Milwaukee Proud
At first glance, it doesn't look like too many science fiction personalities have come out of Milwaukee. But if you dig a little deeper, you find many names, big and little, that represent our home town. Here are the ones I've been able to find so far:
He's written for smaller projects like Team Knight Rider, but after writing and directing the science fiction drama Needle In A Timestack (2021), he has become Milwaukee's biggest name in sci fi. He is also one of Milwaukee's biggest names in Hollywood overall, as he has previously written the Oscar-winning screenplay to 12 Years A Slave, and his unpublished novel "Spoils of War" was made into the film Three Kings (1999). He is currently writing Black Panther comics.
If you count films like Young Frankenstein and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as science fiction films (and technically they do qualify) then Gene Wilder is one of the biggest sci fi actors to come out of Milwaukee. He grew up in the Sherman Park neighborhood and graduated from Washington High School.
Although he currently lives in the Twin Cities area, Bruce Bethke was born and raised in Milwaukee, graduating from Bay View High School. His debut short story, Cyberpunk (1983), gave the name to the sub-genre of science fiction that still lasts to this day.
She was Judy Robinson in Lost in Space (1998), Elizabeth in the comedy short film
Alien Love Triangle, and of course she was the love interest in Austin Powers. Her family moved around, but she was born in Milwaukee.
He starred in movies like Zodiac (2007), Where the Wild Things Are (2009), and Shutter Island (2010) before starring as Bruce Banner, a.k.a. "The Hulk," in the MCU. He's from Kenosha.
The same man who played Jesus in The Last Temptation of Christ and FBI Agent Paul Smecker in The Boondock Saints (1999) became a sci fi icon when he played the Green Goblin in Spider-Man (2002), but also was the voice of Tars Tarkas in Disney's John Carter (2012). He was born in Appleton, attended drama school at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, and performed in Milwaukee's experimental Theatre X.
We remember him best for playing Henry Drummond in Inherit the Wind (1960), but he also crossed over into science fiction with his depiction of Dr. Jekyll (1941). He was born in Milwaukee and graduated from Marquette University High School (then known as Marquette Academy) in 1918.
One of the most famous authors and collaborators out there, he has written and co-written hundreds of books. He is especially well known for his Star Wars expanded universe novels, and his collaborations with Frank Herbert's son, Brian Herbert, to continue the Dune series. He was born in Racine.
Played bit roles in many television and science fiction shows during the 70's and 80's. He has also played numerous Star Trek characters. But he is best remembered as Gul Dukat in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He's also a Milwaukee native.
He starred in many B-movie westerns but he was also a classic science fiction mainstay. He showed up in the original Flash Gordon movie serials and 'It: The Terror from Beyond Space.' He often dressed up in gorilla costumes in the original B&W Tarzan movie serials. His ranch, dubbed "Corriganville," was the setting for many movie westerns. Born in Milwaukee.
She's known for her role in Curb Your Enthusiasm, but she also played Lt. Rhodes in the Star Trek: TNG episode, "Bloodlines." Native born Milwaukeean.
Mark Metcalf
Played The Master in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and a Hirogen medic in Star Trek: Voyager, but he's best remembered as playing ROTC Officer Doug Niedermeyer in National Lampoon's Animal House (1978). He briefly moved to Mequon, WI where he and his then wife opened a restaurant called Libby Montana. His now ex-wife still owns the establishment.
Salome Jens
She played the Female Changeling in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Native Milwaukeean!
Jeffrey Hunter
Played Capt. Christopher Pike in the Star Trek: TOS original pilot episode, "The Cage." He graduated from Whitefish Bay High School.
Jeffrey Tambor
George Bluth, Sr. on Arrested Development, also was in Muppets From Space, Hellboy, Hellboy II: The Golden Army. He formerly acted with the Milwaukee Rep.
Jeff Doucette
Played Burns in Alien Nation.
Claudia Jennings
Playboy's Playmate of the Month for November of 1969, she played Peter's wife in The Man Who Fell to Earth (1977). She was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, but moved to Milwaukee where she spent much of her childhood.
Cordwainer Smith
Born in Milwaukee as Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger, he was a science fiction writer and Asian foreign relations expert. His short stories, Scanners Live In Vain (1950) and Game of Rat and Dragon (1955) have strongly influenced other science fiction writers.
Bradley Whitford
He played White House Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman in The West Wing, but he was also Dean Armitage in the horror/sci fi film Get Out. He was born in Madison, WI and graduated from Madison East High School.
Jack Finney
Author of Time and Again (1970) and The Body Snatchers (1955), the latter of which inspired the movie "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956). He was born in Milwaukee as John Finney.
Pamela Britton
Born in Milwaukee and played in many roles in Broadway and Hollywood. She is best remembered for playing Lorelei Brown on the TV show My Favorite Martian.
Frederic Brown
Author of Martians Go Home (1954) which inspired a 1990 movie of the same name, and The Arena, which became a Star Trek: TOS episode of the same name. Brown was a reporter and editor for The Milwaukee Journal for many years.
Chip Zien
He's best remembered for playing the Baker in Stephen Sonheim's musical, 'Into the Woods.' His claim to science fiction fame came when he did the voice of Howard the Duck. He was born in Milwaukee and graduated from Whitefish Bay High School.
Jacob Latimore
Young up-and-comer who was born and raised in Milwaukee. He played Jeff in The Maze Runner (2014).
Nancy Ann Olson
Betsy Carlisle in The Absent-Minded Professor, 1961, and Ford Secretary in Flubber, 1997.
Jeana Keough
Known today for being on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but once had a bit role in Michael Crichton's film, Looker (1981). Whitnall High School Graduate.
Robert Easton
Known as "The man with 1,000 voices," played the voice of the Klingon Judge in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. His family moved to Texas when he was seven, but he was born in Milwaukee.
Comments
Post a Comment