Forrest J Ackerman

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Forrest J Ackerman bigraphy, stories - Science fiction writer, collector

Forrest J Ackerman : biography

November 24, 1916 – December 4, 2008

Forrest J Ackerman (born Forrest James Ackerman; November 24, 1916 – December 4, 2008) was an American collector of science fiction books and movie memorabilia and a science fiction fan. He was, for over seven decades, one of science fiction’s staunchest spokesmen and promoters.

Ackerman was a Los Angeles, California-based magazine editor, science fiction writer and literary agent, a founder of science fiction fandom and possibly the world’s most avid collector of genre books and movie memorabilia. He was the editor and principal writer of the American magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland, as well as an actor and producer (Vampirella) from the 1950s into the 1980s, and appears in two documentaries related to this period in popular culture: Jason V Brock’s The AckerMonster Chronicles!, which details his life and career,Internet Movie Database . Retrieved October 31, 2012. and Charles Beaumont: The Life of Twilight Zone’s Magic Man.French, Lawrence , , March 24, 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2012.

Also called "Forry," "The Ackermonster," "4e" and "4SJ," Ackerman was central to the formation, organization, and spread of science fiction fandom, and a key figure in the wider cultural perception of science fiction as a literary, art and film genre. Famous for his word play and neologisms, he coined the genre nickname "sci-fi".. CBGXtra. November 24, 2011 In 1953, he was voted "#1 Fan Personality" by the members of the World Science Fiction Society, a unique Hugo Award never granted to anyone else.

He was also among the first and most outspoken advocates of Esperanto in the science fiction community.

Awards

  • Hugo Award: Number 1 Fan Personality, 1953
  • Inducted to the Monster Kid Hall Of Fame at The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards
  • Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement, 1996
  • Mangled Skyscraper Award at G-FEST ’99 for contributions to the giant monster genre
  • World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement, 2002

Death

In 2003, Ackerman said, "I aim at hitting 100 and becoming the George Burns of science fiction". His health, however, had been failing, and he last logged into his Myspace page on March 19, 2008. Forrest was susceptible to infection in his later life and, after one final trip to the hospital, informed his best friend and caregiver Joe Moe that he didn’t want to go on. Honoring his wishes, his friends brought him home to hospice care. However, it turned out that in order to get Ackerman home, the hospital had cured his infection with antibiotics. So Forrest went on for a few more weeks holding what he delighted in calling, "a living funeral". In his final days he saw everyone he wanted to say good-bye to. Fans were encouraged to send messages of farewell by mail. There were several premature reports of his death beginning November 6, 2008.These reports originated from a news article on the British Fantasy Society website; a correction was subsequently made. John Landis recalled that "Although he was extremely ill he told me he could not die until he voted for Obama for President and he did."John Landis. Forrest died a minute before midnight on December 4th, 2008. "Forry Ackerman: A Loyal and Staunch Friend". Comic-Con Souvenir Book #40 p.215 (2009) Forrest J Ackerman is interred at Glendale Forest Lawn with his wife Wendayne "Rocket To The Rue Morgue" Ackerman. His plaque simply reads, "Sci-Fi Was My High".In 2000, Ackerman appeared on the PBS program Visiting… with Huell Howser which highlighted his collection of memorabilia. The program was rebroadcast in 2013 and titles were changed to reflect that Ackerman had since died and his collection had been auctioned off.

He died on December 4, 2008, at the age of 92. From his "Acker-mini-mansion" in Hollywood, he had entertained and inspired fans weekly with his collection of memorabilia and his stories.