76 A.D.: Roman emperor Hadrian, who appeared, briefly, in a host segment in episode 805- THE THING THAT COULDN’T DIE.
1883: Estelle Winwood, who played Sybil in the movie in episode 411- THE MAGIC SWORD. He also
1900: Dave Marks, assistant director for the movie in episode 815- AGENT FOR H.A.R.M.
1911: Muir Mathieson, conductor of the music in the movie in episode 909- GORGO. He was also composer, musical director and arranger for the movie CIRCUS OF HORRORS, featured in the Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour in 2019.
1911: Ivan Reiner, producer of the movie THE GREEN SLIME, riffed in MST3K’s pilot.
1911: Jere Beery Sr., who played a photographer in the movie in episode 801- REVENGE OF THE CREATURE.
1914: Frank R. McKelvy, set decorator for the movie in episode 906- THE SPACE CHILDREN.
1917: Ernest Borgnine, who played the grandfather in the movie in episode 1003- MERLIN’S SHOP OF MYSTICAL WONDERS.
1919: Coleman Francis, producer/director/screenwriter/actor in the movies in episodes 609- THE SKYDIVERS, 619- RED ZONE CUBA and 621- THE BEAST OF YUCCA FLATS. He also played a delivery man in THIS ISLAND EARTH, riffed in MST3K: THE MOVIE. He was also mentioned ina host segments in episode 704- THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN.
1919: John Hudson, who played Eric in the movie in episode 912- THE SCREAMING SKULL (twin brother of actor below).
1919: William Hudson, who played Dr. Paul Lindstrom in the movie in episode 309- THE AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN and Bob in the movie in episode 808- THE SHE-CREATURE (twin brother of actor above).
1939: Ray Stevens, who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 421- MONSTER A-GO GO.*
1941: Neil Diamond, who was mentioned in a host segment in episodes 211- FIRST SPACESHIP ON VENUS.*
1951: Russian comedian Yakov Smirnoff, who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 813- JACK FROST.*
1956: Peter Woodward, who played Fritz in the English dub of the movie in episode K14- /314- MIGHTY JACK.**
DIED ON THIS DATE
1926: Joseph Carl Breil (age 55; heart attack), one of the musical score composers for the season four serial UNDERSEA KINGDOM.
1960: John Miljan (age 67), who played Dan Wilson in the movie in episode 507- I ACCUSE MY PARENTS.
1965: Winston Churchill (age 90), who was mentioned in host segments in episodes 603- THE DEAD TALK BACK and 410- HERCULES AGAINST THE MOON MEN.
1970: Guy Teague (age 57), who played a cop (and did some stunts) in the season one serial RADAR MEN FROM THE MOON.
1992: John Bleifer (age 90), who played Jule in the movie WORLD WITHOUT END, riffed in MST3K’s first live show.
1994: Raymond F. Jones (age 78), whose story “The Alien Machine” was the basis for movie THIS ISLAND EARTH, riffed in MST3K: THE MOVIE.
2010: Pernell Roberts (age 81), who played Jim Conrad in the movie in episode 614- SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL. He was mentioned in a host segment in episode 410- HERCULES AGAINST THE MOON MEN.
2012: James Farentino (age 73), who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 305- STRANDED IN SPACE.
2012: Alfonso Arnold (age 82), who played a submarine technician in the movie in episode 1308- THE BATWOMAN.the movie in episode 1308- THE BATWOMAN.
2015: Figure skater Toller Cranston (age 65), who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 103- THE MAD MONSTER.
2015: TV personality Joe Franklin (age 88), who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 205- ROCKET ATTACK USA.
2016: Marvin Minsky (age 88), whose name was used for a robot Crow and Tom built for Joel in episode 504- SECRET AGENT SUPER DRAGON.
2017: Allman Brothers Band member Butch Trucks (age 69), who played drums for the song “Melissa,” which can be heard coming from the radio of the “loaner Crow” in a host segment in episode 913- QUEST OF THE DELTA KNIGHTS.
2021: Sonny Fox (age 95), who played Mr. Prim in the movie in episode 1113- THE CHRISTMAS THAT ALMOST WASN’T.
EVENT ON THIS DATE
1960: Brett Halsey, who played Bix Dugan in the movie in episode 509- THE GIRL IN LOVERS LANE and Pete in the movie in episode 801- REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, marries Luciana Paluzzi, who played Dr. Lisa Benson in the movie in THE GREEN SLIME (the movie in the MST3K pilot), and Iole’s maid in the movie in episode 502- HERCULES.
1965: The episode of the British TV series “Stingray” titled “The Big Gun” debuted. The episode would be one four that were cobbled together to create the “movie” featured in episode K01- INVADERS FROM THE DEEP.
* = 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.
This Date in MSTory is copyright 2025. © All rights reserved. Do not reproduce This Date in MSTory items in any form without express written permission from the authors.