Although we’ve known for a little while the following was an inevitability it doesn’t make the blow any easier to take; the good folks over at Shock Till You Drop just received word the legendary Forrest J. Ackerman has died. He was 92.
Earlier this month, Shock got the lowdown from writer/director and close Forry friend Tim Sullivan (Driftwood) that Uncle Forry had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and was requesting he receive no more medical treatment.
Best known as the editor/writer of Famous Monsters of Filmland and creator of comic book character Vampirella, Ackerman has played a large role (if not the largest) in the wide cultural acceptance of horror and science fiction as legitimate literary, art and film genres. No one has done more, I’m sure you’re aware, to spread the gospel of science fiction, horror, and fantasy fandom than Forrest J. Ackerman.
I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Ackerman seven years ago just before he had to move out of the old Ackermansion, and he was just as pleasant and accommodating as one would hope; Mr. Ackerman graciously opened his home and vast collection to the public every Saturday, and just being a fan alone was all you needed to enter his abode and witness the vestiges of cinematic eras gone by. A true privilege for any true cinephile.
Unfortunately, folks, a great man has left us and our beloved genre is worse off because of it.
R.I.P. Forrest J. Ackerman, you will be missed by many to say the least.