Posted on 12/28/2009 11:09:43 AM PST by My Favorite Headache
Dan O'Bannon, the screenwriter behind Alien and Total Recall, has died at the age of 63.
He passed away in Los Angeles following a short illness, reports website Ain't It Cool News.
O'Bannon attended USC film school in the early '70s where he met director John Carpenter. The pair worked together on Carpenter's debut feature Dark Star, which O'Bannon co-wrote, edited, served as special effects supervisor and acted in the role of Sgt Pinback.
He worked on the visual effects team on Star Wars before switching his efforts to screenwriting full time with the initial script for Alien, titled Star Beast, which he penned with Ronald Shusett.
O'Bannon's credits also include Blue Thunder, Screamers, Bleeders and horror movies The Return Of The Living Dead and The Resurrected, which he also directed.
He is survived by his wife Diane Louise Lindley and their son Adam.
A selection of his work
* 1974 Dark Star – writer, special effects, editor, production design, co-star
* 1977 Star Wars – special computer effects
* 1979 Alien – writer
* 1981 Dead & Buried – writer
* 1981 Heavy Metal – writer of two segments, Soft Landing and B-17
* 1983 Blue Thunder – writer
* 1985 Lifeforce – writer
* 1985 The Return of the Living Dead – writer, director, voice
* 1986 Invaders from Mars – writer
* 1990 Total Recall – writer
* 1992 The Resurrected – director
* 1995 Screamers – writer
* 2010 Silvaticus 3015 – co-screenplay writer
He must have been a big fan of P.K. Dick.
‘Blue Thunder’ was described as one critic as ‘big dumb fun.’
Despite that it’s always been a sentimental favorite of mine.
“Lifeforce”
That would be the undead-alien invasion movie where the alien Matilda May walks around nude for the first 45 minutes killing humans.
That’s good writin.
Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.
Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.
He did Dark Star too? I shouldn’t be surprised. Probably one of the most underrated Sci-Fi movies ever. RIP, sir.
Bummer— loved his work.
He did Dark Star too? I shouldn’t be surprised. Probably one of the most underrated Sci-Fi movies ever. RIP, sir.
Rest in peace, Dan “Pinback” O’Bannon. Your contributions to film were greatly appreciated.
This guy did Dead & Buried. RIP
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Not related to Rockne.
Classic!
I was just thinking that, good chunk of PKD in there.
My husband is so pissed that the celebrities that dies in 2009 lists haven’t included Pinbeck!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.