Actor Barry Morse, who played a detective in 1960s TV series The Fugitive, but better known to Sci-Fi fans as Professor Victor Bergman in 1970s science fiction series Space 1999 has died, his son said Tuesday. He was 89.
For those of you that don't remember space 1999, the series took place on a wayward Luna which had been flung into deep space after an explosive mishap disrupted its' orbit. The series also stared husband and wife team Barbara Bain and Martin Laundau, earlier of Mission Impossible fame. Space 1999, played on many American TV station but was never picked up by the major networks. Mostly it played on independent stations but did make it onto many network affiliate stations who would preempt regular network programming to play the series.
Thanks to SF Signals for the post
For those of you that don't remember space 1999, the series took place on a wayward Luna which had been flung into deep space after an explosive mishap disrupted its' orbit. The series also stared husband and wife team Barbara Bain and Martin Laundau, earlier of Mission Impossible fame. Space 1999, played on many American TV station but was never picked up by the major networks. Mostly it played on independent stations but did make it onto many network affiliate stations who would preempt regular network programming to play the series.
Thanks to SF Signals for the post
5 comments:
Morse also starred in one of the better episodes of Twilight Zone, 'A Piano in the House' with nice-on-screen but rather renegade-in-real-life actress Joan Hackett. (Hackett often smoked a pipe, which tells you something about her...) Morse also appeared in 'The Martian Chronicles' miniseries. During his four years playing the dogged detective in 'The Fugitive' TV series, he brought one of the most satisfying endings to a series by actually BELIEVING in the last episode that it WAS the one-armed man who did the dirty deed, and not 'Dr Richard Kimble', which was a surprise for viewers. In a stunning conclusion to the series, Morse actually KILLS the real bad guy and saves Kimble's life...
Bob, Thanks so much for the additional information! I had forgotten about the TWZ episode until you mentioned it. As for the Martian Chronicles, you know, I watched them, but I do not recall him, so a definite scoop on your part.
As for The fugitive, yes, I can remember being so frightened by how relentless he was and the ending is one I will always remember as being totally satisfying even though the series was not going to be playing anymore. Loved the show.
I thought that Morse certainly played one of the better characters in the first season of 1999,and that whatever quality the show had in that season plummeted in season 2, which did not feature Morse, and had even sillier premises and plots (and a dubious producer).
have to agree Shaun. My fond memories of S1999 are mostly from the first season. The only real reason I continued watching was that there wasn't much else for me to see. By then however I had discovered vistas beyond Star Trek and was oft buried in one tome or another. I had discovered Dune and Dhalagren and the tube did not hold me spellbound any longer.
I was a big fan of Space:1999 while growing up in the 70's (and yes, I much prefer Season 1 too, largely due to Barry Morse's presence and character! He's probably heard that a lot over the years...); alas, I sort of lost touch with the show after I started college. After many years, I sort of "rediscovered" my interest in the show this past fall--but not in enough time to meet Barry or any other cast members in conventions of years past. I do hope to attend one in the future, however...
--Karen Olsen
http://virgofolkie.livejournal.com
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