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Ed Bishop has passed away...

Damn. RIP Captain Blue by InBloom	Jun 14th, 2005 07:41:22 AM
..you were my favorite one! Condolences to the Bishop family..
not only Bishop by koomoReborn	Jun 14th, 2005 07:41:27 AM
but the bloke who played the dashing action guy in UFO passed away within three days of Bishop
Lane Smith too by Andy Dufresne	Jun 14th, 2005 07:41:55 AM
...He rocked
An American abroad... by Charlie & Tex	Jun 14th, 2005 08:10:30 AM
While is is well-known that he was in 2001, he also turned up a number of years earlier in Kubrick's Lolita. Ed Bishop was a constant face on UK TV from the 60s up until only recently. A real personality on his own, he was largely used when TV shows needed an American "white-coat" architype to explain inventions or machinations of politics or frequently as a journalist. The problem was that his New-Yorker accent mutated while he was over here (as does with most US thesps who come to live) but it was this weird fusion that made him so recognisable, even if the name or even his face was unfamiliar. A stawlart actor who was so reliable that he was constantly in demand is as good an epitaph for any jobbing thesp, and Ed Bishop was just that and an icon to fans of the genre. He will certainly be missed...
Imagine the guts it takes. . . by Rhett Butler	Jun 14th, 2005 09:00:11 AM
To wear that saucy, silver wig. Deliver some of the silliest dialogue ever heard on TV. And endorse the most preposterous plots in sci-fi history - and do so with utter conviction.
Wow... by Dataset	Jun 14th, 2005 09:02:58 AM
I have to say that was the first refrence to Whoop Apocalypse I've ever seen on this site. Look it up kids. It was greatness. Of course I was nine at the time, and I haven't seen it since....RIP elder geek...
Wow, the legendary Ed Bishop is gone! by Ingeld	Jun 14th, 2005 09:11:42 AM
At least the passing of this iconic, important influential, artistic genious was caught on Harry's radar--unlike those C grade actors Eddie Albert and from a few years back Art Carney.
R.I.P. Ed Bishop by Bart of Darkness	Jun 14th, 2005 09:28:03 AM
Your passing (and Michael Billington's) is a sad loss to fans of archive UK TV. You will always be best remembered for UFO and Captain Scarlet but you cropped up in some other memorable productions. You were the first luckless unfortunate rabies victim in the memorable BBC three-parter "The Mad Death", you played clueless radiation tag inspector Klaus Hergersheimer in "Diamonds are Forever" (that bit always makes me smile), you were Jay Garrick, the TV newscaster in the sublimely funny "Whoops Apocalypse" TV show (not to be confused with the much weaker film version). You were even the voice of the US president in the superb and chilling "Threads", probably never seen by 99% of talkbackers but easily the grimmest depiction of nuclear war ever shown on TV anywhere in the world. A jobbing actor rather than a "star", but your adapted homeland always kept you in work (even if some of the audience didn't always remember your name until the credits were rolling!). R.I.P. Ed (and Michael).
Ed Bishop Attends Eternal LifeDay Celebration in the Sky by BlueBeetle	Jun 14th, 2005 09:38:58 AM
You will be missed, my brother. You willed be missed. I'll sing the LifeDay song just for you today here in the office with my co-workers. sob
So long guys by Samson_K	Jun 14th, 2005 09:41:07 AM
Michael Billington - perennial actor always suggested for James Bond and only made his mark in the series by getting shot by Roger Moore at the beginning of 'The Spy Who Loved Me' - you would have been a damned fine Bond and you were a welcome presence on British television. If not for Lou Grade's ITC and Gerry Anderson I doubt that people like Michael Billington and Ed Bishop would really have managed to struggle past the megastar system but I'm glad they did and I mourn for them and the simpler, better times when people would take chances with television and give actors a chance to shine!
"where does the universe end? where does it begin?" by duanejones	Jun 14th, 2005 10:10:33 AM
wooden, not quite your method actor, and probably more likely to get work as the only helmet-haired yank in london's actor's equity rather than be another stiff in hollywood, there really was somthing unique about ed bishop and his presence on _ufo_ lent it an unusual gravity. also, despite his pretty apparent limitations as an actor, he really would "go there" when the situation called for it -- i'm especially thinking of that last episode where he fights the villian unstuck-in-time, as it were. he could be a pretty boy and an existential haggard in the same episode. i'm sorry to hear of his passing. peace out, ed bishop....
UFO by Drunken Rage	Jun 14th, 2005 10:13:10 AM
Was that the series with Martin Bain? It was a syndicated British show, I think.
Oops by Drunken Rage	Jun 14th, 2005 10:14:02 AM
That should read "Martin Landau and Barbara Bain."
Where/When/If New CGI Capt. Scarlet Will Air in the U.S.? by mholc68	Jun 14th, 2005 10:20:49 AM
Anybody know?
Space 1999 by Samson_K	Jun 14th, 2005 10:21:28 AM
That was the name of the show starring Martin Landau and his gorgeous corpse faced wife Barbara. It was another of Andersons live action shows and the first series was great - whereas the second series (season) was shite! However - the interesting thing about Space 1999 was that it was orginally developed as a sequel to UFO as they second season of UFO was going to be largely moonbase set - dunno why it becamse Space 1999 and dunno why we still have a moon but there you go!
UFO was excellent by Fitzcarraldo2	Jun 14th, 2005 10:41:46 AM
As previously said, once you looked past the camp futuristic stylings (string vests for the submarine crew?)it was a surprisingly bleak and scary show. Ed Bishop was great in his role, he seemed like a nice bloke too. RIP.
UFO started me on the geek trail... by GenericGeek	Jun 14th, 2005 11:14:26 AM
It was an amazing show, in no small part thanks to Ed Bishop. I think I was seven years old, or so, but the moment I saw him with that hair in that amazing car, I instinctively understood the concept of "cool". Rest in Peace.
Not having seen much UFO... by danofan59	Jun 14th, 2005 11:38:59 AM
I'll always remember him checking radiation shields in "Diamonds Are Forever"
Ed Bishop: A Class Act by MachinaMan	Jun 14th, 2005 11:42:04 AM
I have always been a fan of Gerry Anderson's shows, and have always held a special place for UFO. There was indeed something, dare I say, otherworldly about Ed Bishop as Commander Straker, but it somehow managed to contribute to the mystique of the show. He will definitely be missed.
Who the hell is Edd Bishop and why is this on the front page of by Daddy Tones	Jun 14th, 2005 11:45:15 AM
Well? Answer me at once.
Martin Landau and his gorgeous corpse faced wife Barbara by Bart of Darkness	Jun 14th, 2005 12:08:59 PM
Loved that description. Actually her acting was much deader than her looks.
Great Shades of Elvis! What about Lane Smith? by SpyGuy	Jun 14th, 2005 01:01:51 PM
Next to Jackie Cooper, LOIS AND CLARK's Lane Smith was my favorite Perry White, Southern accent and all. R.I.P., Lane.
Lane Smith died? by Big Jim	Jun 14th, 2005 01:16:23 PM
That's sad. He was a great character actor. Loved him in My Cousin Vinny.
I'm sick about Lane Smith by Darth Busey	Jun 14th, 2005 02:29:22 PM
The guy will forever hold a warm place in my heart for leading the "Let them play!" chant in "Bad News Bears in Breaking Training", and for dry heaving as the mayor watching his townspeople gunned down by a firing squad in "Red Dawn". RIP, Lane.
And no word of JD Cannon??? by jtp8000	Jun 14th, 2005 03:03:15 PM
He was great in McCloud and a billion other things. This is a bad week for character actors.
UFO and fashions by neemz	Jun 14th, 2005 03:03:18 PM
Some of the UFO fashions did make a brief reappearance in the 1990s, particularly those distinctive narrow jacket collars. The cars used definitely seemed to inspire Ford in the design of the seminal Ford Sierra (and many subsequent European cars from the 1980s to the present day). Thankfully the string vests and purple wigs had no influence at all on modern fashions! Ed Bishop, you will be missed.
Purple Hair and Camel Toe by SaintDilbert	Jun 14th, 2005 03:20:08 PM
Gotta love the uniforms for the SHADO women of 1980. I think they inspired the look of Star Trek: The Pajama Party... Er, The Motion Picture.
UFO clothing by Fitzcarraldo2	Jun 14th, 2005 03:47:09 PM
I remember getting a definite sexual thrill on seeing the sub girl in a string vest... you could just about see her breasts but she never seemed to turn round and give us a clear look. Oh well, a family show I suppose.
UFO clothing part II by Bart of Darkness	Jun 14th, 2005 03:58:18 PM
From my limited knowledge of late 60s/early 70s fashions, such clothing was briefly in vogue in the UK. I doubt if any of the girls wearing them looked as good as the sub girl did though!
BBC revivals by Bart of Darkness	Jun 14th, 2005 05:35:36 PM
Given the success of the new Doctor Who, similar revivals might well be on the cards. However I'd probably bet on Blake's 7 being chosen, which at least has a BBC history (UFO and Space 1999 are ITC owned, Sapphire & Steel was an ITV show).
The first edgy SF show by neemz	Jun 14th, 2005 07:11:13 PM
I must have been around the same age as DarkHawke when I first saw UFO. As I've grown older, I've come to appreciate the show even more, particularly the more "way out" episodes from the second recording block. Shows like "Mindbender" and particularly "Timelash", which must rank as one of the best episodes of any TV SF show ever. UFO must have seemed quite a novelty at the time, many of the special effects still stand up well today (making contemporary shows from 1969 like Star Trek and Doctor Who look incredibly cheap in comparison). Shame we never had an actual moonbase in 1980, particularly one staffed by gorgeous women in silver jumpsuits like Lt. Gay Ellis.
Lt. Ellis by Bart of Darkness	Jun 14th, 2005 07:19:01 PM
Slobber!
Dana Elcar by wilbur gray	Jun 14th, 2005 08:33:18 PM
...also passed away recently.Another familiar face from t.v. and movies,he was best known as MacGyver's boss on that series.Didn't think Lane Smith was that old.Anybody know what he died from?
Where can I find 'UFO' on DVD? by Talos4	Jun 14th, 2005 09:31:50 PM
Does anyone out there know where I can find this show? I, too, remember watching this show growing up in the 60's and 70's. I liked the show, which technically was a prequel to the "Space 1999" television series. It is sad to hear about Mr. Bishop. I knew him from the James Bond movies- I think one was "Diamonds are forever", but what other one was he in? BTW, who was the other guy on 'UFO' that died this month? It looks like there was someone else, too.
UFO DVDs by brinkeguthrie	Jun 14th, 2005 11:27:09 PM
UFO was and is great. eBay and Amazon have the complete Box sets. RIP to Ed and Mike, you were my Sci-Fi heroes.
by Samson_K	Jun 15th, 2005 05:08:15 AM
Ed's other Bond movie was 'You Only Live Twice'. You did get a freezeframe full on shot of the sub girls tits in the first episode - sorry I know this! And while Whoops Apocalypse the movie was funny at parts the tv show was an absolute classic! President Johnny Cyclops in the Oval office looks out of the window to see a full size cross being raised to the air - complete with crucifixion victim, turns to his aide The Deacon - "Deacon, don't you think the Easter decorations are a little severe?' Deacon - 'It plays well in the Bible belt sir - besides it gives students something to do during their Easter break!' and 'A woman who was given a lock of Frank Sinatra's hair in 1963 has today sold it back to him for an undisclosed sum!' It is a fantastic show!!!
Commander Straker, I will acquire UFO DVD ASAP. by kabong	Jun 15th, 2005 03:24:43 PM
SIG. I know that's from a different Anderson series. I like them all.
the best ever by colonel foster	Jun 15th, 2005 04:32:50 PM
I met Ed Twice,top chap very affable.He got Bob Sherman...whoops apocalipse...oppenheimer...the spy who loved me... his first acting gig on u.f.o coz he was fed up with bob crashing on the sofa! UFO is the best show the Andersons ever produced...very dark.Sometimes I suspect that Straker was the guy that Mulder was searching for.Bless you Ed and Paul..thanks for the memories from 4 until...well who knows..is this the end or the beginning?
battle beneath the earth by colonel foster	Jun 15th, 2005 04:34:36 PM
where can I get that movie???
It's about time for an Orson Welles bio-pic!!!! by Joseph Cotten	Jul 10th, 2005 06:22:29 PM
Am I the only who thinks the late and great Orson is due for a bio-pic? I imagine Peter Bogdanovich should be involved as he is one of the last alive who have met Orson Welles. And who do I see playing the boy genius himself? Well, if the stature and voice has to resemble Orson, then my first choice would be...wait for it :-) Mr. Kelsey Grammar. Any other suggestions out there? Any one know how to pass this on to Peter Bogdanovich? Hey Peter, if your're reading this please get to work ASAP ;-) Thomas, Denmark

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