BORN ON THIS DAY IN HORROR HISTORY – MAY 8

1982 – Christina Cole, appeared in “Jupiter Ascending”, “Rosemary’s Baby (TV Mini-Series)”, “Time Machine: Rise of the Morlocks”, “Stake Land”, “Surviving Evil”, “Doghouse” and more.
1981 – Stephen Amell, portrays “Oliver Queen” on the CW series “Arrow (TV Series).” He also appeared in ” The Vampire Diaries (TV Series)”, and “Screamers: The Hunting.”
1978 – Josie Maran, appeared in “The Gravedancers” and “Van Helsing.”
1978 – Matthew Davis, who plays “Alaric Saltzman” on “The Vampire Diaries” and appeared in the films “Urban Legend: Final Cut” and “BloodRayne.”
1957 – Jeff Wincott, who appeared in the films “Battle Queen 2020″ and “The Invasion.”
1955 – Betsy Baker, who starred in “The Evil Dead” and “Witches’ Night.”
1954 – David Keith who starred in the film “Firestarter,” directed the film “The Curse” and starred as “Matt Murdock’s” father “Jack Murdock” in “Daredevil.”
1940 – The late author Peter Benchley, who wrote the smash bestseller “Jaws”, “The Deep”, “The Beast”, “White Shark” and more.
1935 – Robert Dix who appeared in “Frankenstein’s Daughter,” “Forbidden Planet” and ” Horror of the Blood Monsters.”
1926 – Don Rickles who appeared in the films “Innocent Blood,” “X, the Man With X-ray Eyes” and the “Ventriloquist’s Dummy” episode of “Tales From the Crypt.”
1923 – Jack Laird who wrote for the TV series “Night Gallery.”

DIED ON THIS DAY IN HORROR HISTORY – 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 – George Peppard, best known for his role as “John ‘Hannibal’ Smith” in the 80’s show “The A-Team (TV Series).” He also appeared in “Tales of the Unexpected (TV Series)”, “Battle Beyond the Stars”, “Damnation Alley” and more. He passed away at the age of 65.
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.

FILMS RELEASED ON THIS DAY IN HORROR HISTORY – MAY 8

The Corpse Vanishes 1942
The Mad Monster 1942
The Leopard Man 1943
Horror of Dracula 1958
The Evil of Frankenstein 1964
The Burning 1981
Creature 1985
Poison Ivy 1992
Urban Legend 1996
Deep Impact 1998
The Lower Circle 2009