Tim Sullivan, Sci-Fi Author and Actor, Dies at 76

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As a die-hard fan of Tim Sullivan‘s eclectic body of work, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of loss. His contributions to the realms of literature and film, particularly in the horror and science-fiction genres, were nothing short of extraordinary. From his role as a survivor battling mutant spiders in “Twilight of the Dogs” to his writing and directing of “Vampyre Femmes”, Sullivan’s work was always a thrilling blend of the familiar and the fantastical.

The acclaimed author, critic, filmmaker, and actor Tim Sullivan, known for his work in low-budget horror and sci-fi movies, has sadly passed away at the age of 76.

Sullivan passed away on Sunday from congestive heart failure at a hospice in Newport News, Virginia, as confirmed by longtime friend John R. Ellis to The Hollywood Reporter.

In the 1995 sci-fi thriller “Twilight of the Dogs,” directed by Ellis, Sullivan portrayed a military pilot who lived through a global pandemic and fought colossal mutated arachnids. Not only did he act in this film, but he also collaborated with Ellis on writing the script.

Apart from that, he was responsible for penning and orchestrating the film “Vampyre Femmes” (1999), while starring in direct-to-video productions such as “Eyes of the Werewolf” (1999), “The Mark of Dracula” (2000), “Hollywood Mortuary” (2000) and “Deadly Scavengers” (2001). He frequently collaborated with writer-director Ron Ford on these projects.

Throughout his professional journey, Sullivan penned down at least seven science fiction novels. Among these, three were inspired by Kenneth Johnson’s V series about an extraterrestrial invasion of Earth. These works formed the basis for a miniseries and a brief television series that aired on NBC in the 1980s.

Born on June 9, 1948, in Bangor, Maine, Timothy Robert Sullivan was one of two sons born to a worker at the U.S. Postal Service. A neighbor of his, Richard Tozier, would later become a character in three books penned by Stephen King.

After graduating from John Bapst Memorial High School, Sullivan pursued a literature degree at Florida Atlantic University. Later, he resided in both Philadelphia and Washington D.C. before finally moving to Southern California in the year 1988.

He wrote dozens of short stories, including 1981’s “Zeke,” a tragedy about an extraterrestrial stranded on Earth that was nominated for a Nebula Award. His novels included 1988’s Destiny’s End, 1989’s The Parasite War, 1991’s The Martian Viking and The Dinosaur Trackers and 1992’s Lords of Creation.

He also edited horror anthologies and handled book reviews for The Washington Post.

Ellis mentioned that he and Sullivan have been busy with a revival of the piece titled “Twilight of the Dogs“, marking its debut in the United States for the very first time.

Sullivan has no survivors.

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2024-11-14 02:55