It is a sad day for trekkies around the world as one of Star Trek’s greatest villians passed away. Ricardo Montalban, the handsome mexican actor first played the iconic role in the TV episode “Space Seed” in 1967. 15 years later he reprised the role in the motion picture “The Wrath of Khan” widely regarded as the best Star Trek movie ever. He will always be remembered by the trekkies. Here is a clip in his honor:
Since we started with tributes lets continue by remembering some other people we lost this year:
Michael Crichton: (1942-2008) Writer, director, producer. Author of such novels as Jurrasic Park, Sphere and director of such films as Westworld. Also the creator of the long running TV series E.R. Unfortunately cancer took him from us very early.
Heath Ledger: (1979-2008) Oscar nominated actor. This was one of the most tragic and unfortunate losses of our generation. It is a shame such a terrific actor died in such a young age. Hopefully his legacy will go on forever and hopefully he will be nominated for an oscar for his outstanding turn as Joker in this years “The Dark Knight”. God rest his soul, he will definitely be remembered long after he is gone.
Stan Winston: (1946-2008) Another one of our losses to the dreadful cancer disease. Stan Winston was a visual effects and make up expert that created costumes and effects for such memorable characters like the Predator, The Terminator exoskeleton and Robocop. He also helped create the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. Special Effects industry and movies in general lost one of its greatest.
Gary Gygax: (1938-2008) Father of RPG and creator of the original Dungeons and Dragons Role Playing game.
Roy Scheider: (1932-2008) Oscar nominated actor best known for his roles in Jaws, The French Connection, 2010 and the TV series Seaquest DSV.
Don S. Davis: (1942-2008) Another one of most profilic character actors of our time passed away unexpectedly this summer from heart attack. He will always be remembered as General George Hammond from the Stargate franchise. Also guest starred in such series as MacGyver, Twin Peaks and The X-files. Goodbye Hammond of Texas may your soul live forever.
My condolences to all who were lost this year and to their friends and family. May god bless all their souls. Unfortunately this year we lost many good people. Lets hope no one dies next year.
Ok so I am going to kick myself for not remembering the passing of legendary sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke.
Also worth mentioning are the passings of Nobel prize winning writer Harold Pinter, actor Bernie Mac, Actor,singer Isaac Hayes and actress, singer Eartha Kitt. Ok I also forgot to mention Charlton Heston as well. Another actor I forgot to mention is Paul Newman. This was such a terrible year that I keep on forgetting who died.
Sir Arthur C.Clarke: (1917-2008) Legendary science-fiction writer best known for the Space Odyssey series. Here is the trailer for Stanley Kubricks legendary 2001: A space odyssey in honor of Arthur C.Clarke.
Isaac Hayes: (1942-2008) Famous singer and actor died from heart attack in August. Hayes will be known to Stargate SG-1 fans as Tolok the Jaffa leader while he was more famous for his unforgettable theme of shaft and his role in South Park. Here is the opening scene of shaft with Hayes unforgettable theme:
Charlton Heston: (1923-2008) Academy award winning actor who was best known for his roles in The Ten commandments, Ben-hur and Planet Of the Apes. Here is the trailer for the original Planet of the apes in honor of Mr Heston
Also need to mention the passings of director Anthony Minghella, Actors Paul Newman and Bernie Mac. It was indeed a sad year for everyone it seems.
here is the legendary star trek opening theme by Alexander Courage.
Here is the introduction and the oscar nominated theme from Star Trek 4: The Voyage home by the late Leonard Rosenman.
As the year comes to a close and as a star trek fan, I would like to take this chance to pay tribute to some of the Star Trek luminaries that we lost this year. If I miss anyone please feel free to inform me.
Some major trek luminaries we lost this year:
Alexander Courage: (1919-2008) The composer of the original Star Trek TOS theme song and one of TV industries most profilic composers.
Leonard Rosenman: (1924-2008) Composer of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
Robert Justman: (1926-2008) Producer for Star Trek TOS and Star Trek TNG.
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry: (1932-2008) The First lady of Star trek and beloved wife of Gene Roddenberry and mother of Eugene Roddenberry, a prolific actress that took the reins of the Star Trek franchise after her husbands death and successfully managed to bring it to today as strong as ever. Played such memorable characters as nurse Christine Chapel in TOS and Lwaxxana Troi in TNG. Also worth to mention she was there from the beggining of TOS starring as number one in the original unaired Star Trek pilot “The Cage”
I would like to take this opportunity to give my condolences to all their friends and families and to the whole Trek fan base. May they rest in peace and live long and prosper in the other world.