direct remakes of especially memorable episodes from the original series.

Lisa Hartman is born (1956). Hartman continued the tradition established by Elizabeth Montgomery when she starred as the adult Tabitha Stephens on the 1977 television series Tabitha. Later, she took a job in director Wes Craven's Deadly Blessing (1981), a horror movie about evil doings in a religious cult. Hartman was born in Houston, Texas, USA.

June 2

First issue of Spawn ships (1992). Todd McFarland's hugely popular and often-imitated comic launches its first issue today. Lieutenant Colonel Al Simmon's wife Wanda, daughter Cyan, and best friend Terry Fitzgerald all have real-life counterparts. They're named after Todd's wife, daughter, and amigo.

Producer Jon Peters is born (1945). After hairdresser-turned-producer Jon Peters retired his blow-dryer and split up with paramour Barbra Streisand, he went on to become a Hollywood heavy-hitter. He acted as executive producer on a string of hit films, including such genre titles as Batman Returns (1992), Batman (1989), Innerspace (1987) and The Witches of Eastwick (1987). Earlier in his career, he honed his skills on memorable thrillers like An American Werewolf in London (1981) and Eyes of Laura Mars (1978).

Lester Del Rey is born (1915). Del Rey was a distinguished writer (Nerve, And Some Were Human, Mortals and Monsters) before he and his wife, Judy-Lynn Benjamin Del Rey, took over the Ballantine Books science fiction publishing program, later renamed Del Rey Books and turned it into the powerhouse publisher of Stephen R. Donaldson, Terry Brooks, and many other bestselling writers.

June 3

Big opens (1988). Big, a modern fairy tale about a young boy who magically becomes an adult overnight, makes a very big star of actor Tom Hanks, who received his first Oscar nomination for this inventive performance. The movie also put director Penny Marshall, formerly of television's Laverne and Shirley, on the A-list of Hollywood directors.

WarGames opens (1983). Matthew Broderick played a young man who finds a back door into a U.S. military computer system and inadvertently prompts the start of World War III in this hit thriller directed by John Badham (Dracula (1979 movie). WarGames, which also stars the young Ally Sheedy, goes on to score big at the summer box office.

The Raven opens (1935). This classic poem by Edgar Allan Poe has been made into a motion picture numerous times. This version is indeed a dark little gem and stars Boris Karloff as Edmond Bateman and Bela Lugosi as Dr. Richard Vollin. In this interpretation, Lugosi plays an eccentric surgeon with a penchant for Poe who is called upon to save the life of a brain-damaged girl. He becomes obsessed with her, envisioning her as his "Lenore." Sadism and the macabre ensue when Lugosi plots to kidnap the girl and kill her fiancé and father in his "Poe-etic" dungeon. Directing credit goes to Lew Landers and scriptwriting credit goes to David Boehm and Jim Tully.

Marion Zimmer Bradley is born (1930). Bradley was very industrious in the genre, but is probably best known for her mega-success novel, The Mists of Avalon, which had tremendous popularity outside the genre audience. Bradley is also notable for her Darkover series, which examines a society in which telepathic ability is the cultural norm. Bradley was born in Albany, New York, USA.

June 4

Poltergeist opens (1982). Producer Steven Spielberg and director Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 'Salem's Lot) join forces to create this box-office smash about a middle-class, suburban California family terrorized by some very mean-spirited ghosts. The film, which stars JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson as the put-upon parents, goes on to spawn two sequels and inspire a television series. Spielberg's other SF mega-hit, E.T. opens just two weeks later.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan opens (1982). In this second installment of the Star Trek big-screen series, Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise are forced to do battle with Khan, the memorable archvillain from the original series episode, "Space Seed." This time out, regulars William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy are joined by Ricardo Montalban and a svelte, pre-Cheers Kirstie Alley as Spock's Vulcan protegé, Saavik (a role that would be played in the next sequel by Robin Curtis).

Angelina Jolie is born (1975). Quirky leading lady Angelina Jolie, daughter of Jon Voight, won an Oscar for her role in Girl, Interrupted (1999). Earlier in her career, she honed her skills working in genre titles such as Hackers (1995) and Cyborg 2: Glass Shadow (1993). Jolie was born in Los Angeles, California, USA, and in 2000 married fellow thespian Billy Bob Thornton, who appeared in 1998's apocalyptic summer blockbuster, Armageddon. After adopting two orphan children, Jolie recently gave birth (in Namibia) to a child fathered by movie star Brad Pitt.

June 5

The Truman Show opens (1998). Mega-star Jim Carrey stars for director Peter Weir (Picnic at Hanging Rock) in this comic fantasy about an average guy who slowly comes to realize that his entire life has provided the basis for a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week television show. The reviews and the box office are equally strong, but Carrey fails to receive the Oscar nomination many feel he deserves.

Lori Singer is born (1962). Actress and musician Lori Singer starred in the short-lived VR.5, a virtual reality-inspired television series that aired in 1995. She has also lent her talents to such genre titles as Equinox (1992) and Warlock (1989). Singer, sister to Beastmaster star Marc Singer, was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA.

Agnes Moorehead is married (1930). The unforgettable and irrepressible Endora of Betwitched fame marries her honey, John Griffith Lee. Agnes has appeared in several genre efforts, such as Frankenstein: The True Story (1973, television), Dear Dead Delilah (1972), Alice Through the Looking Glass (1966, television, playing The Red Queen), and The Bat (1959). She's also made appearances in Night Gallery (episodes "Certain Shadows on the Wall" and "The Witches' Feast") and The Twilight Zone (episode "The Invaders").

June 6

Amanda Pays is born (1959). Pays has starred in the TV series The Flash, Spacejacked (1997), and Max Headroom 1987; and appeared in an episode of The X-Files (TV) (1993, as Fox Mulder's former love-interest, the incandescent Phoebe Green, in "Fire"). She was born in London, England, UK.

Robert Englund is born (1949). The alter ego of the bastard son of a hundred maniacs, Englund first gained major attention after appearing in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) as the demonic slasher Freddie Kruger, but he's done much more. Englund has either acted in, produced, or directed a rich résumé of genre efforts. To name a few: Freddy vs. Jason (2003), Urban Legend (1998), Wishmaster (1997), Nightmare Cafe (1992, TV series), and V (1984, TV miniseries and TV series). He also appeared on Babylon 5 (episode "Grey 17 Is Missing," as Jeremiah) and Sliders (episode "State of the A.R.T.," as Dr. Aldohn). Englund was born in Glendale, California, USA.

Billie Whitelaw is born (1932). Respected British actress Billie Whitelaw played Mrs. Baylock, Damien's frighteningly devoted protector in The Omen (1976). Among her other screen credits are the made-for-television The Cloning of Joanna May (1991), The Dark Crystal (1982), Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy (1972), and a television version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1968). Whitelaw was born in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, UK.

June 7

The Phantom opens (1996). Lee Falk's comic-book hero comes to the big screen when The Phantom opens on this date in 1996. Billy Zane (the villain of Titanic) stars as the title character, out to thwart a criminal genius hiding out in New York City. The supporting cast includes Kristy Swanson, Treat Williams, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

The Goonies opens (1985). Director Richard Donner (Superman) guides Chris Columbus's script (based on a story by Steven Spielberg) to the screen in this fantasy-adventure that follows a group of kids who find a lost map and set out to find a genuine buried treasure. The energetic young cast includes Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, and Martha Plimpton.

Liam Neeson is born (1952). Irish-born Neeson worked as a forklift operator before making his screen debut as Gawain in John Boorman's Excalibur (1981). He recently portrayed the cerebral Jedi knight Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). His other genre credits include the remake of The Haunting (1999), the title role in Darkman (1990), and appearances in High Spirits (1988) and Krull (1983). Neeson was born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, UK.

June 8

Ghostbusters opens (1984). Who ya gonna call? Saturday Night Live veterans Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd blend their brand of humor with supernatural special effects in this goofy box-office smash, in which Murray sets out to save the immortal soul—and mortal body—of Sigourney Weaver. The theme song tops the pop charts, and the film spawns a 1989 sequel as well as an animated television series.

Griffin Dunne is born (1955). Dunne, son of producer/writer Dominick Dunne, made a big splash playing Jack Goodman, the doomed and decomposing best friend to An American Werewolf in London (1981). Dunne's other genre credits include acting in the made-for-television The Android Affair (1995), producing the bug-infested Joe's Apartment (1996), and directing Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock as modern-day witches in Practical Magic (1998). Dunne was born in New York, New York, USA.

Dana Wynter is born (1931). Hollywood leading lady Dana Wynter is best remembered for her performance as Becky Driscoll in the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). Generation after generation is haunted by the chilling close-up of Wynter's beautiful, emotionless face during the film's climactic kiss. Wynter also appeared in The Questor Tapes (1973, TV series). Wynter was born Dagmar Spencer-Marcus, in Berlin, Germany.

June 9

J. Michael Straczynski follows up his intensely popular Babylon 5 saga with the ambitious sequel series Crusade, which makes its U.S. television debut on this date. The series chronicles the adventures of the crew of the starship Excalibur, who are on a desperate mission to find a cure for a plague that is ravaging the Earth. The series stars Gary Cole (American Gothic) and Tracy Scoggins (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne), but the mission ends after only 13 episodes.

Congo opens (1995). A scientist who specializes in the study of gorillas joins a fortune hunter on a journey through Africa in this adaptation of the novel by Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park). This big-budget adventure stars Laura Linney (Primal Fear), Ernie Hudson (The Crow), and Tim Curry of The Rocky Horror Picture Show fame.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier opens (1989). William Shatner sat in the director's chair for this fifth installment of the Star Trek big-screen series. Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the crew follow Kirk into action once again, this time to stop a madman who has taken an entire planet hostage.

June 10

Michael Rennie dies (1971). Rennie will always be remembered for his role as Klaatu, the emissary sent to Earth in the seminal movie The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). His other genre credits include Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1969), Cyborg 2087 (1966), the remake of The Lost World (1960), and Tower of Terror (1942). Rennie was born in 1909 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, UK.

Andrew Stevens is born (1955). Stevens has lent his all-American good looks to such titles as Red Blooded American Girl (1990) and The Terror Within (1988). Early in his career, he played a disturbed, telekinetic teen in Brian DePalma's The Fury (1978). In addition, Stevens directed Roger Corman Presents Subliminal Seduction (1996), wrote The Terror Within II (1990), and helped produce such sci-fi projects as Scorpio One (1997) and John Travolta's pet project, Battlefield Earth (2000). Stevens was born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Jürgen Prochnow is born (1941). Versatile Prochnow made a brief, but memorable, appearance as Duke Leto Atreides in Dune (1984). He also appeared in The Seventh Sign (1988), John Carpenter's In The Mouth of Madness (1995), and Judge Dredd (1995). Prochnow was born in Berlin, Germany.

June 11

DeForest Kelley dies (1999). DeForest Kelley, who played starship Enterprise chief surgeon Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy in the original Star Trek TV series, was an integral part of the show from its first season in 1966. In addition to starring in the original TV series and the franchise's first six movies, he also appeared as McCoy in episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (episode "Trials and Tribble-ations") and Star Trek: The Next Generation (episode "Encounter at Far Point"). Along the way, he was also spotted battling overgrown rabbits alongside Janet Leigh in The Night of the Lepus (1972). Kelley was born in 1920 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Brigitte Helm dies (1996). The immortal. The icon. The automaton. Helm is a genre legend for her dual portrayal of Maria/The Robot in director Fritz Lang's silent-film masterpiece, Metropolis (1927). She was also Antinea, Queen of Atlantis, in the German film Die Herrin von Atlantis (1932, English title: The Queen From Atlantis). Helm was born Brigitte Eva Gisela Schittenhelm, in Berlin, Germany.

Jurassic Park opens (1993). Steven Spielberg's dinosaur epic creates a box-office frenzy that lasts throughout the summer of 1993. Stars Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill are a bit lost within all the awe-inspiring computer-generated effects, but audiences don't seem to mind. Later the same year, Spielberg releases Schindler's List, the one that won him his first Academy Award as Best Director.

June 12

Raiders of the Lost Ark opens (1981). Steven Spielberg's blockbuster tribute to the action-packed, globe-trotting serials of yesteryear opens to rave reviews and boffo box office. Starring Harrison Ford as outrageously adventurous archeologist Indiana Jones, Raiders becomes a box-office smash, wins a handful of Oscars (including awards for visual effects, editing, and art direction), and spawns two successful sequels as well as a short-lived television series, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

Rosemary's Baby opens (1968). Years before The Exorcist or The Omen, Rosemary's Baby—an artsy horror movie—shocked audiences during the summer of 1968. Macabre director Roman Polanski proves an ideal choice to adapt Ira Levin's bestseller to the big screen. His stylish film stars Mia Farrow as a Manhattan housewife who slowly discovers that she has been impregnated by the devil. Ruth Gordon, who co-stars as Farrow's dotty neighbor, wins an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress for her performance.

Ally Sheedy is born (1962). Sheedyy made her feature debut opposite Matthew Broderick in WarGames (1983). Later, she played opposite "No. 5," the robot star of Short Circuit (1986), and had to hold the chain of a ferocious, genetically altered attack dog in Man's Best Friend (1993). More recently, she has appeared in such television movies as The Fury Within (1998) and Buried Alive 2 (1997). She has also appeared in The Outer Limits (episode "I Hear You Calling"). Sheedy was born Alexandra Elizabeth Sheedy in New York, New York, USA.

June 13

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms opens (1953). Atomic bomb testing in the Arctic thaws out a prehistoric monster (a rhedosaurus, to be exact) that sets its sights on destroying all of New York City in this classic creature feature. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, based on a story by Ray Bradbury, would go on to delight generation after generation of genre fans. The impressive beast of the title was created by special-effects wizard Ray Harryhausen.

Richard Thomas is born (1951). Wholesome Thomas appeared in a few genre efforts; most notably he played Bill Denbrough in the Stephen King film It (1990). He was also in Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) and the TV miniseries The Invaders (1995). Thomas has also appeared on The Outer Limits (episode "The New Breed") and Night Gallery (episode "The Sins of the Fathers"). He was born in New York, New York, USA.

Malcolm McDowell is born (1943). McDowell made his first mark on the genre as Alex, the very bad boy in Stanley Kubrick's big-screen adaptation of A Clockwork Orange. Malcolm's other memorable roles include playing H. G. Wells (hot on the trail of Jack the Ripper) in Time after Time (1979), the king of the Cat People in the 1982 remake of Jacques Tourneur classic, and Dr. Tolian Soran in Star Trek: Generations (1994). McDowell's quirky résumé also includes such titles as Tank Girl (1995), Cyborg 3: The Recycler (1995), and Moon 44 (1990). On television, he has lent his ominous presence to such series as Lexx: The Dark Zone, The Outer Limits, Tales from the Crypt, and the short-lived resurrection of Fantasy Island (1998). McDowell was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, UK.

June 14

Roger Zelazny dies (1995). Science fiction author Zelazny was one of the leading and representative figures in the SF literary movement known as New Wave. This movement shifted the creative focus from the external realms of hard science to internal ones, like psychology, sociology and linguistics. His fellow New Wave alumni include Samuel R. Delany, Thomas M. Disch, Ursula K. Le Guin and Harlan Ellison. Major works by Zelazny include his memorable "Amber" series, This Immortal (which won the 1965 Hugo Award for Best Novel), The Dream Master (which won the 1966 Nebula Award for Best Novella), and "The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth" (which won a Nebula Award for Best Novelette). Zelazny, who died in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, of kidney failure and other complications caused by cancer, was born May 13, 1937, in Euclid, Ohio, USA.

Gene Barry is born (1921). Barry is best known for his role as Clayton Forrester, the alien fighter in the classic 1953 big-screen version of H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds. Barry's other genre credits include The Atomic City (1952) and television's The Devil and Miss Sarah (1971). Over the course of several years, Barry also appeared in several episodes of the original Alfred Hitchcock Presents as well as in the old 1950s Science Fiction Theatre and the newfangled The Twilight Zone. Barry was born in New York, New York, USA.

Paul Monash is born (1917). As a writer, Monash worked on the script for the Tobe Hooper-directed television adaptation of Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot (1979). As a producer, his credits include Carrie (1976) and its long-awaited sequel, The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999), as well as John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China (1986) and the big-screen adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's fantasy novel Slaughterhouse-Five (1972). Monash was born in New York, New York, USA.

June 15

Dick Tracy opens (1990). Hollywood Renaissance man Warren Beatty corrals a big-name cast that includes Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, and Madonna to star in his live-action, big-screen version of the popular Chester Gould comic strip. As the title hero, Beatty contends with a variety of evil plots and grotesque villains, but it's all worth the trouble when his movie ends up copping three Oscars—for Best Art Direction, Best Make-up Effects, and Best Original Song.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre opens (1974). Tobe Hooper's low-budget smash, about a group of travelers terrorized by a cannibalistic backwoods clan, sends shockwaves through the nation when it opens on this day in 1974. The movie packs them in at drive-ins and sets a new standard for unrelenting on-screen savagery. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre (which spawns three sequels) goes on to influence an entire generation of genre filmmakers and later gains the respect of many critics who disparaged it during its original release.

Neil Patrick Harris is born (1973). Harris made an impression with genre fans as the slightly smarmy cadet-cum-intelligence agent in director Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers (1997). Harris has also made appearances in The Outer Limits (episode "From Within") and Quantum Leap (episode "Return of the Evil Leaper: Oct. 8, 1956"). Harris was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

June 16

Batman Forever opens (1995). After two turns in the title role, Michael Keaton surrenders his cowl to newcomer Val Kilmer for this third entry in the new Batman big-screen series, directed by Joel Schumacher (The Lost Boys, Flatliners). This time out, the caped crusader finds a partner in young Robin (Chris O'Donnell) and matches wits (as well as brawn) with villains Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) and The Riddler (Jim Carrey). The requisite sex appeal is supplied by Nicole Kidman and Drew Barrymore.

Laurie Metcalf is born (1955). After finishing her run as "Roseanne"'s television sister, stage veteran Laurie Metcalf provided the voice of Mrs. Davis in both Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999). She also helped to keep the Scream franchise going as the demented mom in Scream 2 (1997). Metcalf was born in Carbondale, Illinois, USA.

Joan Van Ark is born (1943). Not really a genre regular, Van Ark makes the calendar for her appearance in the cult film Frogs (1972). She was also in The Last Dinosaur (1975, television). Van Ark was born in New York, New York, USA.

June 17

Exorcist II: The Heretic opens (1977). The demon comes back for a second shot at Regan's soul when this sequel to The Exorcist opens in 1977. With the help of Richard Burton and Louise Fletcher, little Linda Blair does some scary globe-trotting in an effort to unravel why the demon (who here assumes the nom du voyage of "Pazuzu") is making her life such a living hell. Despite a big budget and high expectations, Exorcist II turns out to be a critical and box-office bomb.

Jason Patric is born (1966). Patric was almost turned into a vampire in The Lost Boys (1987), but he was 100 percent Lord Byron in Frankenstein Unbound (1990, aka Roger Corman's Frankenstein Unbound). And of course, Patric was also in Solarbabies (1986).

The Wizard of Oz opens (1939). Dorothy leaves Kansas and lands in Oz for the first time when The Wizard of Oz opens today in 1939. Victor Fleming's timeless screen version of the L. Frank Baum fantasy classic, which stars an unforgettable young Judy Garland, goes on to cast its spell over generation after generation of television viewers around the world.

June 18

Harrison Ford marries Mary Marquardt (1964). Ford's first wife was Mary Marquardt, whom he married this day in 1964. Ford is, of course, a genre standout for his portrayal of Han Solo in the Star Wars trilogy: Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983). However, he has left his mark on many works in the genre: The Possessed (1977), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982, uncredited deleted scenes as "School Principal"), Blade Runner (1982), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Ford was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Carol Kane is born (1952). Quirky Kane fits right in with the genre. She appeared in Freaky Friday (1995, television), Addams Family Values (1993, as "Grandma Addams"), The Princess Bride (1987), and Transylvania 6-5000 (1985, as the hunchbacked Lupi). Other appearances include The Ray Bradbury Theatre (1985, episode "Tomorrow's Child"). Kane was born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Isabella Rossellini is born (1952). Rossellini has slipped quietly into the genre on a few occasions. She was "Nimue" in Merlin (1998, TV miniseries), "Athene" in The Odyssey (1997, TV miniseries), and "Lisle Von Rhoman" in Death Becomes Her (1992). She has also appeared in Tales from the Crypt (episode "You, Murderer"). Rossellini was born in Rome, Italy, and was at one time married to director Martin Scorsese, who made a cameo appearance in The Muse (1999).

June 19

The X-Files opens (1998). Mulder and Scully become larger-than-life heroes in cineplexes across the country when The X-Files opens on this day in 1998. In this longer, larger version of the series, Mulder moves one step closer to (and two steps away from) confirming his worst suspicions about alien activity and government cover-ups. The fans are out there, but newcomers stay away in droves. As the final box-office returns are tallied, the big-screen potential of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson remains uncertain.

Batman Returns opens (1992). Director Tim Burton and star Michael Keaton re-team for this sequel to their 1989 smash. This time out, the Caped Crusader matches wits with The Penguin (an appropriately over-the-top Danny Devito) and Catwoman (an alluring Michelle Pfeiffer). Its box office is busy throughout the summer. Though two more sequels follow, both Keaton and Burton bow out after this one.

Superman II opens (1980). Christopher Reeve returns as the Man of Steel in this first sequel to 1978's Superman. This time, action and adventure share the screen with the romance between Reeve's Clark Kent and Margot Kidder's Lois Lane. Reeve later dons his cape twice more, for Superman III (1983) and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987).

June 20

Batman and Robin opens (1997). Director Joel Schumacher (The Lost Boys, Batman Forever) returns to helm this fourth installment in the Batman big-screen series. This time out, George Clooney steps in as the Caped Crusader, joining forces with Chris O'Donnell as Robin and series newcomer Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl. The villains come in the form of Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze and Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy.

Estelle Winwood dies (1984). Winwood is memorable for her appearances in the MST3K-spoofed The Magic Sword (1962) and Cabinet of Caligari (1962). She also made a memorable character out of Aunt Hilda on the 1960s series Batman (episodes "Penguin Sets a Trend," "Penguin Is a Girl's Best Friend," "Penguin's Disastrous End," "Marsha's Scheme of Diamonds," and "Marsha, Queen of Diamonds"). She also appeared on The Twilight Zone (episode "Long Live Walter Johnson") and in Bewitched (episode "Witches and Warlocks Are My Favorite Things," playing Enchantra). She was born Estelle Goodwin in Kent, England, UK.

Jaws opens (1975). Steven Spielberg changes the course of American movies when Jaws hits the screen. Based on the Peter Benchley novel about a great white shark that terrorizes an island community, Jaws redefines the term "blockbuster." The film goes on to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Picture of the year, and wins three Academy Awards—for best score, best editing, and best sound design. The film, which stars Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw, goes on to spawn three sequels and a lot of imitators.

June 21

Marina Sirtis is married (1992). Sirtis weds her husband, Michael Lamper, on this day. Sirtis is best known for her portrayal of Starfleet commander and ship's counselor Deanna Troi on the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation and in its spin-off films. She also provided the voice for Demona in the animated series Gargoyles (1994). Sirtis was born in London, England, UK.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit opens (1988). Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Contact) directs this box-office hit, which proves to be as appealing to parents as it is to children. The film combines live-action noir with zany cartoon antics. Bob Hoskins (of Heart Condition and Brazil) plays a down-and-out detective hot on the trail of a cartoon murderer. The speaking voice of Jessica Rabbit, a sexy siren with a shady past, is provided by Kathleen Turner. The character's singing voice is provided by none other than Steven Spielberg's ex-wife, Amy Irving. A joint production of Spielberg and Walt Disney Studios, the movie wins two Oscars for its special effects, plus a special award for animation director Richard Williams.

Return to Oz opens (1985). Dorothy returns to Oz in this fantasy feature, a belated sequel to the perennial classic The Wizard of Oz (1939). This time out, young Fairuza Balk (later one of the teen witches in The Craft) steps into Judy Garland's red slippers, while Piper Laurie (Carrie, The Faculty) takes over as Auntie Em. Though purists claim that Return is more faithful to L. Frank Baum's original vision than was its predecessor, audiences remain largely unconvinced, causing the sequel to fizzle at the summer box office.

June 22

Judy Garland dies (1969). Forever known to audiences around the world as Dorothy, the young dreamer in the classic The Wizard of Oz, MGM musical star Judy Garland's accomplished but often tragic life ends when she overdoses on sleeping pills. A few days later, thousands of fans from around the world mourn Judy's death at a special memorial service. Garland was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA on June 10, 1922.

David O. Selznick dies (1965). Producer Selznick, the son of a silent-movie director, was one of Hollywood's earliest moguls. His crowning achievement was the 1939 screen adaptation of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind, but he also is remembered for bringing life to Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound (1945) and Rebecca (1940), as well as the original 1933 King Kong. Selznick also moonlighted (under the name Oliver Jeffries) when he wrote the screenplay for Dracula's Daughter (1936). Selznick was born in 1902 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Bruce Campbell is born (1958). Campbell is known by horror fans as Ash, the put-upon hero who fights the "Book of the Dead" in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead trilogy. Campbell was also part of the production team on the original Evil Dead (1982), Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn, and Army of Darkness. His other genre credits includes roles in From Dusk till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (1999), John Carpenter's Escape from L.A. (1996), Assault on Dome 4 (1996), Waxwork II: Lost in Time, (1992) and Raimi's original Darkman (1990). Among Campbell's directorial credits are two episodes ("The King of Assassins" and "Key to the Kingdom") of Xena: Warrior Princess. Campbell was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, USA.

June 23

Batman opens (1989). Quirky auteur Tim Burton follows the surprise success of his Beetlejuice (1988) by re-teaming with star Michael Keaton for this big-budget, big-screen reworking of the Batman comic strip. Darker and more brooding than the 1960s incarnation of Batman, the film is huge at the box office, wins critical acclaim for Jack Nicholson's over-the-top turn as "The Joker," and takes home an Oscar for best art direction. Batman goes on to spawn three sequels. Burton and Keaton re-team for 1992's Batman Returns, then hand over the franchise to their successors.

Billy Wirth is born (1962). Wirth was one of the undead in The Lost Boys (1987), and he went on to play Tim Young in Body Snatchers (1993). He was also Zack Delano in Space Marines (1996), and he appeared on the series Charmed (episode "The Witch is Back").

Frances McDormand is born (1957). McDormand, who won an Oscar for her role as Marge Gunderson in husband Joel Coen's Fargo (1996), also starred opposite Demi Moore in the ESP comedy The Butcher's Wife (1991), and appeared as Julie Hastings, the leading lady of Sam Raimi's Darkman (1990). Earlier in her career, she took a break from stage work to do a 1986 episode ("Need to Know") of the updated Twilight Zone television series. McDormand was born in Illinois, USA.

June 24

Superman III opens (1983). Comedy takes the front seat as Christopher Reeve teams up with Richard Pryor for this third installment in the Superman big-screen series. This time out, a combination of Kryptonite and tobacco tar turns Clark Kent into a dual personality—one the superhero we've come to know and love, the other an evil villain bent on destruction. Richard Lester (Superman II) returns to direct, but after Superman III opens, critics and audiences agree that the series is already running out of steam.

Masque of the Red Death opens (1964). Directed by the singular Roger Corman, this adaptation of the Edgar Allan Poe story stars Vincent Price and Hazel Court. It was written by Charles Beaumont, who scripted other Poe-inspired films (The Haunted Palace and The Premature Burial).

Nancy Allen is born (1950). Allen made a splash in her role as nasty Chris Hargenson in Carrie (1976). She also appeared in Strange Invaders (1983), Terror in the Aisles (1984), The Philadelphia Experiment (1984), RoboCop (1987), Poltergeist III (1988), RoboCop 2 (1990), Robocop 3 (1993), and Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return (1999). Allen was born in New York, New York, USA.

June 25

Blade Runner opens (1982). Director Ridley Scott (hot off the success of his 1979 SF thriller, Alien) and star Harrison Ford (still riding high after his star turn in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark) team up for this futuristic detective yarn, set in Los Angeles in 2019. Based on Philip K. Dick's novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the film concerns a police officer called out of retirement in order to terminate a group of dangerous, artificially created human "replicants." Blade Runner, which features Oscar-nominated art direction and special effects, disappoints some upon its initial release, but goes on to become a cult favorite.

Chris O'Donnell is born (1970). Squeaky-clean O'Donnell portrayed the youthful sidekick Robin (a.k.a. Dick Grayson) in Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997), opposite two different Batmans (Val Kilmer and George Clooney, respectively). O'Donnell was born in Winnetka, Illinois, USA.

The Curse of Frankenstein opens (1957). British studio Hammer Films initiates its own "Frankenstein" series with this retelling of the original Mary Shelley tale, which stars genre regulars Peter Cushing (as Baron Frankenstein) and Christopher Lee (as his monstrous creation). This one is followed by six Hammer-produced sequels.

June 26

Picnic at Hanging Rock opens (1975). Long before he takes on The Truman Show, Australian director Peter Weir delivers this arty, atmospheric film, set in 1901, about three schoolgirls and their teacher who inexplicably disappear during a summer outing in the wilderness. Weir's slow-moving but unrelentingly eerie film, based on a novel by Joan Lindsay, remains an enigma to many long after its original U.S. debut.

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir opens (1947). A lonely but spirited widow is romanced by the ghost of a dashing but difficult sea captain in this enduring romantic fantasy starring Gene Tierney (of Laura) and Rex Harrison (of My Fair Lady) as the title couple. Based on a popular novel by R. A. Dick, the screen version features a memorable musical score by Bernard Herrmann (Psycho) and Oscar-nominated cinematography. It is later adapted (quite loosely) as a television series.

Colin Clive dies (1937). Clive was the prototype for the mad scientist character, which he perfected in Frankenstein (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935). He was also in Mad Love (1935, aka The Hands of Orlac), but Peter Lorre played the mad doctor in that one (Dr. Gogol). Clive was born in St. Malo, France.

June 27

J. J. Abrams (Jeffrey Jacob Abrams) was born June 27, 1966 in New York City. After success on the big screen, Abrams created Felicity (1998–2002), about a young girl at the fictitious New York City college. It was this show that is said to have inspired Alias (2001–current), when Abrams wondered what it would be like if Felicity were really a secret agent. More recently, Abrams created the hit show Lost (2004–current). Among his movies are Armageddon and Mission Impossible III, which he was hand-picked to direct by Tom Cruise.

Face/Off opens (1997). Box-office dynamos John Travolta and Nicholas Cage more than pull off an effective casting stunt when they change faces and identities for this high-octane detective thriller directed by John Woo (Mission: Impossible 2). Though the two leads control the plot, Joan Allen and Gina Gershon are also along for the ride. The film's box-office success comes as no surprise, but the overwhelmingly positive critical reaction is a pleasant surprise.

Labyrinth opens (1986). Muppets creator Jim Henson directs this fantasy-adventure about a young woman's puzzling search for her baby brother, stolen by a wicked Goblin King. The heroine is portrayed by Jennifer Connelly (of Dark City and Dario Argento's Creepers). The Goblin King is played by cross-dressing rock'n'roll legend David Bowie. Labyrinth features a script by Terry Jones (of Monty Python fame) and is executive produced by none other than the Star Wars king himself, George Lucas.

June 28

Rod Serling dies today in 1975 in Rochester, New York. Serling left Playhouse 90 in 1957 to create his most popular work, The Twilight Zone (1959–1965). Serling wrote 92 of the 156 episodes of The Twilight Zone and helped to launch many careers, such as those of Robert Redford, Dennis Hopper, and Burt Reynolds. After The Twilight Zone, Serling continued to write for television (Rod Serling's Night Gallery) and movies (Planet of the Apes, co-written with Michael Wilson).

The Nutty Professor opens (1996). Eddie Murphy earns critical kudos for his comic turn in this 1996 update of the Jerry Lewis slapstick classic. In the new version, Murphy plays an overweight academic who takes an experimental, DNA-related diet drug that transforms him into a svelte but obnoxious stud. Though some industry insiders expect an Oscar nomination, Murphy has to settle for rebirth at the box office.

Alice Krige is born (1954). Krige suited up to play the Borg Queen in Star Trek: First Contact (1996). Her other genre credits include Stephen King's Sleepwalkers (1992), and the literary ghost story Haunted Summer (1988). Her first high-profile project was the 1981 big-screen adaptation of Peter Straub's Ghost Story, in which she played a wronged woman who comes back from the grave with a seriously mean attitude. Krige was born in Upington, South Africa.

June 29

Conan the Destroyer opens (1984). More Hyborian Age action hits the big screen as Arnold Schwarzenegger digs out his Conan suit one more time for this sequel to 1982's Conan the Barbarian. This time around, Conan creator Robert E. Howard's hero sets out to rescue a beautiful young princess from the clutches of an evil queen. The sublimely quirky cast also includes ex-disco queen Grace Jones and hoops hero Wilt Chamberlain.

Amanda Donohoe is born (1962). Donohoe is a familiar genre face, ironically for one particular performance. She was the slithery Lady Sylvia Marsh in Ken Russell's Lair of the White Worm (1988). She has also played Queen in Batman Beyond (1999, TV, animated, episode "Dead Man's Hand"). She was born in London, England, UK.

Ray Harryhausen is born (1920). Special-effects wizard Ray Harryhausen spent four decades as one of the cinema's masters of fantasy and science fiction. Among his most popular projects are One Million Years B.C. (1966), First Men in the Moon (1964), Jason and the Argonauts (1963), Mysterious Island (1961), Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956), and It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955). He was also a producer on such titles as Clash of the Titans (1981) and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977). Harryhausen was born in Los Angeles, California, USA.

June 30

Apollo 13 opens (1995). Director Ron Howard (Willow, Cocoon) moves from fantasy to reality in a big way when he directs this tension-packed, large-scale drama about the trouble-plagued 1970 moon mission and the real-life heroes who worked furiously to avert disaster. Tom Hanks (fresh off his back-to-back Oscar wins) stars as Jim Lovell. The cast also includes Bill Paxton (Mighty Joe Young), Kevin Bacon (Stir of Echoes), Gary Sinise (The Stand), Ed Harris (Needful Things) and Kathleen Quinlan (Event Horizon). A Best Picture Oscar nominee, Apollo 13 ends up taking home statuettes for editing and sound.

Vincent D'Onofrio is born (1959). Versatile D'Onofrio has played Whitney/Ashton in The Thirteenth Floor (1999), Edgar in Men in Black (1997), Steckler in