Events on This Day: February 20th.

This is a small selection of science fiction and horror related events that have happened on this day over the years.

Born on this day in 1912 – Pierre Boulle, author of Planet of the Apes.

Born on this day in 1926 – Richard Matheson, sci-fi author/screenwriter. Among his contributions to the science fiction genre are - I Am Legend, The Twilight Zone, and The Outer Limits.

 

On this day in 1953 – George Pal’s movie adaptation of H. G. Wells’s The War of the Worlds premiered in Hollywood – it would not go on general release until the autumn. The War of the Worlds was the most successful science fiction film of the year.

Born on this day in 1954 – Anthony Stewart Head, actor who has appeared in Warehouse 13, Repo! The Genetic Opera, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Doctor Who.

Anthony Head, probably best known for his role as Rupert Giles in the US television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer has also been associated with Doctor Who. He was considered for he role of the Eighth Doctor and actually auditioned for the lead role in the 1996 TV movie.

Also he came top of a 2004 poll of fans who wanted him to play the Ninth Doctor.

He made his first appearance on Doctor Who as the Time Lord Valentine in a webcast story entitled Death comes to Time, and ater played Grayworm in the Excelis audio mini-series.

On television he played Brother Lassa in the episode School Reunion (2006). He was the voice of Baltazar in an animated serial – The Infinite Quest which was produced for Totally Doctor Who in 2007.

He was narrator for several Doctor Who documentaries including Regeneration, and the BBC Audio Project Who. He also narrated Doctor Who Confidential – Series Two.

And in the horror genre:

On this day in 1968 1932 - Freaks released theatrically.