RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN

Richard Chamberlain, star of The Towering Inferno and The Swarm

Richard Chamberlain, star of Irwin Allen’s The Towering Inferno and The Swarm passed away late evening on 29th March 2025 in Hawaii, just 2 days short of his 91st birthday. Aside from his adventures in Irwin Allen movies, Richard was well known for his starring roles in Dr. Kildare in the early 1960s and in television movie series such as The Thorn Birds and Shogun in the early 1980s.

BBC – Richard Chamberlain, Shogun star, dies aged 90

BBC – Richard Chamberlain: Heartthrob king of the TV mini-series

New York Times – Richard Chamberlain, TV Heartthrob Turned Serious Actor, Dies at 90

Variety – Richard Chamberlain, TV’s Dr. Kildare, ‘Shogun,’ ‘Thorn Birds’ Star, Dies at 90

Hollywood Reporter – Richard Chamberlain, Star of ‘Dr. Kildare’ and King of the Melodramatic Miniseries, Dies at 90

GENE HACKMAN

Gene Hackman as Reverend Frank Scott in The Poseidon Adventure

Shocked and stunned to hear the tragic news regarding the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife who were found at their home in New Mexico on Wednesday 26th February 2025. Gene Hackman is prominent and much loved and respected in the Irwin Allen universe for his leading role as Reverend Frank Scott in The Poseidon Adventure. It is going to take time for everyone to digest and understand this very sad news. Our heartfelt sympathies go to all of their loved ones.

BBC: Gene Hackman: One of Hollywood’s greatest ‘tough guys’

ABC Obituary: Gene Hackman, Oscar-winning star of ‘Hoosiers’ and ‘Unforgiven,’ dies at 95

Variety

New York Times Obituary

The Hollywood Reporter

CHRISTIAN JUTTNER

Christian Juttner as Paul Durant in Irwin Allen's The Swarm

We have just learned through the Hollywood Reporter that Christian Juttner (Paul Durant in The Swarm) has died of natural causes at the age of 60 on 29 November 2024. Christian appeared in several well-known television shows and movies during his ten year acting career which began at the age of 7. His list of credits includes Bewitched, Ironside, The Bionic Woman, and Wonder Woman.

Hollywood Reporter

Forbes

Inside the Magic

MSN

JULIEN’S AUCTIONS, THE IRWIN ALLEN STORYBOARDS

Julien's Auctions - 15 June 2024 The Irwin Allen Storyboards

An auction takes place on Saturday 15 June 2024 at Julien’s Auctions, dedicated to The Irwin Allen Storyboards. These are all original art pieces including storyboards from The Poseidon Adventure, The Towering Inferno, and The Swarm. Many of these pieces of artwork were drawn by Tom Cranham.

The Irwin Allen Storyboards (images courtesy of Julien’s Auctions, juliensauctions.com)

THE FANTASY WORLDS OF IRWIN ALLEN – 2024 BOOK RE-RELEASE

The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen by Jeff Bond with foreword by Lost in Space star Bill Mumy (Titan Books, 15 October 2024)

Great news for Irwin Allen fans, especially those who weren’t able to afford or get hold of the original The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen by Jeff Bond. The cost of shipping such a substantial book overseas will have been prohibative for many. Advance orders are now being taken in both the US and UK for a re-release of this amazing book which is being re-published with a fresh cover design and a lower price point by Titan Books on 15 October 2024.

Pre-order from Amazon.com (#ad)

Pre-order from Amazon.co.uk (#ad)

UN ATTACK SUBMARINE MINIATURE PROP

Up for sale on eBay is the original 32 inch UN Attack Submarine/Polidor filming miniature prop which appeared in both the movie and TV versions of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. This prop is originally from the collection of Academy Award-nominated visual effects specialist Greg Jein. Click on the image or link below to see the eBay listing.

Original 32 inch UN Attack Submarine/Polidor filming miniature prop

eBay – Original 32 inch UN Attack Submarine/Polidor filming miniature prop

UN Attack Submarine Prop Auction Gallery

For more on this prop, please visit the Polidor Prop Gallery

HERITAGE AUCTIONS – THE GREG JEIN COLLECTION 14-15 OCT 2023

Heritage Auctions - The Greg Jein Collection Auction, October 14-15, 2023

2023 has brought us some amazing auctions featuring major Irwin Allen props and collectibles, and the 14-15 October 2023 Heritage Auction continued that theme. The Greg Jein Collection Hollywood Platinum Signature® Auction #7278 included several Irwin Allen props. The top sale price for an Irwin Allen related item was $350,000 (including Buyer’s Premium) for the Robot Feet.

The Greg Jein Collection Auction Gallery (images courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

Poster Artwork for The Towering Inferno

Bidding on the original final poster artwork by John Berkey for The Towering Inferno has already exceeded over $200,000. The original art pieces in the Irwin Allen Collection are not only attracting Irwin Allen fans, but also art connoisseurs who will see these works of art as great investments. Original props and costumes are also drawing the attention of investors as illustrated by recent sale prices.

Towering Inferno original final poster artwork by John Berkey