Karen Black (1939 - 2013)

It is now being reported widely in the press that legendary actress Karen Black has passed away.  

I have always had a special affection for this actress, in part because of her three starring roles in the great TV movie anthology, Trilogy of Terror (1975).  The most famous of these roles pitted Ms. Black against a Zuni Fetish doll of pure terror.  Many of us grew up rooting for Ms. Black to defeat that horrible little homunculus.

Ms. Black also starred in other classic 1970s horror movies, including The Pyx (1973) and another movie from director Dan Curtis that scared a generation: Burnt Offerings (1976).  

In broad terms, this actress was extraordinary in depicting madness, and slowly-dawning insanity, and Mrs. Black also, in many pictures, showcased tremendous sex appeal.  She was a one-of-a-kind.

On television, Mrs. Black appeared in such cult programming as Ghost Story/Circle of Fear (1972 - 1973) in the episode "Bad Connection," as well as in The Invaders (1966 - 1968).

Outside the genre, Ms. Black delivered unforgettable performances in such "new freedom" cinema classics as Easy Rider (1969) and Five Easy Pieces (1970). 

Ms. Black will be terribly missed in the days ahead, but her work is beloved by a generation, and will be remembered for years to come.