Star Wars exploded in 1977, becoming a Hollywood phenomenon. With groundbreaking FX and awesome space based action, the star saga spawn of creator George Lucas set a new standard for science fiction. Inevitably all of Hollywood wanted a piece of the profitable sci-fi action.
Television producer Glenn Larson wasted no time in finishing an idea he’d been working on for years. In 1978, his own star saga, Battlestar Galactica debuted on ABC to almost as much fanfare as Star Wars. Fueled by the largest budget for a TV series ever and enhanced with stunning visuals by John Dykstra, who designed the pioneering FX for Star Wars, it swiftly became another icon. Universal Studios even released the pilot as a feature film in Europe and America.
Exorbitant budget and restricted timeline forced Larson to struggle to churn out a weekly show and the series was cancelled. Soon after, a far cheaper, and mostly “dumbed down” version debuted as Galactica: 1980. ABC mercifully soon yanked this travesty. 2003 saw the launch of Sci-Fi Channel’s re-imagination, blasting off in a darker, more politically charged and critically heralded form.
Despite a short run, Battlestar Galactica kept loyal fans. A strong element was a high caliber of actors. From veteran Lorne Green who had been the patriarch of the Cartwright clan on classic western Bonanza, to hot newcomer Richard Hatch coming off hit The Streets of San Francisco opposite Karl Malden, the show maintained an exceptional regular cast. For its guest star line-up, the bar was raised even higher. True Hollywood legends like Fred Astaire, Ray Bolger and Lloyd Bridges showcased as dancing androids, rascal gamblers and reckless star warriors. Indeed, Battlestar Galactica guest stars were Hollywood royalty.
Fred Astaire
Later day dance luminaries like Gregory Hines, Savion Glover or even Michael Jackson owe loads to legends like Gene Kelley, Ginger Rogers and her legendary partner Fred Astaire.
Born Frederick Austerlitz in Nebraska in 1899, Astaire’s career spanned more than seven decades. American Film Institute rates him as the fifth greatest male star in history and world renowned ballet dancers George Ballanchine and Rudolf Nureyev called him the twentieth century’s greatest dancer. Astaire played a lovable rogue in Battlestar Galactica who may be lovable rogue regular Starbuck’s long lost father. The episode, “The Man With Nine Lives” is a light entry for the show, but the surprises and twist ending make it one of the best of the series.
Despite some reluctance, producers got Astaire to dance in a ballroom scene, however what happened behind the scenes was more notable. Dirk Benedict (Starbuck) watched Astaire on a break, standing off set in shadow. Apparently the dancing legend thought nobody was looking, when he suddenly began an impromptu dance routine. Benedict was awestruck. When he confronted Astaire, the dancing master said he’d gotten an idea for a dancing epic set amongst the stars. It’s anecdote like this, which clearly makes Astaire’s appearance so special and historic.
Ray Bolger
Battlestar Galactica attracted dancing talent in spades. If there could be any follow-up to dance icon Fred Astaire, then Ray Bolger – none other than the Scarecrow from American movie masterpiece The Wizard Of Oz fits the bill.
Born Raymond Wallace Bulcao in Massachusetts in 1904, Bolger originally took the part of the Tin Man in MGM’s The Wizard of Oz, but switched roles with Buddy Ebsen, who later fell ill from aluminum based tin man make-up. Bolger’s quirky, but beloved performance of a straw man searching for smarts cemented the movie as a cinema classic and made Bolger a household name. In Battlelstar Galactica, Bolger played Vector one half of a dancing and singing android duo. Broadway star Bobby Van was Hector. During the tale, the two even launch into a musical dance number making the episode, “Greetings From Earth” a must see for Ray Bolger and Oz fans alike.
Ray Milland
Born in Wales, UK in 1905, Milland carved out an impressive film career, which culminated in an Oscar win for his leading role in the Billy Wilder directed “The Lost Weekend.” The film itself and Milland’s excellent performance was for the time a startling, no holds barred look into the ravages of alcoholism.
In Battlestar Galactica, Milland appeared in the pilot as Sire Uri a charismatic, but corrupt politician who’s self serving nature almost hands the fleet over to the Cylons, a robotic race bent on humanity’s destruction. Milland’s classy persona and distinctive vocals lent more respect and validation onto the burgeoning television series, though it was unfortunate he only appeared that one time.
Patrick Macnee
Star of British TV series The Avengers, Patrick Macnee was secret agent John Steed for eight years, playing a James Bond like character a full year before Sean Connery starred in the first Bond film, “Dr. No.”
Macnee was born in London, England and served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy during World War II. Despite his fame as a good guy in The Avengers, Macnee excelled at playing baddies. For Battlestar Galactica, he played probably the most villainous of the series and his own career. His episode “War of the Gods” as Count Iblis, an enigmatic cloaked stranger who promises the tired fleet of ships rewards of anything they most desire and need – including finding Earth. Creator Larson wanted to go all the way with his metaphorical Iblis character as the devil himself, but ABC censors wouldn’t allow him to show a filmed scene of Iblis possessing demonic goat like hooves.
Lloyd Bridges
Head of a Hollywood dynasty that also gave us the talented gifts of his sons, brothers Jeff and Beau Bridges, he played in over 150 films and was star of “Sea Hunt”, a pioneering show for its expert underwater filming and each episode having Bridges personally make a plea to viewers to protect the oceans. Bridges made his show “green” decades before our environmentally conscious mentality made it fashionable. As Izzy Mandelbaum on Seinfeld, he played a cantankerous retiree who loved saying “It’s go time!”, which slowly seeped into pop culture.
In “The Living Legend”, Lloyd Bridges plays Cain, a no-nonsense, even reckless legendary commander of Battlestar Pegasus, a warship thought lost in a Cylon battle years earlier. Caine serves up fireworks by butting heads with Adama (Lorne Green) over how to best handle the Cylons. It was another case of a great character given too little series time in a show that was also not given enough time to really blossom.
