R.I.P. Richard Lynch – 1936 to 2012

One of my favorite creepy horror actors, Richard Lynch, has died.

Lynch was reportedly found dead at his home early yesterday morning [June 19^th, 2012]. He was 76. Details of his passing are yet to be released.

Best known for playing villainous characters in such movies as Vampire (1979), The Sword and the Sorcerer & the Chuck Norris Commie-basher Invasion U.S.A., where he played the main terrorist Mikhail Rostov.

Lynch who was often cast in these roles do his distinctive face (scarred as a result of setting himself on fire in New York’s Central Park in 1967 while tripping on LSD) began his career in acting after serving four years in the Marine Corps, studying underneath famed acting teachers Uta Hagen and Lee Strasberg and became a lifetime member of the prestigious Actors Studio in 1970. Lynch early in his career appeared in many stage productions such as William Shakespeare’s Richard III and Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge on and off Broadway. In 1973 Lynch made his screen debut next to Gene Hackman and Al Pacino in Scarecrow.

Although while building up a hefty resume through the seventies Lynch took a step backward in the 90’s and 2000’s where he took many roles in low-grade genre films that usually ended up be replayed on the comedy show the Mystery Science Theater 3000 (Comedy Network & SciFi Channel).

However, Lynch seemed to be making a come back in the horror genre, making a brief appearance in Rob Zombie’s remake of the Carpenter classic Halloween and was featured in the Zombie’s upcoming The Lords of Salem do out later this year.

Zombie writes via his Facebook page: "I woke up this morning to the news that our friend Richard Lynch has passed away. Richard was great to work with and really gave it his all. I will never forget the way he scared the crap out of the kid actors in Halloween. As soon as I said action! He dove in his role of Principle Chambers at top volume. He will be missed."

Lynch’s work includes: The Premonition (1976), Good Against Evil (1977), “Battlestar Galactica,” Vampire (1979), “Werewolf,” Bad Dreams (1988), Alligator II (1991), Trancers II (1991), Puppet Master III (1991), Merlin (1993), Necronomicon: Book of Dead (1993), Cyborg 3 (1994), Terminal Virus (1995), Werewolf (1996), and “Charmed.” Recently Lynch includes Corpses Are Forever (2003), The Mummy’s Kiss (2003), Wedding Slashers (2006), Mil Mascaras vs. The Aztec Mummy (2007), Rob Zombie’s Halloween (2007), Laid To Rest (2009), Dark Fields (2009), and his last film ever Rob Zombie’s Lords of Salem.