1898: Signe Hack, who played a Grimault woman in the movie in episode 317- VIKING WOMEN AND THE SEA SERPENT and a villager in the movie in the episode 806- THE UNDEAD.
1903: Alvin Todd, editor of the season two serial THE PHANTOM CREEPS.
1905: Dave Newell, make-up artist for the movie in episode 902- THE PHANTOM PLANET.
1910: Walter Greene, who composed stock music that was used in the movies in episodes episode 211- FIRST SPACESHIP ON VENUS, 412- HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN, 420- THE HUMAN DUPLICATORS and 601- GIRLS TOWN.
1915: Dan Sonney, art director for the movie in episode 616- RACKET GIRLS.
1915: Merritt Stone, who had roles in the movies in episodes 313- EARTH VS. THE SPIDER, 319- WAR OF THE COLOSSAL BEAST, 411- THE MAGIC SWORD and 414- TORMENTED. He was also mentioned in host segments in episodes 419- THE REBEL SET and 522- TEENAGE CRIME WAVE.
1919: Ernie Kovacs, who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 514- TEENAGE STRANGLER.
1926: Lyn Osborn, who played Sgt. Taylor in the movie in episode 309- THE AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN.
1936: Arlene Golonka, who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 805- THE THING THAT COULDN’T DIE.
1942: Warrene Ott, who played Ispalata in the movie in episode 902- THE PHANTOM PLANET.
1943: Gil Gerard, who was mentioned in host segments in episodes 305- STRANDED IN SPACE and 311- IT CONQUERED THE WORLD.*
1961: James “Slim Jim” Ballard, dolly grip and key grip for the movie in episode 913- QUEST OF THE DELTA KNIGHTS.
1970: Rick Youck, foley artist for the movie in episode 910- THE FINAL SACRIFICE.**
DIED ON THIS DATE
1943: Alexander Woollcott (age 56; heart attack), who was mentioned in host segment in episode 407- THE KILLER SHREWS and 207- WILD REBELS.
1960: Frank McLure (age 66), who played a cocktail party guest in the movie in episode 507- I ACCUSE MY PARENTS.
1977: Toots Shor (age 73), who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 505- THE MAGIC VOYAGE OF SINBAD.
1985: Merritt Stone. Died on his birthday.
1988: Hollingsworth Morse (age 77), director of the episodes of TV’s “Rocky Jones, Space Ranger” that were seen in episodes 413- MANHUNT
IN SPACE and 417- CRASH OF MOONS.
1990: Gerald Gibbs (age 83), cinematographer for the movie in episode 818- DEVIL DOLL.
1997: Bill Zuckert (age 81), who played Ace Landon in the movie in episode K19- HANGAR 18.
1997: Hardy Rafn (age 66), who had an uncredited role in the movie in episode 1101- REPTILICUS.
1997: Richard Berry (age 61), who wrote the song “Louie Louie,” which was heard in a host segment in episode 901- THE PROJECTED MAN.
1999: Joe D’Amato (age 62) (aka David Hills, a.k.a. Aristide Massacessi, aka Frederick Slonisco), director, cinematographer and uncredited writer for the movies in episode 301- CAVE DWELLERS and 1206- ATOR, THE FIGHTING EAGLE.
1999: Ove Sehested (age 75), who was a camera operator for the movie in episode 518- THE ATOMIC BRAIN.
2003: Nell Carter (age 54; diabetes), who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 603- THE DEAD TALK BACK.
2006: Joseph M. Newman (age 96), director of the movie THIS ISLAND EARTH riffed in MST3K: THE MOVIE.
2007: Steve Mitchell (age 80), who played a gunfighter in the movie in episode 511- GUNSLINGER.
2011: Jack LaLanne (age 96), who was seen briefly as himself in the movie in episode K16- CITY ON FIRE.
2017: Richard Weber (age 84), who played Dr. David Ruskin the movie in episode 524- 12 TO THE MOON and Lt. Ray Makonnen in the movie in episode 902- THE PHANTOM PLANET.
2018: Robert Dowdell (age 85), who played Sen. Clayton in the movie in episode 324- MASTER NINJA II.
2018: Pat Delaney (age 81), who played Ms. Jax in the movie in episode 1010- IT LIVES BY NIGHT.
2020: Sid Yost (age 65), animal supplier for the movie in episode 1102- CRY WILDERNESS.
2021: Larry King (age 87), who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 1011- HORRORS OF SPIDER ISLAND.
2022: Ron Kivett (age 78), who wrote the story, was technical director, and monster costume designer for the movie “Zaat,” seen in episode 1005- BLOOD WATERS OF DR. Z.
2024: Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk (aka Melanie; age 76), who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 204- CATALINA CAPER.
EPISODE PREMIERE ON THIS DATE
1993: episode 423- BRIDE OF THE MONSTER (with the short HIRED! Part 1) first shown.
EVENTS ON THIS DATE
1985: The movie “Escape from the Bronx,” seen in episode 705- ESCAPE 2000, is reviewed in Variety.
2001: Rhino Home Video releases episode 515- WILD WILD WORLD OF BATWOMAN and 517- THE BEGINNING OF THE END on DVD.
* = If this appears next to a birthday, this person is alive, according to the IMDB. If you can supply evidence that he or she has died, and when, please let us know.
** = If this appears next to a birthday, the IMDB indicates that the person has died, but the IMDB does not have a full death date (probably just a month and year or just the year he or she died). If you can give us the exact date (with some sort of proof we can check), please let us know.
** = If this appears next to a death date, the IMDB does not have this person’s full birthday. If you can provide it (with some sort of proof we can check), please let us know.
This Date in MSTory is written and compiled by Christopher Cornell, Brian Henry and Steve Finley with assistance by Tim Brown, Gordon Lawyer and many other Satellite News commenters.
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Larry King was also included as a member of the Fantastic 185 mentioned in episode 403- CITY LIMITS