Forrest J Ackerman dead at 92

Sad (but not shocking) news today that Forrest J Ackerman has died. Dennis McLellan, one of the fine obituary writers in the country, writes about this true original:

Forrest J Ackerman, who influenced a generation of young horror movie fans with Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine and spent a lifetime amassing what has been called the world's largest personal collection of science fiction and fantasy memorabilia, has died. He was 92.

Ackerman, a writer, editor and literary agent who has been credited with coining the term "sci-fi" in the 1950s, died Thursday of heart failure at his home in Los Angeles, Kevin Burns, head of Prometheus Entertainment and a trustee of Ackerman's estate, told the Associated Press.

As editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland, Ackerman wrote most of the articles in the photo-laden magazine launched in 1958 as a forum for past and present horror films.

"It was the first movie monster magazine," Tony Timpone, editor of Fangoria, a horror movie magazine founded in 1979, told The Times in 2002.

Timpone, who began reading Famous Monsters as a young boy in the early '70s, remembers it as "a black-and-white magazine with cheap paper but great painted [color] covers. It really turned people on to the magic of horror movies."

Primarily targeted to late pre-adolescents and young teenagers, Famous Monsters of Filmland featured synopses of horror films, interviews with actors such as Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and Vincent Price, and articles on makeup and special effects.

Famous Monsters reflected Ackerman's penchant for puns, with features such as "The Printed Weird" and "Fang Mail." Ackerman referred to himself as Dr. Acula.

"He put a lot of his personality into the magazine," said Timpone, who later became friends with Ackerman. "It was a pretty juvenile approach to genre journalism, but as kids, that's all we had."

Again, you can read the entire obit right here.   

One of our sister blogs, The Daily Mirror, has dug up a 2002 profile by Hilary E. MacGregor, one of my former colleagues here in the featrues sections of the Los Angeles Times. An excerpt:

Even here amid his diminished collection, it becomes apparent that the greatest part of Ackerman's collection is the man himself. He is full of tales of the birth of horror in Hollywood. He saw movies that have been lost forever. He attended Bela Lugosi's funeral. He attended not just the first World Science Fiction Convention in New York City in 1939, but nearly every convention since. As a teenager, he corresponded with the president of Universal Studios, Carl Laemmle, 62 times, until Laemmle wrote on his president's stationery, "Give this kid anything he wants." Fifteen-year-old Forrie Ackerman chose the sound discs to some of the greats of early cinema like "Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "Frankenstein."

(More from the 2002 Los Angeles Times feature on the late Forrest J Ackerman...)

Born and raised in Hollywood, Forrie is the ultimate fan. He is still an eager 12-year-old boy trapped in a gangly, 86-year-old man's body. He delights in bad puns and very silly jokes. He points to a casket covered in embroidered pillows in the front of his living room. "That's my coffin table," he says with a wink. "Room for one more ... "

He is well-spoken and a master storyteller. He has an encyclopedic mind that holds data like a computer. He can rattle off obscure movie titles, forgotten movie stars, esoteric movie lore. His stories are what make his objects, much of which look like junk in an adolescent's bedroom, come alive.

There is Bela Lugosi's cape in the corner, from the 1932 stage performance of "Dracula" in San Francisco. And there, over the dining room doorway, are the seven great faces of horror cinema in life-size 3-D molds: Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., Tor Johnson, Glenn Strange, Vincent Price and Peter Lorre.

Where others display china, Forrie displays models of dinosaurs, monster heads and a skull holding a serving bowl. Where others might hang paintings, Ackerman hangs a wall-size comic strip of Vampirella, which he created in 1958.

He walks back toward the bedroom with a mischievous look.

"You are over 21," he flirts, arching an eyebrow. "You can come into my 'badroom.'"

That whole article is well worth reading, and again, you can find it right here. I'll be posting more on Ackerman as the news ripples out.

R.I.P. Forrie...

-- Geoff Boucher

Top photo : Forrest J Ackerman at his home in 1969. Credit: Jack Carrick / Los Angeles Times. Lower photo: Ackerman in 2002. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times.

Comments

[Jen Poll]

You'll be missed, Forrie. Your Ackermansion was truly wonderful, and Famous Monsters provided untold hours of fascination! There would be no "Sci-Fi" without you, and the world will not be the same without you in it.

[James May]

Let's all say a fond farewell to the Ackermonster. He was the ultimately cool nerd and I loved reading Famous Monsters of Filmland when I was a kid. He gave a fun and warm hearted take to horror movies for all the fans who for some crazy reason just loved that genre.

[Northwest Smith]

I will always cherish the letter HPL wrote you on Christmas' Eve 1935, when you were 18.

RIP Forrest.

[Terry Canote]

I must say that I am truly saddened by the passing of Forrest Ackerman. He was an inspiration to everyone who was a fan of science fiction, horror, and fantasy. His impact on multiple generations of fans cannot be measured. He was truly one of the greats.

[Michael O'Brien]

I met Forry Ackerman when he visited Australia for the 1975 World Science Fiction Convention. One of my abiding memories was the day he invited me to join him for lunch; as we left, the guard on the door said "Mr Ackerman, there are two boys who have been waiting a couple of hours to meet you." Two schoolboys who were writing an article for their school magazine wanted to meet Forry. He took them into lunch with us, posed for photographs and dazzled them with wonderful stories about Hollywood and the great actors. I've never forgotten it -- you can be sure that those two youngsters haven't either. It tells you a lot about the man behind "the Ackermonster".

[a.m. schmitz]

yea at 92 he would remember ww1 vets as a kid.

[Martin Weiss]

Forrie was more than a walking, talking encyclopedia of horror media. He was friendly and trusting, inviting the public into his home to view his valuable and vast collection of memorabilia. He was a comedic genius. Years ago, as a publicist representing director/make-up effects artist John Buechler, I asked Forrie to help me pull a surprise on John at a Fangoria convention. John, quietly enjoying his 10th anniversary in the industry at the time, prepared an exposee of an upcoming film. As he stepped to the podium, we cut him off for a "This Is Your Life" tribute utilizing stars of his many films. When Forrie originally agreed to moderate the event, I figured he would give an adequate performance given his wit and knowledge. Forrie brought it to levels of fun and comedy that far exceeded my grandest wishes. Ironically, Forrie congratulated me for a job well-done and half-jokingly asked if I would pull the same prank on his 100th birthday. I certainly will never get the opportunity, but then, I could never have anyone like Forrie to run the show. Once again, fangs so much Forrie! While you're hanging around Boris, Lon, Vincent, and Bela in that great castle in the sky, just be sure your drink really is tomato juice before you sink your teeth in. ;)

[Cherri Fuller]

I met Uncle Forrey in Florence, Alabama and he was such a great person. I have a picture of me with him under Dracula's cape. He inspired so many people and taught us never to forget the past. You will be dearly missed Uncle Forrey.

[Roy]

R.I.P. Mr Ackerman, you were one of my heroes in my youth and gave me much to look forward to. Thank you so much for the twisted mind...

[Malcolm Craycroft]

I had the good fortune to tour the Ackermansion many times growing up. There is no way to decribe what a thrill it was to wander through that house as a child and discover the strange and wonderous objects stuffed in every corner & room. He was a great and kind man and will be missed. It is a shame that someone like King or Speilberg or LA County didn't take over the house and turn it into a museum.
Godspeed, Forrie

[Triston Pence, El Paso, TX]

No other person (other than my parents) has influenced who I am more than Forrest J Ackerman. I think it is safe to say that this is a common feeling to fans of the Sci-Fi, Horror, or Fantasy genre. He was a remarkably kind and generous person who never turned away a fan. He lived life to it's fullest and his joy spilled over to the life of anyone who ever had the pleasure to meet him or read one of his publications. I will miss him greatly as will countless others. He was everyone's favorite uncle.

[JOHN DEBLASI]

A sad day indeed, he will be missed. Those were great days, being young and carefree, my biggest concern was when was the next issue of Famous Monsters of Filmland going to appear at my local candy newspaper store, and the excitement of spotting the new issue in the rack among all the rest of the magazines. Well, I lost my father this past October and now this, it has not been a good year.
Rest easy FJA.

[Count Craigula]

Forrest J Ackerman, Forrey, 4E, Forrest, Dr. Acula, a man with many names, he influenced countless people in oh so many ways, and no matter who (or what) you were, he always was more than generous with his time, if you asked him for it.
He may have been 92 in people years, but if you spent any amount of time with him, you probably would have guessed him to be around 15 years old.
He welcomed both friends and strangers into his Ackermansion and heart without discrimination, and he always made each individual feel unique and special.
There is simply no enough web space on the Internet to describe what a truly outstanding individual Forrest J Ackerman is and was.

Thank you for everything.

We love you Forrest, and we will deeply miss you always.

[Laura Breeze]

My heart aches...I met Forrest in San Diego Comic Con and fell in love with his kind and loving heart. I remember after he signed my book I told him that I loved him and moved over to let my husband get his book signed... and out of the blue Forrest stood up and called me around the table and said "It has been my experience that when the leaidng lady tells the leading man she loves him, he gets a kiss" and the thrill of my life... I got to give Mr. Ackerman a kiss. Ever since that meeting, I saw him every year after that and always wore my cowboy hat so he would recognize me. This year was the last time I got to kiss his sweet, loving face and I will never forget his kindness to me. I don't think I will ever get over loosing such a loving and wonderful man. God Bless You Forrest. I will see you again some day- and I know your shining down on me from Heaven and that makes me feel so loved.

Laura

[JPV]

Beast wishes...

[Gloria McMillan]

Forry was a great friend of our family. He told me the last time we saw him that he was almost run over by Katharine Hepburn in her big car during the first years of her career. He was a fountain of Hollywood history and shared generously with many, many people.
We'll miss you!
Gloria and Bob McMillan

[Marc Russell]

I knew "Uncle Forry" quite well during the final 47 years of his life. He was a unique, irreplaceable individual. His lifetime devotion to science fiction and fantasy is only one of the many reasons that he will be missed forever.

[Hans G Brüggener]

So, Forrest J Ackerman is gone. It finally happened. My first contact with him was through Famous Monsters Of Filmland, only sold in one small tobacco-store in Stockholm. That was 1970. Through the years, we talked over the phone, he visited Sweden and I was fortunate to be his personal guide and take him to different movie companies here that gave him a lot of rare film pictures and posters. He was kind, gentle, told many a good tale and seemed comfortable away from the crowds. He enjoyed our swedish mint fudge, and had lots and lots of it! I was later
published in FM, and that added to my inspiration. Yes, Forry was my friend.
So, I will rember him like that. Not when I spoke to him and he was in the hospital, so weak, afraid to be forgotten, actually; "Oh, my dear, dear friend!" he said. Poor man! This time, he had much support from many people during his illness, and I am sured he died filled with love.
I hope he finds the Heaven he didn't believe in. I think there are stories left for him to tell, and I
don't want to miss them. With all respect, and a hello to Laura, whose comment warms my heart. Hans G Brüggener.

[Val Warren]

It was with great sadness that I read the Dec. 6th obituary regarding 'Mr. SciFi', Forrest J Ackerman, the author, actor, literary agent and magazine publisher who became affectionately known as 'Uncle Forry' to an entire generation of such horror movie and science-fiction buffs in the late 50s & early 60s as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and yours truly. The memory of hearing Forry's voice over the phone Easter morning 1962 informing me I had won 1st prize in his "Famous Monsters of Filmland" magazine's national horror makeup contest resonates to this day with the same mixed feelings of joy and disbelief that registered in my 19 year-old ears and mind almost a half-century ago. My original Werewolf creation had topped all the other entrants, including Rick Baker whose makeup artistry would win 3 Academy Awards many years later for his film work including "The GRINCH". I'll never forget the kindness that Forry lavished upon me during two thrilling weeks in Hollywood at his magazines' expense when he gave me total freedom and access to the monstrous collection of sci-fi and fantasy memorabilia amassed in his sprawling, multi-room 'Ackermansion' as well as his personal tour of Tinsletown's nostalgic hot spots. Needless to say, the greatest thrill of all was applying my contest-winning makeup for my role as the teenage werewolf in American International Pictures' 1964 production, "BIKINI BEACH" starring then popular teenage idols, Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. When director William Asher requested that I growl during my brief sequence, my ever-protective agent, 'Uncle' Forry quickly reminded him that said role had now become a 'speaking part' and, as such, I was entitled to a cast credit as well as the screen actors guild pay standard of an additional 250 bucks. When Asher consented, Forry, like the big kid he was, expressed his delight by turning to face me with a beaming smile and an exaggerated wink. That's a freeze frame in my mind's eye that will always appear whenever I recall this wonderful guy who taught me the value of growing up without ever having to grow old.

[mark miller]

i discovered famous monsters in march of 1970,i never met forry personally.i recieved a beautifull singed photograph of forry from one of his dear friends(ronald borst) of hollywood movie posters.ron had asked forry one day at lunch if he would sign a photo for me,i will always treausure the photo.god bless you forry as you inspired thousands of people through out your life,you will be sadly missed ,your magazine inspired my love for horror & sci-fi.since i first heard the news of your passing i have not been the same person,i am in deep shock!! r.i.p. forry.

[Chea]

R.I.P. Mr Ackerman, you were a great inspiration.

[Frank Villa]

Forry and I had a personal relationship that never left the pages of FAMOUS MONSTERS Magazine. From that first copy of FM #29 that I picked up at the Flea Market in 1973...He was Always there...He was the Star in the Spotlight above all the Infamous creatures that adorned his pages. He spoke to the reader as if we were sitting in the same room. As a kid with an obsession for Monsters and Models, Forry was the Guide who took us all down those Black & White, dark, spiral corridors of every Castel and Dungeon. Forry was a Genius. He removed the Scary and replaced it with humor...For kids, that was the trick. He introduced us to the Horror with puns and remarks that made us all giggle. Forry single handedly made the Monsters KID FRIENDLY and by that, created an EMPIRE and a LEGACY that No Fan will Ever Forget. I wish I could have THANKED him in person for ALL the Memories...God Rest Your Immortal Soul Forry~THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!!!

[Scott Farris]

Forry and his Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine brought me years of happiness growing up in a small town in Tennessee. I was referred to by my (adolescent) peers as "the monster man" because I loved monsters so much. I'm eternally grateful for Forry and his contribution to the world of horror and scifi. I still have my FM magazine collection in individual plastic bags stored in my (grown up now) toy room. Thank you Forry! You will be missed!

[Gerry-Lynn Fore]

Thank-you for the GREAT Childhood - It was, and still is Wonder Full... But less without you now.

[ALAN BRKLJAC]

Sad to see you go Forrest.

RIP