VAL WARREN - Noted Science Fiction Fan

Author and musician Val Warren, who was an authority on Buddy Holly and the Crickets and a leading science fiction fan, died of complications from cancer on July 25, 2011.  He was born in the mid-1940s, and raised in Gardiner, New York.  He was a leading fan of rocker Buddy Holly, who died in a plane crash in 1959, and became an authority on his life and career, and that of his band, the Crickets.  He later formed a quartet that played in Newburgh, New York, nightspots.  Warren was an editor and writer for the fantasy film magazine "Kaleidoscope" in the early 1960s.  He was noted for winning first place in "Famous Monsters of Filmland"'s National Horror Makeup Contest in 1964.  His werewolf makeup earned him a photo spread in "Famous Monsters" and a cameo in the 1964 AIP film "Bikini Beach" with Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon.  He wrote the 1979 book on fantasy films "Lost Lands, Mythical Kingdoms and Unknown Worlds", and was a noted fantasy illustrator.  Warren worked on a book project about Buddy Holly for many years, which remained unpublished at his death. 

SAKYO KOMATSU - Japanese science fiction writer

Japanese science fiction writer Sakyo Komatsu died of pneumonia in a Minoo, Osaka, Japan, hospital on July 26, 2011, at age 80.  He was born Minoru Komatsu in Osaka on January 28, 1931.  He wrote for magazines from the 1950s, and was the uncredited writer of the 1963 cult classic horror film "Attack of the Mushroom People" (aka "Matango").   He was best known for his disaster novel "Nippon Chinbotsu", which was adapted for the films "Tidal Wave" (1974) and "Doomsday: The Sinking of Japan" (2006).   He produced, directed, and wrote the 1984 science fiction film "Bye Bye Jupiter".  Several of his other works were also adapted for film including "Virus" (1980), "Time of the Apes" (1987), and "Tokyo Blackout" (1987).

SILVIO NARIZZANO - Director of "Die! Die! My Darling!"

Canadian film and television director Silvio Narizzano died on July 26, 2011.  Narizzano was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on February 8, 1927.  He began working in theatre after graduating from Bishop's University in Quebec.  He also worked as an assistant director for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and produced a 1952 adaptation of Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" for "Tales of Adventure".  Narizzano moved to England in the late 1950s, where he worked frequently in television.  He directed an adaptation of J.B. Priestley's anti-nuclear play "Doomsday for Dyson" in 1958 and "24 Hours in a Woman's Life" (1961) starring Ingrid Bergman.  He also helmed several productions for "ITV Television Playhouse" and "Saki", and episodes of  "Maupassant", "Paris 1900", and "Zero One".  He made his feature film debut directing the 1965 Hammer horror film "Die! Die! My Darling!" (aka "Fanatic") starring Tallulah Bankhead and Stefanie Powers. He was best known for helming the 1966 romantic comedy "Georgy Girl", starring Lynn Redgrave and James Mason in roles that earned them Oscar nominations.  He also directed the 1968 western "Blue" starring Terence Stamp, and a 1970 adaptation of Joe Orton's play "Loot".  He produced and directed the 1973 Italian crime thriller "Senza Ragione" (aka "RedNeck") starring Telly Savalas, and directed  a 1977 television production of "Come Back, Little Sheba" (1977).  He also directed the 1979 horror thriller "Bloodbath" starring Dennis Hopper, and an episode of televisions "Space Precinct".