1599: Oliver Cromwell, who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 815- AGENT FOR H.A.R.M
1879: Helena Grant, who played Mrs. Fitzhugh in the movie in episode 203- JUNGLE GODDESS.
1906: Kappei Matsumoto, who played Dr. Tanigawa in the movie in episode 819- INVASION OF THE NEPTUNE MEN.
1907: George Hilsdon, who played a reporter in the movie in episode 1114- AT THE EARTH’S CORE.
1912: Franklin Coen, screenwriter for the movie THIS ISLAND
EARTH riffed in MST3K: THE MOVIE.
1913: Russ Conway, who played Reverend Edward Snow in the movie in episode 912- THE SCREAMING SKULL and played the chief mechanic in the movie in episode 614- SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL.
1917: Don Torpin, assistant director of the movie WORLD WITHOUT END, riffed in MST3K’s first live show.
1917: Ben Hendricks, sound editor for the movie in episode 801- REVENGE OF THE CREATURE.
1923: Floyd Simmons, who played an army sergeant in the movie in episode 804- THE DEADLY MANTIS.
1925: Kay E. Kuter, who played a priest in the movie in episode 803- THE MOLE PEOPLE.
1926: Ken Lettvin, assistant editor of the TV movie in episode K13- SST: DEATH FLIGHT.
1937: Nazzareno “Neno” Zamperla, who did stunts for the movies in episodes 408- HERCULES UNCHAINED and 502- HERCULES and was among the good-natured tavern brawlers seen in the movie in episode 412- HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN.
DIED ON THIS DATE
1960: Gino Mattera (age 37), who played Orpheus in episodes 408- HERCULES UNCHAINED and 502- HERCULES.
1970: Gordon Avil (age 71), cinematographer for the movie in episode 210- KING DINOSAUR.
1980: Mario Bava (age 65), cinematographer, lighting technician and special effects director for the movies in episodes 408- HERCULES UNCHAINED (he was also an uncredited director) and 502- HERCULES (for which he also did visual effects), as well as the director, a writer and an uncredited cinematographer for the movie in episode 1013- DIABOLIK. He also did visual effects for the movie in episode 412- HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN.
1984: Richard Benedict (age 64), who played Cpl. Mathias in the movie in episode 517- BEGINNING OF THE END.
1988: René Cardona (age 81), co-writer and director of the movie in episode 521- SANTA CLAUS and director the movies in episodes 1301- SANTO IN THE TREASURE OF DRACULA and the movie in episode 1308- THE BATWOMAN.
1989: George Coulouris (age 85), who played Max Greene in the movie in episode 305- STRANDED IN SPACE.
1990: Bernard C. Schoenfeld (age 82), screenwriter for the movies in episodes 411- THE MAGIC SWORD and 906- THE SPACE CHILDREN.
1996: Saul Bass (age 75), who directed the movie in episode K09- PHASE IV and also designed the titles for that movie.
2000: Alla Larionova (age 69), who played Luberia in the movie “Sadko,” seen in episode 505- THE MAGIC VOYAGE OF SINBAD.
2010: Wilford L. Holcombe (age 85), score composer and musical director for movie in episode 817- HORROR OF PARTY BEACH. He also-wrote three songs for the film.
2013: Virginia Gibson (age 85), who played Mary in the short ONCE UPON A HONEYMOON, seen in episode 701- NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST.
EPISODE PREMIERE ON THIS DATE
1999: episode 1004- FUTURE WAR first shown.
EVENTS ON THIS DATE
1946: Phillip Terry, who played Dr. Paul Talbot in the movie in episode 802- THE LEECH WOMAN, divorces Joan Crawford.
1968: The movie in episode 1002- GIRL IN GOLD BOOTS has its premiere.
1973: the movie in episode 1303- BEYOND ATLANTIS, has its initial American premiere in Victoria, Texas.
2000: Rhino Home Video releases episodes 506- EEGAH and 513- THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN’T DIE on DVD, their first MST3K releases on DVD.
2019: Frank’s book, “Reform School Cinderella,” is released.
* = 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.
