Several sources on the web have reported that Hollywood screenwriter and film maker Dan O'Bannon has passed away at age 63 following a short period of illness.

He is most well-known for having written such science fiction classics as the original "Alien" (1979) and "Total Recall" (1990), but holds a special place in my heart as the writer and director of one of my top 5 films ever made, "Return of the Living Dead" (1985).

O'Bannon always gave great interviews and was one of the most unique personalities working in the genre. Often seen in a bow tie or suspenders when speaking on camera, his appearance was a great compliment to his outspoken nature.

There are several reasons why I didn’t turn in a Cinema File column this week - I couldn’t bring myself to watch “Transformers 2”, the film I did end up seeing (“The Hangover”) made “Dude, Where’s My Car?” look like “Crimes Of The Heart”, I haven’t taken a week off in the three months I’ve been writing for the Banner-Herald – but those are really just excuses. The honest truth is that I haven’t been able to think about much else since meeting Linnea Quigley at a film festival last weekend in New York City. And though she may not be a name in your household, a true horror movie fan’s heart should have skipped a beat reading that last sentence. From the late ‘70s on through the present day, she has starred in over 100 movies, two of which (“Return Of The Living Dead” and “Night Of The Demons”) are in my personal top ten list of all time. I'll freely admit I had a poster of her in my school locker when I was in seventh grade, okay?