The Associated Press reports that legendary Famous Monsters of Filmland editor Forrest J Ackerman passed away on Thursday, December 4th at his Los Angeles home. Ackerman, or “Uncle Forry” as he was affectionately known by friends and fans alike, died of heart failure. He had recently celebrated his 92nd birthday.
Reports started circulating several weeks ago that the venerable pop culture icon was in failing health, as he welcomed his many friends and colleagues – including Ackerman “discovery” Ray Bradbury and Fangoria editor Anthony Timpone – to say their final goodbyes at his private Hollywood residence. Until 2002, Ackerman lived in an extraordinary 18-room mansion known as the “Ackermansion” which housed his astounding collection of over 300,000 pieces of film memorabilia.
Widely credited with coining the term “sci fi,” the internationally known science fiction fan and B-movie champion was the author and editor of numerous books and magazines, as well as the creator of the comic book character Vampirella. He made cameo appearances in more than fifty motion pictures, including The Howling, Amazon Women of the Moon, Beverly Hills Cop III, and Michael Jackson’s Thriller video.
Ackerman was a recipient of the HWA Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.
Although Ackerman fell short of his “aim at hitting 100 and becoming the George Burns of science fiction”, he leaves behind an amazing legacy that will continue to inspire generations of science fiction and horror fans to come. Ackerman, who had no children, was preceded in death by his wife, Wendayne.
