Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & II • October 24, 2012 Stars to come out at 22nd Annual Chiller Expo by Dennis Seuling It’s getting close to Halloween and Chiller Expo will once again open its doors so fans can meet and greet a host of celebrities from the worlds of show business, sports, and music. Now in its 22nd year, the Chiller conventions have grown to veritable “must-attend” East Coast events. It’s rare that you will find, in a single venue, access to so many famous folks. Chiller Expo, in one form or another, dates back to 1990, when even organizers hosted Horrorthon, a modest gathering of fantasy film fans. Since then, the scope of the shows has broadened to include, not only horror, science fiction, and fantasy, but show business in general. Guests have come from the worlds of mainstream movies and television. Heading the guest list this fall is Joan Collins, who has appeared in more than 60 films and several TV series. She is best known for creating the role of Alexis Carrington on “Dynasty,” one of the most highly rated television shows of all time. Born in England, Collins studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts after making her stage debut in “A Doll’s House” at age nine. At 22, she headed to Hollywood and landed her first role as an uncredited beauty queen contestant in “Bikini Baby” (1951). Subsequently, she took on major roles in such feature films as “The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing” (as Evelyn Nesbit Thaw), “The Opposite Sex,” and “Rally ‘Round the Flag, Boys!” She continued making films throughout the 1960s and appeared in a number of horror films in the 1970s. Toward the end of the ‘70s, she starred in two movies based on best-selling novels by her younger sister, Jackie Collins: “The Stud” (1978) and “The Bitch” (1979). In the 1980s, she turned to a new career path as a writer. She published her first novel, “Prime Time,” in 1988. Despite a critical panning, it became a best-seller. She followed that book with several more, both fiction and nonfiction. In addition to “Dynasty,” her American television credits include “Batman,” “The Virginian,” “Mission: Impossible,” “Police Woman,” and the fan-favorite “Star Trek” episode, “The City on the Edge of Forever.” Also on hand at Chiller will be actor Billy Gray, who is known to science fiction fans as Bobby Benson, the boy who befriends a being from another planet in “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” Those of a certain age will remember him as Bud Anderson, the son of Jim and Margaret Anderson on the long-running “Father Knows Best.” Gray’s Anderson was a teenager who often got into embarrassing or awkward situations and was put on the right track by his wise father (Robert Young), with significant influence from his mother (Jane Wyatt). In 1977, Gray reunited with the rest of the “Father Knows Best” cast for the TV movie, “Father Knows Best: Home for Christmas.” In early 1983, Gray reflected on the show that made him known to millions of viewers: “The dialogue, the situations, the characters -- they were all totally false...‘Father Knows Best’ purported to be a reasonable facsimile of life. And the bad thing is the model is so deceitful.” Other feature-film appearances include “Jim Thorpe, All-American” (starring Burt Lancaster), and “On Moon- Joan Collins will headline a roster of guest celebrities at the October Chiller Expo. light Bay” and “By the Light of the Silvery Moon” (starring Doris Day). Gray worked extensively in TV and made guest appearances on “The Adventures of Superman,” “Bachelor Father,” “The Deputy,” “Rawhide,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” and “General Electric Theater,” among other programs. A motorcycle enthusiast, Gray co-owns a company called BigRock Engineering, which markets products he has invented. Lee Majors, the original “Six Million Dollar Man,” will also pay a visit to the October Chiller Expo. After three TV movies aired in 1973, “The Six Million Dollar Man” ran as a series on ABC from 1974 to 1978. Steve Austin (Majors) was a former astronaut with bionic implants who worked for the government. The show was notable for its opening of a running Austin in slow motion. Majors has worked regularly on television since that time on such programs as “The Love Boat,” “The Fall Guy,” “Tour of Duty,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “Cold Case,” and “Weeds.” Other celebrities who are scheduled to appear at Chiller Expo are director Paul Morrissey (“Blood for Dracula”), Virginia Madsen (“Candyman”), Andrew McCarthy (“Saint Elmo’s Fire”), Barbara Carrera (“Island of Dr. Moreau”), Johnny Crawford (“The Rifleman”), Julie Adams (“The Creature from the Black Lagoon”), Tom Wopat (“Dukes (continued on Crossword page)