In Remembrance of Karen Black (1939-2013)

I was deeply saddened when I heard yesterday, August 8, 2013, that legendary actress Karen Black had passed away. Born on July 1, 1939, she died at age 74. She had lost her battle to cancer.

Black had appeared in such high profile and classic movies like Easy Rider and Five Easy Pieces. But, it would be her work in horror films that win the hearts, love, and respect of genre fans the world over.

One of her most popular genre roles was in the classic TV anthology Trilogy of Terror where she battles the terrifying Zuni doll. Her involvement in this film lead its director, Dan Curtis, to hire her for his creepy haunted house movie, Burnt Offerings. She continued to appear in many horror films (as well as other genres), including, but not limited to, Tobe Hooper's godawful remake of Invaders from Mars, the sexy and underrated Night Angel where she gets seduced by it's beautiful antagonist Lilith (Isa Anderson), and Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering (do you really need me to tell you this one sucked?).

 Burnt Offerings

 Trilogy of Terror

 Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering

 Invaders from Mars

But, it's her role as Mother Firefly in Rob Zombie's cult favorite House of 1000 Corpses, that remains my favorite role of hers and probably a favorite of many fans. She was great in that one! And, in the end, it just reaffirms how sad this all is. God bless her and may she RIP. And, as I always say: FUCK CANCER!