Dan O'Bannon - September 30th, 1946 - December 16th, 2009
From Matt Goldberg @ Collider:
"A legendary screenwriter of science fiction and horror, Dan O’Bannon, best known for writing Alien, passed away today at the age of 63. Bannon broke out back in 1974 with the lo-budget sci-fi flick Dark Star, which was director John Carpenter’s first major film. O’Bannon not only wrote the script for Dark Star, he also edited, art designed, acted in, and handled the special effects on the film.
Then he wrote Alien, which would be his biggest film both critically and commercially. But oddly enough, O’Bannon’s most ardent fans, while they unabashedly love Alien, seem to support the guy more for his smaller cult movies like Dark Star, Dead & Buried, Blue Thunder, his segment “B-17″ in Heavy Metal, and for The Return of the Living Dead, a film he also directed."
Return of the Living Dead has been my favorite movie since about 1987 when I first saw it, so I'm especially saddened by this one. I actually yelled "No!!!" out loud a few times when I heard the news a few moments ago, despite the fact that it's currently about 2:50 in the morning.
I will honor him with a Alien/Dead & Buried/ROTLD/Dark Star/The Resurrected/Total Recall marathon this weekend.
O'Bannon has been a hero of mine since I was about 8 years old and found "The Book of Alien," which chronicled the making of the movie. I saw Dark Star on television around the same time, which sealed the deal.
ReplyDeleteI followed this guy everywhere. Blue Thunder, Dead & Buried, RotLD. His film The Resurrected is kind of a gem, too.
O'Bannon was ground zero for a lot of big, big movies. He's the common thread that runs through the productions of Alien, Blade Runner and Dune.
- Simon
And I might add that his performance as Pinback was awesome. Makes me wonder why he didn't try to act more often. He wouldn't have been a worse actor that Tarantino (who I love to death, but should really keep his ass behind the camera.)
ReplyDelete- Simon
No, dammit, NO! I love the few films of his that I've watched! Dammit! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!
ReplyDeletePinback, NO!!!...
ReplyDeleteI hope he rest in a peace....
ReplyDeleteAwwwwwwww geez...*
ReplyDeleteI was just remembering dear old Uncle Forry who we lost last Dec 4th and now this too...
It's been a tough one for all Sci-Fi and horror fans over the past few years. With the loss of Stan Winston and Michael Crichton, the world will never be the same.
Sigh*
wonderful- first lux and naschy now this. and all the while -useless assholes toil around the place and these greats have to go. pathetic. thanks to whatever asshead is running shit.
ReplyDeleteRest well Mr O'Bannon and thank you for all the fantastic movies. May your new journey be even longer and more fulfilling then this past great one.
ReplyDeleteHellbishop