UFO Stars Ed Bishop and Michael Billington Have Died
Posted today at Fanderson.org:
In an appalling tragic coincidence, ED BISHOP and MICHAEL BILLINGTON, the two lead actors in Gerry Anderson's 1969 series UFO have both died this week within days of each other.
Michael Billington, who played man-of-action Colonel Paul Foster in the series, passed away on Monday, June 6th. He was 63. The circumstances of his death have not been released.
Ed Bishop, who starred as the tough, dedicated SHADO Commander Ed Straker in UFO and also provided the voice for Captain Blue in Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons, died on the morning of Wednesday, June 8th, just three days shy of his 73rd birthday. He is believed to have contracted a fatal virus while undergoing hospital treatment, but the exact cause of death is currently under investigation.
Both actors were much-loved and admired by their many fans and their loss will be a terrible shock to the UFO and Gerry Anderson fan community which they had both long supported. Ed Bishop was an honorary life member of Fanderson, a long-standing and ardent supporter of the club and its activities and a frequent guest at Fanderson conventions. Michael Billington had only relatively recently become involved in UFO fan activities, attending conventions and cult television events in the UK, Italy and the United States. He had been looking forward to attending his first Fanderson convention with Ed Bishop in September.
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"When Commander Adama sees these, he's gonna go crazy!" - Col. Tigh - "Saga of a Star World"
"If you love long enough, wish hard enough, anything is possible" - From The Boy Who Could Fly
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