When growing up in the early ’70s, when much of your time is spent in front of the television, you see a lot of actors and actresses over the years. Some stick in your head more than others. Diana Rigg was one of those actresses. Probably best known for either her role as Emma Peel in the British TV show The Avengers, where she appeared from 1965 to 1968, or the fact that she was the only actress to become Mrs. James Bond, in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), as well as more recently appearing in the series Game of Thrones (2013-2017). No matter what she was in, even in a personal favorite of mine, The Great Muppet Caper (1981), she was always memorable.
Strangely, she had a couple of genre appearances. In 1995, she appeared in a television version of Henry James’ famous story, Turn of the Screw, called The Haunting of Helen Walker, starring Valerie Bertinelli and Michael Gough. But it is her role as Edwina Lionheart, daughter of the famed (and demented) stage actor Edward Lionheart, played wonderfully by the one and only Vincent Price, in Theater of Blood (1973).
The news came out quickly that she had passed away from cancer at the age of 82. No matter what film or TV show you know her from, we all know that she will always be remembered. Our thoughts go out to her friends and family.
The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies opened up in 2010, offering classes in horror history, theory, and production, with branches in London, New York, and Los Angeles. But now they will be hosting some of their classes online so no matter where in the world you are, you can attend!
The Mahoning Drive-In continues to program some amazing lineups at their theater. Unfortunately for me, it is located on the far east side of Pennsylvania, which would be about a 11+ hour drive (one way) for me to attend. Otherwise, I would definitely be there for this. But for those of you that are closer, here’s the amazing lineup they have announced:
The Most Important Horror Films of 1970
