Forrest J. Ackerman 1916 - 2008
Source:Ryan Rotten, Managing Editor
December 5, 2008
ShockTillYouDrop.com has just been informed that Forrest J. Ackerman has passed away after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure and requesting no further treatment. Last month, the editor of
Famous Monsters Magazine - who inspired generations of sci-fi, horror and fantasy professionals and fans - was bidding farewell to his friends and loved ones (more on that
here). He celebrated his 92nd birthday on November 24th.
The following courtesy of the Associated Press:
Forrest J Ackerman, the sometime actor, literary agent, magazine editor and full-time bon vivant who discovered author Ray Bradbury and was widely credited with coining the term "sci-fi," has died. He was 92.
Ackerman died Thursday of heart failure at his Los Angeles home, said Kevin Burns, head of Prometheus Entertainment and a trustee of Ackerman's estate.
Although only marginally known to readers of mainstream literature, Ackerman was legendary in science-fiction circles as the founding editor of the pulp magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland. He was also the owner of a huge private collection of science-fiction movie and literary memorabilia that for years filled every nook and cranny of a hillside mansion overlooking Los Angeles.
"He became the Pied Piper, the spiritual leader, of everything science fiction, fantasy and horror," Burns said Friday.
Every Saturday morning that he was home, Ackerman would open up the house to anyone who wanted to view his treasures. He sold some pieces and gave others away when he moved to a smaller house in 2002, but he continued to let people visit him every Saturday for as long as his health permitted.
"My wife used to say, 'How can you let strangers into our home?' But what's the point of having a collection like this if you can't let people enjoy it?" an exuberant Ackerman told The Associated Press as he conducted a spirited tour of the mansion on his 85th birthday.
His collection once included more than 50,000 books, thousands of science-fiction magazines and such items as Bela Lugosi's cape from the 1931 film "Dracula."
His greatest achievement, however, was likely discovering Bradbury, author of the literary classics "Fahrenheit 451" and "The Martian Chronicles." Ackerman had placed a flyer in a Los Angeles bookstore for a science-fiction club he was founding and a teenage Bradbury showed up.
Later, Ackerman gave Bradbury the money to start his own science-fiction magazine, Futuria Fantasia, and paid the author's way to New York for an authors meeting that Bradbury said helped launch his career.
"I hadn't published yet, and I met a lot of these people who encouraged me and helped me get my career started, and that was all because of Forry Ackerman," the author told the AP in 2005.
Later, as a literary agent, Ackerman represented Bradbury, Isaac Asimov and numerous other science-fiction writers.
He said the term "sci-fi" came to him in 1954 when he was listening to a car radio and heard an announcer mention the word "hi-fi."
"My dear wife said, 'Forget it, Forry, it will never catch on,'" he recalled.
Soon he was using it in Famous Monsters of Filmland, the magazine he helped found in 1958 and edited for 25 years.
Ackerman himself appeared in numerous films over the years, usually in bit parts. His credits include "Queen of Blood," "Dracula vs. Frankenstein," "Amazon Women on the Moon," "Vampirella," "Transylvania Twist," "The Howling" and the Michael Jackson "Thriller" video. More recently, he appeared in 2007's "The Dead Undead" and 2006's "The Boneyard Collection."
Ackerman returned briefly to Famous Monsters of Filmland in the 1990s, but he quickly fell out with the publisher over creative differences. He sued and was awarded a judgment of more than $375,000.
Forrest James Ackerman was born in Los Angeles on Nov. 24, 1916. He fell in love with science-fiction, he once said, when he was 9 years old and saw a magazine called Amazing Stories. He would hold onto that publication for the rest of his life.
Ackerman, who had no children, was preceded in death by his wife, Wendayne.
Comments
Posted by: monsterofjonesboro on December 5, 2008 at 16:05:38
man, this is sad. and what's even sadder is he wont get as much coverage as other famous dead celbirities. he deserves it. the man was a genius. see you later uncle acky. rest in peace.
Posted by: Ryan on December 5, 2008 at 16:51:23
This man was one of the greatest! God bless his soul!
Posted by: RIOT on December 5, 2008 at 16:53:13
this is sad, I hope a few tributes pop up for him. He really had a huge effect on everything we love. 2 months ago Rue Morgue magazine did a cover and depth article on Uncle Forry, R I P see ya with Boris and Bela.
Posted by: Steven Millan on December 5, 2008 at 17:15:08
A truly sad day for every fan in the world(and universe). :(:(
Posted by: BoggyCreekBeast on December 5, 2008 at 17:38:34
I guess most of us knew this was coming, but still...
RIP. You were one of a kind.
Posted by: Erik V. on December 5, 2008 at 17:44:17
He left a big, positive footprint on this world. How many can claim they inspired and nurtured so many creative souls like Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and many, many others?
What a man...
Posted by: Davey on December 5, 2008 at 17:48:06
3 more weeks left and this horrible year in hollywood is done...so much talent lost this year, its so tragic
Posted by: Jason Barnett on December 5, 2008 at 17:48:17
May his Heaven be in CinemaScope.
Posted by: zodog on December 5, 2008 at 18:00:34
That sucks!!He saw a great guy.
Posted by: ZombieSixx on December 5, 2008 at 20:21:28
He Was The Stan Lee of Horror
Posted by: ZOMBIE4PETA on December 5, 2008 at 21:06:33
RIP
Posted by: Kino Hammer on December 6, 2008 at 11:16:13
Rest in Peace, Forry. You will always be a living legend in fandom.
Posted by: Wyngarde on December 6, 2008 at 11:19:37
Bringing monster fandom to the afterlife.
Thanks for shaping me, Forry!
Posted by: Skip on December 6, 2008 at 15:12:53
I just got the news of his passing and am actually In tears as I right this message. I am 54 years old and "Famous Monsters" helped me to learn how to read when I was very young .
This Is really a shock for me and I know that we all can not live "forever" but "Uncle Forry" was an Incredible human being and truly a legend who will be missed by all of his fans young and old alike! Mere words just cannot express how wonderful this man has been In my life as well as many,many other fans by providing all of us that knew him and of him through his kind generosity, his fantastic attitude, and his special love for the Incredible with the same special affection for the Science fiction and fantasy films that have been made to entertain us all and even Inspire a few of us ( Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Stephen King, John Landis,Rick Baker and many,many others to name just a few) to even make It a profession ....
Thanks "Uncle Forry" for contributing to my childhood with "Famous Monsters Of Filmland"
LOVE YA ALWAYS ..................
Posted by: Snoopy on December 6, 2008 at 15:52:54
Man Hollywood has got to do some sort of tribute to Mr. Ackerman. All the talent he inspired for generations after generations.
He was a landmark figure on the pop-cultural landscape.
Such a loss,such a great man.
R.I.P.
1916-2008,what a life time.
Posted by: jerry on December 6, 2008 at 22:58:00
Well now we have two that went in the horror field. The other being Beverly Garland. I had the great pleasure of knowing both of them and they will be greatly missed. I agree with monster when he said that this probably wont get as much coverage as it should since he wasn't a "big named star", but it should be noted as to how he helped people respect the field of horror and sci fi even more than what it was at the time. They will both be missed.
Posted by: Benjamin Bayer on December 7, 2008 at 04:10:33
Sad? I dunno. The guy lived until he was 92. I'd say that's a full life, and he certainly didn't waste it. Props to him, and while he'll be missed, his impact will ensure his legacy.
Posted by: Bill Chapman on December 7, 2008 at 07:42:43
Not many people know that this talented man was also a speaker of Esperanto, and an advocate of using this planned language more widely for international communication.
Posted by: Brian Barker on December 7, 2008 at 08:18:08
Uncle Forry was a great pioneer for the international language, Esperanto.
Dankon al vi onklo Forry pere de http://www.lernu.net
Posted by: JaSunni Productions on May 1, 2009 at 01:44:41
Long live Sci-fi!
We are also in post production on a documentary about Forry, and Forry is featured in our documentary about Charles Beaumont. (http://www.jasunni.com)
In addition, the latest issue of Dark Discoveries (number 13, of course) is dedicated to Forry and features articles and tributes. http://www.darkdiscoveries.com
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