May 8

2007 – Mark Burns, who appeared in the films “House of the Living Dead” and the tremendous 1977 BBC version of “Count Dracula,” (with Louis Jordan), passed away at the age of 71.

2006 – George Lutz passed away at the age of 59. He lived at 112 Ocean Ave. in Amityville New York, where demonic, or supposed demonic happenings drove him and his family away after 28 days. All this was the basis for the film “The Amityville Horror.” Over the years, there has been much debate whether the story was true or an elaborate fabrication.

1999 – Dana Plato who starred as the daughter “Kimberly Driummond” on the TV show “Different Strokes,” passed away at the age of 34. She appeared in the films “Silent Scream,” “Exorcist II: The Heritic” and “Return To Boggy Creek.”

1994 – Steven Keats, who appeared in the films “Silent Rage,” “Hangar 18″ and ” The Last Dinosaur,” passed away at the age of 49.

1988 – Sci-fi writer Robert A. Heinlein, passed away at the age of 80.

1985 – Theodore Strugeon who wrote for many TV series including “Star Trek,” “The Invaders,” “Land of the Lost” and the TV movie “Killdozer,” passed away at the age of 67.

1967 – Barbara Payton who appeared in “The Lady & the Monster” and “Bride Of the Gorilla,” passed away at the age of 39.