December 12

• 2009 – Character actor Val Avery, who appeared in episodes of the TV series’ “The Munsters,” “The Invaders,” “The Wild Wild West” and “Friday the 13th,” passed away at the age of 85. He appeared in the films “Too Scared To Scream” and the original “Amityville Horror.”
• 2008 – Hollywood screen legend Van Johnson, passed away at the age of 92 . He starred in the film “Killer Crocodile” and played the super villain “The Minstrel” on the “Batman” TV show.
• 2008 – Ichirô Miyagawa, who wrote the screenplays for the “Starman” (or as he was known in Japan, “Space Giant”) series of films.
• 2006 – Peter Boyle who played “The Monster” in “Young Frankenstein” and appeared in the film “Species II,” passed away at the age of 71.
• 1978 – Fay Compton, who appeared in the 1963 version of “The Haunting,” passed away at the age of 84.
• 1976 – Jack Cassidy, who played the title role in the TV movie “The Phantom of Hollywood,” passed away at the age of 49.
• 1970 – Carolyn Craig, starred in “The House On Haunted Hill.” She passed away at the young age of 36 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.