privateer Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 A shame. He made some great programmes that I absolutely loved when I was a kid. http://www.dailymail...es-aged-83.html The creator of Thunderbirds, Gerry Anderson, has died aged 83. His son Jamie Anderson posted on his blog today that the man behind the classic sci-fi series passed away peacefully in his sleep at midday today. Mr Anderson had been battling dementia for the past two years and his condition had deteriorated rapidly in the last six months. He was a film and TV producer for more than 40 years but his most famous creation was the 1960s TV show Thunderbirds. The series - which used a form of marionette puppetry dubbed 'supermarionation' - became popular around the world. Writing on his blog, Jamie Anderson said: 'I’m very sad to announce the death of my father, Thunderbirds creator, Gerry Anderson. He died peacefully in his sleep at midday today (26th December 2013), having suffered with mixed dementia for the past few years. He was 83.' Fans have been paying tribute to the creator. Chairman of fan club Fanderson Nick Williams said: 'To those who met him Gerry was a quiet, unassuming but determined man. His desire to make the best films he could drove him and his talented teams to innovate, take risks, and do everything necessary to produce quite inspirational works. Gerry’s legacy is that he inspired so many people and continues to bring so much joy to so many millions of people around the world.' Mr Anderson's inspiration for Thunderbirds came from a mining disaster in West Germany in October 1963 that gave him the idea of forming a show about a rescue organisation. After much convincing, Mr Anderson agreed to let his wife Sylvia performed the voice of Lady Penelope, one of Thunderbirds' most famous characters. Century 21 Productions was so sure of the series success they proposed a feature-film version before the pilot had even aired. The 32-episode series was not initially successful in the United States because it was only given a limited release but it was a major hit with young audiences in the UK, Australia and other countries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 The reruns of Thunderbirds were huge when we were kids. So much so that Anthea Turner had to make a Tracy Island out of used bog roll tubes and empty yoghurt pots on Blue Peter one year. It's safe to say that Anderson's work transcended the generations. F.A.B. mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xann Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Great designs, great music and it Not everything he touched turned to gold, but you wonder what he might have come up with on Hollywood budgets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimzk5 Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Sad news, grew up in the 90s, thunderbirds was repeated about 91/2 I think, along with stingray and captain scarlet (and Joe 90, but that was shit)., I remember my dad taping the blue peter Tracy island episode and spent 2 nights making paper mache, seletaping bog rolls together, tissue boxes staple to hardboard for the TB2 hanger. And after all that effort our dog ate it Rip gerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogso Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 'not FAB' Hahaha. I expect a very extravagant burial via submarine, Red rocket, Blue rocket, big fat green airplane, space station, and finally that drill one can dig the hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meath_Villan Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Captain Scarlett was very good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted December 27, 2012 Moderator Share Posted December 27, 2012 I was a huge supermarionation fan as a kid. Gerry provided me with great TV in my formative years. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awol Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 I give it a week before someone accuses him of being a nonce.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethRDR Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 I gave up Taekwondo club because it clashed with the Thunderbirds re-runs of the nineties. I once tried to Blue Peter my own Tracy Island out of the upturned bottom of a Screwball Scramble box and Kellogg's variety pack boxes for each Thunderbird. RIP, FAB, SIG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted December 27, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted December 27, 2012 Ah you younguns who watched it as reruns. I watched all the Anderson shows from first showing: Twizzle Torchy Four Feather Falls Supercar Fireball XL5 (personal favourite - bought the rather expensive box set a couple of years ago) Stingray Thunderbirds By Captain Scarlet I was starting to feel too grown-up for it all, so watched nothing beyond that. Thunderbiirds was OK, but the (primary school, natch) golden era for me was definitely Supercar-Fireball-Stingray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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