Bert I. Gordon Cause of death: Bert I. Gordon, the iconic sci-fi director who specialized in low-budget movies featuring giant creatures, shrinking humans, and radioactive monsters, has passed away at the age of 100.
His daughter, Patricia Gordon, confirmed that he died in Los Angeles on Wednesday due to complications from a fall in his Beverly Hills home.
Bert I. Gordon Cause of death: Obituary, Funeral
Gordon was famous for his work in movies such as “The Cyclops” (1957), “Beginning of the End” (1957), “Earth vs. the Spider” (1958), “Attack of the Puppet People” (1958), “Tormented” (1960), and “Picture Mommy Dead” (1966).
Despite the small budgets of his movies, Gordon was nicknamed “Mister B.I.G.” and managed to attract prominent actors such as Don Ameche, Martha Hyer, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Orson Welles.
Gordon's work frequently included family members; his wife, Flora, helped him with special effects, and his daughter, Susan, acted in four of his features. His films explored the theme of nuclear proliferation and the fear it engendered in people.
In “The Amazing Colossal Man” (1957), the lead character, Col. Glenn Manning, is exposed to radiation and transformed into a 70-foot-tall menace who terrorizes Las Vegas. Gordon's sequel, “War of the Colossal Beast,” was released the following year.
Despite Gordon's penchant for the occult, he managed to secure the legendary Orson Welles for his horror flick “Necromancy.”
Concerned about Welles' reputation for being difficult to work with, Gordon provided him with a personal chef, a dressing room on a patio, and a refrigerator filled with Chicago ribs.
He also avoided mentioning Citizen Kane, knowing that Welles had a habit of thumbing his nose at directors who did so.
Gordon's work gained a new audience when his films were featured on the comedy series “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” Despite this, Gordon took his films seriously and did not appreciate them being made fun of.
Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on September 24, 1922, Gordon's interest in special effects began when he received his first film camera at the age of nine.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin and went on to direct and produce films such as “Serpent Island” (1954), “King Dinosaur” (1955), and “The Food of the Gods” (1976), among others.
Source: Mckpage.com
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