- Born
- Died
- Birth nameForrest James Ackerman
- Nicknames
- Mr. Science Fiction
- Mr. Sci-Fi
- Forry
- FJA
- Dr. Acula
- 4SJ
- 4E
- The Ackermonster
- Uncle Forry
- Height6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
- Forrest J. Ackerman was born on November 24, 1916 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Braindead (1992), The Wizard of Speed and Time (1988) and Nudist Colony of the Dead (1991). He was married to Mathilde "Wendayne" Wahrman. He died on December 4, 2008 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- SpousesMathilde "Wendayne" Wahrman(1972 - March 5, 1990) (her death)Mathilde "Wendayne" Wahrman(1949 - 1958) (divorced)
- He put up a flyer in a Los Angeles bookstore, announcing a science-fiction club he was starting. A teenager named Ray Bradbury attended the club meetings. Later, Ackerman helped Bradbury start his own sci-fi magazine, "Futuria Fantasia". He also helped pay for a trip to New York that helped launch Bradbury's writing career.
- Famous for wordplay, he is credited with being the first to abbreviate science fiction to "sci-fi";
- His main claim to fame was as the creator and editor of the groundbreaking magazine "Famous Monsters of Filmland" (aka "Famous Monsters" or just "FM") started in 1958. Many highly successful filmmakers who emerged in the 1970s and 80s were former readers who cite the magazine for developing their interest in film.
- Received a special Hugo award as the #1 Fan Personality in 1953. As of 2021, he is the only one to receive this special award.
- Long-time science-fiction fan, writer, editor, and agent.
- My wife used to say, "How can you let strangers into our home?" But what's the point of having a collection like this if you can't let people enjoy it? (on giving tours of their mansion, in an interview with the Associated Press on his 85th birthday)
- My wife and I were listening to the radio, and when someone said 'hi-fi' the word 'sci-fi' suddenly hit me. If my interest had been soap operas, I guess it would have been 'cry-fi,' or James Bond, 'spy-fi.'
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