Paying Tribute to the Inspiring Pioneers in Sci-Fi, Horror, and Fantasy Genres Who Passed Away in 2024
Paying Tribute to the Inspiring Pioneers in Sci-Fi, Horror, and Fantasy Genres Who Passed Away in 2024
In io9's annual "in memoriam" post, we honor those who have left us, including actors, directors, artists, composers, writers, creators, and other notable figures in the realms of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Their inspiring work has touched and influenced countless lives, and their legacies will continue to live on through their contributions to genre entertainment.
In Remembrance
© Paramount Pictures
*Shelley Duvall*
A frequent collaborator with director Robert Altman, Duvall's film credits include 3 Women, Nashville, Popeye, Brewster McCloud, and McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Beyond film, Duvall also made a name for herself in the realm of genre entertainment, appearing in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits, Tim Burton's Frankenweenie, Guy Maddin's Twilight of the Ice Nymphs, Russell Mulcahy's Tale of the Mummy, and Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme. Duvall was also a producer and the host of children's television series such as Faerie Tale Theatre and Tall Tales & Legends, as well as the short-lived horror anthology series Nightmare Classics.
*Tony Todd*
Born on December 4, 1954, Todd made his acting debut in the films Platoon and Sleepwalk. Much of his career consisted of genre fare, including roles on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager, as well as films such as Night of the Living Dead, The Crow, and Wishmaster. Horror fans will remember him as Ben in the Night of the Living Dead remake, which catapulted him to stardom, and as the titular killer in the Candyman series, which he reprised in Nia DaCosta's 2021 sequel.
*Jon Landau*
"Jon believed in the dream of cinema. He believed that film is the ultimate human art form, and to make films you must first be human yourself," said James Cameron to the Hollywood Reporter. "He was my right hand, and I was his. [...] I am grateful for every year, every day, every minute we had together. A part of myself has been torn away. But the amazing team he assembled and led still remains, and we will dedicate ourselves to fulfilling Jon's legacy."
*Maggie Smith*
The great and legendary English actress had a award-winning career and made a lasting impact on the genre with films like Steven Spielberg's Hook as Wendy Darling, and as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise. Daniel Radcliffe, who co-starred with Smith in Harry Potter, remembered her fondly: "I knew virtually nothing about her other than that my parents were awestruck at the fact that I would be working with her ... I remember feeling nervous to meet her and then her putting me immediately at ease. She was incredibly kind to me on that shoot, and then I was lucky enough to go on working with her for another 10 years on the Harry Potter films."
"She was a fierce intellect, a gloriously sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm in the same instant and was, as everyone will tell you, extremely funny...I will always consider myself amazingly lucky to have been able to work with her, and to spend time around her on set. The word legend is overused but if it applies to anyone in our industry then it applies to her."
Photo: Universal Pictures
*James Earl Jones*
James Earl Jones, the voice behind Darth Vader, The Lion King's Mufasa, and countless other iconic roles, passed away at the age of 93. The legendary actor was a star across stage and screen, and was one of the few to have earned the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards) in a career filled with some of the most beloved films in history, including Dr. Strangelove, Field of Dreams, Conan the Barbarian, and The Hunt for Red October.
The leading actress of the 1974 chilling horror film Silent Terror in the House—she responded to the phone calls originating within the residence—Hussey gained recognition as a teenager, starring in Franco Zefferelli's 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. (Recently, Hussey and her co-star Leonard Whiting, both minors during filming, filed lawsuits alleging they were pressured into nude scenes; the second case was dismissed in October 2024.) Her graceful presence is evident across various mediums, including her portrayals of Juliet, Norma Bates in Psycho IV: The Beginning, Audra Denbrough in the original It TV mini-series, and Mother Abagail in the follow-up series.
Jeri Taylor
Born on June 30, 1938, Taylor's creative journey began as a scriptwriter for Little House on the Prairie and The Incredible Hulk. Subsequently, she produced and directed episodes of Quincy, M.E. and Jake and the Fatman. Lee Sheldon, with whom she collaborated on the former, recommended her to the team of Star Trek: The Next Generation. As a supervising producer in season four, she was promoted to executive producer, acting as showrunner during the final season, and authored numerous episodes, including Wesley Crusher's (Wil Wheaton) last appearance as a series regular and "The Wounded," the first episode to depict the Cardassians, who later became a prominent power in '90s Star Trek (in Deep Space Nine).
Roger Corman
Throughout his storied career, Corman gained notoriety for swiftly producing films, with the majority falling within the genres of sci-fi, horror, and action. These movies played a paramount role in launching the careers of numerous actors, including Jack Nicholson, William Shatner, Diane Ladd, and others, during the 1950s and '70s. He also nurtured upcoming filmmakers, mentoring James Cameron, Francis Ford Coppola, Joe Dante, and Martin Scorsese. Additionally, he facilitated U.S. distribution for international films directed by accomplished directors such as Ingmar Bergman, Akira Kurosawa, and Federico Fellini.
Donald Sutherland
Sutherland's versatility as an actor resonated with cinema enthusiasts across genres, who appreciated his nuanced portrayals of characters that ranged from menacing to playful to world-weary. In the realm of sci-fi, horror, and fantasy, he performed unforgettably in titles like his portrayal of President Coriolanus Snow in the Hunger Games series, as well as Don't Look Now, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the movie), Space Cowboys, Ad Astra, and Mr. Harrigan's Phone. Furthermore, he is the father of Kiefer Sutherland, another prolific actor.
Akira Toriyama
Toriyama's impact on the world of art and pop culture is virtually indescribable. Across regions, series, and mediums, his influence is inestimable—not only affecting countless individuals but also reshaping the very industries he participated in. The perspective of the manga and anime industries may have been significantly different without the influence of Dragon Ball, as well as its spin-off projects.
Mark Dodson
Born on February 1, 1960, Dodson commenced his career as a radio producer before transitioning to voice acting in 1983 as Salacious B. Crumb in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Over the decades, he lent his voice to numerous movies and shows, including Day of the Dead, Darkwing Duck, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, and Arachnicide. Additionally, he contributed to various Gremlins projects.
Bob Newhart
Newhart, the renowned comedian, left an enduring legacy through his work in Catch 22, The Rescuers, and Elf. His contributions to the world of comedy were honored by director Judd Apatow: "Bob Newhart was as funny as they come. The best standup, the best situation comedy star, the kindest soul. It was a privilege to work with him during the making of Bob and Don – A Love Story. I grew up watching thousands of hours of his work and he made my life—and the lives of countless others—happier."
Carl Weathers, displaying a rugged respectability (infused with a touch of impishness) in his portrayal of Greef Karga in the television series "The Mandalorian", has sadly passed away at the age of 76. Weathers was also highly acclaimed for his roles as Apollo Creed in the Rocky films and Colonel Al Dillon (which saw him sharing an iconic handshake scene with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie "Predator"). Comedy enthusiasts will always cherish him as Derick “Chubbs” Peterson from Adam Sandler's golf movie delight, "Happy Gilmore".
John Cassady
Recognized as one of the leading comic book artists from the 21st century, Cassady will undoubtedly be remembered for his stint as the artist for "Astonishing X-Men". In partnership with writer Joss Whedon, Cassaday's unique interpretation of the X-Men within the post-New X-Men world, spanning from 2004 to 2008, propelled "Astonishing" to the top-tier status of Marvel's books, providing numerous memorable moments for X-Men fans and establishing a fresh look for Marvel's mutants throughout the mid-2000s. More recently, Cassaday teamed up with Jason Aaron to revive Marvel's "Star Wars" comic book series line in January 2015, contributing to the redefinition of the newest, rebooted "Star Wars" canon as he depicted the adventures of Luke, Leia, and Han between "A New Hope" and "The Empire Strikes Back".
Mark Gustafson
The news of Gustafson's death was announced by "Pinocchio" co-director Guillermo del Toro on Twitter, who eulogized him as a "true artist. I admired [Mark], even before I met him. [...] A Legend- and a friend that inspired and gave hope to all around him.” He continued, stating that Gustafson leaves behind “a Titanic legacy of animation. [...] I loved having had the chance to share time and space with him during the highs and the lows. Always and forever.”
Martin Mull
Comedian Martin Mull enjoyed a long and diverse career, primarily on television (Arrested Development’s Gene Parmesan being a standout favorite); fans of genre entertainment, in particular, will always cherish his amusing turns in the board game-inspired "Clue" movie (as Colonel Mustard) and the 1990s "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" series.
Chance Perdomo
Unfortunately, the promising career of young actor Perdomo was prematurely ended by a motorcycle accident. Perdomo's breakout role came with Netflix's "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" as Ambrose Spellman, which was followed by a recurring part as Andre Anderson in the Prime Video spinoff "Gen V" of "The Boys".
© Fox
Shannen Doherty
Born on April 12, 1971, Doherty commenced her acting career at 11 years old as a guest star in shows like "Voyagers!" and "Father Murphy". She would later secure a recurring role on "Little House on the Prairie" as Jenny Wilder for the ninth and final season. She maintained an active profile in both film and television – in her film debut, she voiced Teresa Brisby in 1982's "The Secret of NIMH," and also starred in "Heathers" and "Mallrats". After a series of guest appearances in shows such as "21 Jump Street" and "Magnum P.I.," she was cast as Brenda Walsh on "Beverly Hills, 90210." Amidst negative feedback to her character's transformation into a "bad girl" and disputes with the show's cast, Doherty left the series after season four, only to reprise her role in the 2008 CW reboot's first season. One of her major roles was as the lead actress in "Charmed*" on the CW and its precursor, the WB.
Gary Graham
The official "Star Trek" website remembered Graham as follows: "Fans of "Star Trek" knew him best as "Star Trek: Enterprise"’s Soval, the Vulcan ambassador to Earth, who created problems for both Admiral Forrest and Captain Archer due to his unfavorable opinions toward humans. Soval would go on to oppose giving Archer command of the Enterprise NX-01, and later hold Archer responsible for the destruction of the P’Jem monastery." Prior to "Enterprise", Graham appeared in the "Star Trek: Voyager" episode "Cold Fire" as Tanis, an Ocampan community leader whose ancestors opted to live with the Caretaker's mate, Suspiria. His presence within the "Star Trek" fandom continued with appearances at conventions and two "Star Trek" fan films.
In the future, Io9 may highlight the impact of technology on the genre entertainment industry, showcasing how advanced tech is shaping the stories and experiences of viewers.
Fans of Tony Todd can look forward to future collaborations, as his versatility and talent in horror films have proven that he continues to be a sought-after actor in the genre.