John Agar (1921-present)

Best known for his leading roles in sci-fi films of the 1950's, Agar's career in Hollywood was largely a result of his 1945 marriage to Shirley Temple. Wedding attendee David O. Selznick cast the 6' 3" Agar as Temple's love interest in Fort Apache, and numerous roles ensued, but a 1949 divorce and various personal problems prompted a decline is his leading-man status. Yet, as a top B-movie actor, he starred in Tarantula, The Mole People, The Brain From Planet Arous, Invisible Invaders, Revenge of the Creature, Attack of the Puppet People, and other sci-fi classics.

 Morris Ankrum (1896-1964)

Born Morris Nussbaum, he began working for Paramount as Steven Morris in the 1930's. Generally playing the villain, he had roles in dozens of westerns, until he changed his name to Morris Ankrum around 1940. Ankrum was the ultimate character actor, and in countless films as supporting characters and bad-guys. It was as such that he took the role of a scientist in Kurt Neumann's 1950 classic Rocketship X-M. What followed was a string of appearances for which Ankrum is most fondly remembered, which include Flight to Mars, Invaders From Mars, Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers, Kronos, The Giant Claw, The Red Planet Mars, and The Beginning of the End. One can look at almost any 50's sci-fi film and pick out a role that Morris Ankrum would have been perfect for.

 Richard Carlson (1912-1977)

Born Albert Lea, he worked as a stage actor and director, later gaining employ under major Hollywood studios. Carlson had leading roles in films before and after his service in World War II, and in the 1950's starred in numerous sci-fi productions including The Creature From The Black Lagoon, It Came From Outer Space, and The Magnetic Monster. He appeared in and directed the film Rider To The Stars which starred William Lundigan from TV's Men Into Space. In later years he played the lead in the TV spy drama I Lead Three Lives and directed television episodes, including Men Into Space. In 1969 he appeared in the Harryhausen thriller The Valley Of Gwanji, and directed Change of Habit starring Elvis Presley. He made other TV appearances in the early 70's and retired before his death in late 1977.

Peter Cushing (1913-1994)

Peter Winton Cushing sought to land an acting career, and moved to the U.S. from his native Britain in 1939. Finding limited success, WWII impeded his return passage to England, and hearing difficulties disqualified him from active duty. Cushing found work entertaining troops, and continued to struggle with smaller roles after the war. He achieved recognition for his work on the 1954 BBC Television production of Orwell's 1984, which caught the notice of producers at Hammer Studios. It is said Hammer was surprised at Cushing's willingness to take on the role that was to catapult his career, the part of Victor Frankenstein in Hammer's Curse Of Frankenstein. The film was a success for Hammer and for Cushing, and led to a long relationship with the studio, as well a friendship with his co-star, Christopher Lee. Lee and Cushing both went on to star in a spate of thrillers. Cushing also played Sherlock Holmes in 3 films, and Dr. Who in 2. Cushing was inactive for some years following the death of his wife, but eventually returned to acting. In 1977 he portrayed the Imperial Governor Grand Moff Tarkin in the first Star Wars film. In fact, Cushing can be found credited in some film or television role almost every single year following his first Hammer release in 1957, until his last major film: Biggles: Adventures in Time in 1986. In later years he pursued his hobbies, such as painting and bird watching. Shortly before his death in 1994, he completed a documentary about the Hammer Film phenomenae with lifelong friend, Christopher Lee.

 Richard Denning (1914-1998)

Born Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger, he's best known for his 12 year role on TV's Hawaii 5-O, where he portrayed the state governor. Denning appeared in dozens of films before serving in the U.S. Navy's Submarine Service in WWII. He also worked for 3 years on CBS Radio's My Favorite Husband which shared writers from, and later became TV's I Love Lucy. Denning is most fondly remembered for his roles in sci-fi classics such as Target: Earth, The Unknown Island, The Black Scorpion, The Day The World Ended, and of course, The Creature From The Black Lagoon.

 Christopher Lee (1922-present)

Christopher Frank Carandini Lee had his academic career cut short by his familiy's financial difficulties, and took various menial jobs until going to work for the Intelligence Division of the RAF in 1941. He went into acting after WWII, mainly in smaller supporting roles, until he took on the part of the monster in Hammer's 1957 production The Curse of Frankenstein. This led to the part for which he is best known, that of Count Dracula in Hammer's 1958 follow-up film The Horror of Dracula. Lee was a smashing success in the role, but was also wary of the type-casting that haunted Bela Lugosi after achieving notoriety with the same character. Lee's abilities led him to all manner of roles, yet he was always sought by producers of thrillers, since any horror movie with his name on it would receive immediate attention. One especially memorable project was Hammer's The Devil Rides Out, in which he plays the good-guy, Duc de Richleau. He later formed a prodution company with Hammer associate Anthony Nelson Keys, and together they released 1973's The Wicker Man, which Lee is said to feel is his best work. Lee's widely varied roles include a Bond villain in The Man With The Golden Gun, A Nazi Officer in Spielberg's 1941, and even a gay biker in the comedy Serial from 1980. Ever in demand, Lee has a place in the Guiness Book Of World Records for his nearly 300 TV and movie accreditations. Recent appearances include Sleepy Hollow, the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, and the part Count Dooku (aka the evil Sith, Lord Tyranus) in Lucas' Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones.