The year 2020 will be burned in our memory forever–for so many reasons. Some obvious and far-reaching, some very personal.
As with every year, 2020 had many casualties–in all facets of life. Horror News Network remembers–and mourns–all the horror community members lost this last year. May they all rest in peace.
Back in March, the cinematic world lost one of its shining stars. Max von Sydow–who passed away at age 90–is fondly remembered for such classics as 1957’s The Seventh Seal and 1965’s The Greatest Story Ever Told. Horror fans will never forget him as Fr. Merrin in 1973’s The Exorcist.
In April, we lost Lee Fierro (Mrs. Kintner in the classic Jaws) to COVID-19 complications at age 91; Dieter Laser (Dr. Heiter in 2009’s The Human Centipede) at age 78; Hilary Heath (a frequent Vincent Price co-star) also of coronavirus complications at age 74; Brian Dennehy (of such genre films as First Blood and To Catch A Killer) at 81: Paul Haddad (Resident Evil 2 voice actor) at age 56; Joel M. Reed (director of 1976’s Bloodsucking Freaks) also from COVID-19 at age 86; and Irrfan Khan (Jurassic World) at 53.
In May, we lost John Lafia (Child’s Play 2 director and co-creator of the killer doll Chucky) at 63 and Fred Willard (‘Salem’s Lot) at age 86.
Those who passed away in June included Denise Cronenberg (costume designer for 1986’s The Fly and 1988’s Dead Ringers) at age 81; Ian Holm (the android Ash in 1979’s Alien) at 88; Stuart Cornfeld (producer of The Fly and Mimic) at 67; and Danny Hicks (The Evil Dead II and Wishmaster). In July, we lost John Saxon (A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise) at age 83.
In August, we lost Wilford Brimley (The Thing and Cocoon) at age 85; Ben Cross (who revived the vampire Barnabas Collins on TV’s Dark Shadows) at age 72; and Joe Ruby (co-creator of Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang) at 87. In September, Ron Cobb (production designer on Alien, Aliens and Star Wars) passed away at 83. And, in October, Conchata Ferrell (Krampus and Edward Scissorhands) passed away at age 77.
In November, we lost Ken Spears (Joe Ruby’s partner on Scooby-Doo) at age 82; Malcolm Marmorstein (a key writer of Barnabas Collins’ adventures on TV’s Dark Shadows) at 92; Daria Nicolodi (Suspiria co-writer) at 70; and David Prowse (the man in the famous helmet and armor of Darth Vader) at 85.
And, just this last month saw the passing of Richard Corben (legendary horror artist) at age 80; David Giler (Alien franchise producer) at age 77; Edward Irastorza (visual effects producer on Blade and Hellboy) at age 52; and Gary Klar (of Day of the Dead fame) at 73.
The staff of Horror News Network extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of all these horror luminaries.
