RIP: Dan O'Bannon | Movie News

RIP: Dan O'Bannon
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Strike Back below!
by: Dave Davis Dec. 18, 2009

A genre great has left us. Dan O'Bannon has died at the age of 63.

O'Bannon might not be a household name like Cameron or Spielberg, but he's one of the minds behind material that any self-respecting fanboy or fangirl should know intimately.

While his early career was marked by writing and appearing in John Carpenter's DARK STAR (that's him chasing the alien balloon around the ship) and working on STAR WARS special effects, O'Bannon then essentially launched the ALIEN franchise (with a script once known as STAR BEAST).

He went on to pen drafts of TOTAL RECALL, BLUE THUNDER, segments of HEAVY METAL, and underappreciated horror gems like DEAD & BURIED, Tobe Hooper's alien-vampire epic LIFEFORCE, and INVADERS FROM MARS.

But I'll probably always love O'Bannon for writing and directing what may well be my all-time favorite zombie flick: RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, which skewed from Romero's serious social-statement shamblers and introduced splatstick, punk, fast-movers and brainlust into the zombie genre. Not to mention Linnea Quigley's unforgettable nakedness.

Thank you, Dan. You will be missed.

Source: AICN

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Extra Tidbit: AICN received word that O'Bannon's wife plans to release some of his unpublished and unproduced work, so there's still more to come.

8 discussions Expand all
 
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Gulag
8:13PM on 12/19/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
:(
he made my day when i was waching the backstage of alien. He was crying on the opening day. R.I.P.
he made my day when i was waching the backstage of alien. He was crying on the opening day. R.I.P.
 
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KINGWEE
4:24PM on 12/19/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Very sad news. Thank you for all of your horror/sci-fi contributions, Rotld is one of my fav flicks. You will be sorely missed, sir.
Very sad news. Thank you for all of your horror/sci-fi contributions, Rotld is one of my fav flicks. You will be sorely missed, sir.
 
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Sulaco
9:35AM on 12/19/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
An unsung hero.
I've studied his work. He's one of the best genre writers I've ever read. His attitude and imagination put a lot of HUGE directors on the map.
I've studied his work. He's one of the best genre writers I've ever read. His attitude and imagination put a lot of HUGE directors on the map.
 
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Hrubyink
6:41AM on 12/19/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Saddened by this news and
Will watch DARK STAR in honor and in mourning of the death of one of my heroes. RIP Dan O'Bannon. Those of you may not know the name but you sure as hell know his work. Dark Star, Return of the Living Dead, Heavy Metal, Total Recall, Blue Thunder and a little sci fi horror film called ALIEN. Dan you were very gratious and kind when I met you at the Dark Star screening and you will always will...
Will watch DARK STAR in honor and in mourning of the death of one of my heroes. RIP Dan O'Bannon. Those of you may not know the name but you sure as hell know his work. Dark Star, Return of the Living Dead, Heavy Metal, Total Recall, Blue Thunder and a little sci fi horror film called ALIEN. Dan you were very gratious and kind when I met you at the Dark Star screening and you will always will make me laugh as you stumble around in the elevator shaft as "PINBACK". You have and will continue to inspired and teach screenwriting to all that wish to do it right. Thank you for the inspiration, the thrills, the horror and the laughs. You will be missed.
 
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Dr.Frankenstein
11:31PM on 12/18/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
OBannon's "Return Of The Living Dead" lol! that film is so much fun!I saw it back in 1985-86? on VHS then several times since on t.v. -I'll have to buy this classic soon. RIP cool fella.
OBannon's "Return Of The Living Dead" lol! that film is so much fun!I saw it back in 1985-86? on VHS then several times since on t.v. -I'll have to buy this classic soon. RIP cool fella.
 
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FrancoYesca
9:43PM on 12/18/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I saw this thread in the forums this morning
Not a good way for me to start the day. A lot of flicks I grew up on (and some I shouldn't have) were of his doing.



R.I.P Dan.
Not a good way for me to start the day. A lot of flicks I grew up on (and some I shouldn't have) were of his doing.



R.I.P Dan.
 
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ANTI
8:15PM on 12/18/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
He wrote one of the best stories in Heavy Metal B-17 about WW2 zombies go figure...



and Lifeforce is a guilty pleasure of mine.



He wrote one of the best stories in Heavy Metal B-17 about WW2 zombies go figure...



and Lifeforce is a guilty pleasure of mine.



 
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DaForce
8:08PM on 12/18/2009 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Damn. Definitely an unsung genius.
Damn. Definitely an unsung genius.