A Geekscape Goodbye To Gerry Anderson

Gerry Anderson, creator of science fiction shows Space 1999, U.F.O., and Children’s shows Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Stingray, and Supercar XL5 has passed away at the age of 83 in his sleep.

Anderson was trained as a cinematographer, but later went on to create his own projects. Gerry Anderson and his wife Sylvia used advanced motorized marionettes (which as a joke they dubbed supermarionation) to make their children’s shows.

Eventually, the couple moved on to live action titles, the first called U.F.O. Later, Anderson created the successful series The Protectors starring Robert Vaughn. He started production on a second season of U.F.O., but unfortunately he couldn’t get it off the ground. Instead, he used some of the sets intended for that second season for a new show called Space 1999, which was the most expensive show ever made at the time.

Gerry and Sylvia split after the first season of Space 1999, and Gerry signed away the rights to his earlier shows to pay separation debts, a decision he later said cost him many millions of dollars.

In the early 1970’s Gerry was asked to write and produce the space scenes for Moonraker. His work wasn’t directly used, but it’s thought the film would have been drastically different with Anderson’s involvement.

In the 1980’s, Anderson again moved away from live action, this time focussing on motorized hand puppets. The new show has a small cult following, but didn’t get the vast respect that his earlier shows received. Working on Space Precinct in the 1990’s, Anderson used some highly advanced costumes, including motorized facial manipulation for aliens; this sort of work typically appeared only in feature films and not TV shows. The storylines however were somewhat limited and the show was reviewed poorly.

Anderson was approached to lend his name to the live action Thunderbirds movie, but wished to have no involvement. Upon its release, he refused to endorse the production. When Team America: World Police released (a “Supermarionation” movie that clearly gave a nod to Anderson’s earlier works), Anderson fully supported it.

The New millennium saw a resurgence in popularity of Gerry’s older live action projects Space 1999 and U.F.O., and he was able to rebuild his finances.

Gerry Anderson is survived by four children who took care of him through his battle with dementia.

Gerry, you’ll be missed. Thank’s for all you’ve given us, and we hope you rest in peace.

– Phil ‘Satori’ Dobson