Carl Anthony

This rather bland and inoffensive actor appeared as Patroleman Larry in Plan 9 From Outer Space and, more memorably, as director Johnny Ryde in The Sinister Urge ("I used to make good movies!").

Wood Credits: Plan 9 From Outer Space; The Sinister Urge

Stephen Apostolof

Apostolof, born in Bulgaria, directed a handful of cult soft-core porn movies in the 1970s, several of which were written by Ed Wood, the most famous of which is Orgy of the Dead. While he helped give Ed plenty of work near the end of his life, some say that he rarely paid Ed, giving him cheques that would often bounch. Around the time of his death in August 2005, Apostolof has been scaring people with the idea of an Orgy of the Dead sequel. (Why stop there, I say. Do a six-film series, like Star Wars).

Wood Credits: Orgy of the Dead; Class Reunion; Snow Bunnies; Drop-Out Wife; The Cocktail Hostesses; Prison Girls; The Beach Bunnies; Hot Ice

Rene Bond

This porn queen appeared in manyporn films of varying production values throughout the 1970s. Among them were several Ed Wood films, often co-starring boyfriend Ric Lutze. Of particular note, she starred in Necromania. She died in 1996 of cirrhosis of the liver.

Wood Credits: Necromania; Class Reunion; Beach Bunnies; The Cocktail Hostesses; Prison Girls;

John "Bunny" Breckinridge

Of all of Ed Wood's posse, Bunny Breckinridge may have been the wackiest. A descendant from vice president John Breckinridge, Bunny's family was a rich one. Bunny was apparently a stage star in France, but by the time he played the Ruler in Plan 9 From Outer Space, he had lost much of his money (and was the house guest of Paul Marco). He made much publicity about having a sex change operation (even planning a movie around it - Magic Moment), but those plans were derailed after a car accident. Apparently, he was also charged with child molestation and vagrancy. He died in 1996.

Wood Credit: Plan 9 From Outer Space

Conrad Brooks

Conrad Brooks has appeared in bit or supporting roles in most of Ed's films. Most notably, he played Patroleman Jamie in Plan 9 From Outer Space. He and Wood also collaborated artistically (if that's really the word to use) in an unfinished film called Hellborn (stock footage of which has cropped up in more than one Wood production).Since then, he has appeared at many fan conventions and starring in a startlingly long list of underground films.

Wood Credits: Glen or Glenda?; Jail Bait; Bride of the Monster; Plan 9 From Outer Space; Night of the Ghouls; The Sinister Urge

Anthony Cardoza

Tony Cardoza was the executive producer of Final Curtain. He was also one of six associate producers of Night of the Ghouls, and played the small role of "Tony" in that film. He has produced and/or acted in some of the worst movies of all time, including the Coleman Francis trilogy Beast of Yucca Flats, The Skydivers, and Red Zone Cuba. His most recent film is the 1998 Conrad Brooks comedy Misfit Patrol. He claimed Ed saved his life when he was drowning in a pool.

Wood Credits: Final Curtain; Night of the Ghouls

Criswell

Born to an Indiana mortician in the back room of his mortuary (if you can believe it), Criswell began predicting the future on a fateful slow news day when he was a newscaster. One day, he actually predicted (or guessed) the future correctly, leading to newfound recognition and fame. Criswell (claiming 87% of his predictions were accurate) predicted such craxy things as the destruction of Denver and the loss of all womens' hair. He provided the insane opening and closing monologues for three of Ed's films. After that, he was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and was also wrote several successful books. He died in 1982.

Wood Credits: Plan 9 From Outer Space; Night of the Ghouls; Orgy of the Dead

Kenne Duncan

Kenne Duncan was recognizable as playing a bad guy in dozens and dozens of B-westerns. He worked in several Wood films near the end of his life, with his best role being the sinister Dr. Acula in Night of the Ghouls. A notorious ladies man, his nickname was (some of you kids might want to leave the room right now) "Horsecock," and he claimed to have slept with over 1,000 women. He commited suicide in 1973 after a stroke.

Wood Credits: Crossroad Avenger; Night of the Ghouls; The Sinister Urge

Harvey B. Dunn

Wood fans will most likely remember the elderly, wacky Harvey B. Dunn in the role of the parrot-loving Capt. Roberts in Bride of the Monster ("He tampered in God's domain"). His other films included Sabrina (as "Party guest with tray," a decidedly forgettable role) and the immortal Teenagers from Outer Space. He died in 1968.

Wood Credits: Crossroad Avenger; Bride of the Monster; Night of the Ghouls; The Sinister Urge

Dino Fantini

He played the psychotic Dirk Williams in The Sinister Urge. He showed up at the Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr. premiere with some scantily clad lovelies. Anything else about him is your guess.

Wood Credit: The Sinister Urge

Timothy Farrell

An actor in a few of Ed's early movies, he actually worked as a baliff in a Los Angeles Sherrif's Department at the same time. Later, he was convicted of a crime ("illegal use of deputy marshals in political activities") and given a six month sentance. Late in his life, he opened a lumber yard. He is at his best as fellon Vic Brady in Jail Bait.

Wood Credits: Glen or Glenda?; Jail Bait; The Violent Years

Dolores Fuller

Born in 1923, Dolores Fuller got her first taste of movie acting in a bit part in It Happened One Night as a child. In the 50s, she went to a casting call for Ed Wood, and they soon became lovers. As a result, she had memorable leading roles in Glen or Glenda? and Jail Bait (she lost her job as Dinah Shore's stand-in after spending too much time on the Jail Bait set). Their relationship fell apart after Ed cast Loretta King for the lead role in Bride of the Monster, limited Fuller to the small role of Margie. Her accomplished songwriting career since then has included songs for Elvis Presley (including Rock-a-Hula Baby, Do the Crab, Have a Happy). She currently lives with her husband in Las Vegas.

Wood Credits: Glen or Glenda?; Jail Bait; Bride of the Monster

Alex Gordon

Alex Gordon was, for the most part, a movie producer. However, he co-wrote Ed's Jail Bait, and had the idea for Bride of the Monster (which he was given screenwriter credit for). A huge Gene Autrey fan, he was president of the British Gene Autrey fan club. His films as a producer included some Roger Corman AIP classics. He died in 2003.

Wood Credits: Jail Bait; Bride of the Monster

Ted Gorley

He was the director of photography on two of Ed's porn movies, including the hard core footage in Necromania.

Wood Credits: The Only House; Necromania

Valda Hansen

Valda claimed she was only 16 when she appeared as the White Ghost in Night of the Ghouls (she was probably a few years older). Shortly before her death, she talked about some strange things in Ed Wood documentaries.

Wood Credits: Night of the Ghouls

Tor Johnson

Everybody's favourite 400-pound Swedish wrestler (often billed as "The Super Swedish Angel") had small roles in numerous Hollywood movies (including Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion and Houdini) before appearing as Lobo in Bride of the Monster. He reprised the role in Night of the Ghouls and the non-Wood directed The Unearthly. and was memorable as the resurrected Inspector Daniel Clay in Plan 9. After retiring, he became the basis for a bestselling Halloween mask. He died in 1971

Wood Credits: Bride of the Monster; Plan 9 From Outer Space; Night of the Ghouls

Tom Keene

A Western actor, Keene never became a big star, but still appeared as a leading man in many movies. After his films with Ed, he did real estate and insurance before dying of cancer in 1963. Plan 9 was his swan song.

Wood Credits: The Sun Was Setting; Crossroad Avenger; Plan 9 From Outer Space 

Loretta King

There are conflicting reports as to how Loretta King landed the role of leading lady Janet Lawton in Bride of the Monster. The popular rumour is that Ed thought she could finance the movie. Other speculation is that Ed simply thought she was a better actress than Dolores Fuller. (However, Ed did claim the former was true in an interview, and spoke unkindly of her). Since then, King has appeared in the documentaries The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr. and Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula.

Wood Credit: Bride of the Monster

Joanna Lee

Joanna Lee became extremely eager to FORGET everything about Ed Wood once she became successful as a TV writer and producer. The actress behind Tanna the space alien wrote episodes of My Three Sons, The Flintstones, Petticoat Junction, and Gilligan's Island. She died in 2003 of bone cancer.

Wood Credit: Plan 9 From Outer Space

Revered Dr. Lynn Lemon

Film producer Ed Reynolds somehow convinced Reverend Lemon and the Baptist Church of Beverly Hills to finance Plan 9 From Outer Space. Lemon can be seen in the movie as (appropriately) the minister at Tor Johnson's funeral. The good Reverend later made a cameo in Invasion of the Bee Girls, of all things.

Wood Credit: Plan 9 From Outer Space

Bela Lugosi

Despite having a fairly eclectic stage career, Lugosi became forever typecast after making the role of Dracula iconic with his performance in the 1931 Universal film. However, when he turned down the role of the monster in Frankenstein later that year, Boris Karloff took on the role, and Karloff's career quickly overshadowed Lugosi's. Lugosi worked in films of varying quality, both A (Ninotchka, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein) and Z grade (Bela Lugosi meets a Brooklyn Gorilla, The Ape Man, Bowery at Midnight). By the time he starred in Ed's films, his career was down the drain and he was addicted to morphine. Though he conquered his addiction, his films with Ed did little to revive his popularity. After his death, Ed dreamed up Plan 9, writing the script around two minutes of unseen Lugosi footage. By the way, for my money, The Devil Bat was Lugosi's best horror vehicle.

Wood Credits: Glen or Glenda?; Bride of the Monster; Plan 9 From Outer Space

Ric Lutze

Among the many, many porn films he made during the 1970s were several Ed Wood films (including Necromania), often with his girlfriend Rene Bond.

Wood Credits: Necromania; Class Reunion; Snow Bunnies; Drop-Out Wife

Dudley Manlove

MANLOVE! What an incredible name! Oh, how this man must have been mocked! Anyway, Dudley Manlove appeared as the rather hammy (and frequently eyebrow raising) space alien Eros in Plan 9 From Outer Space. A friend of Ed's until the end, Manlove attempted on several times to help Ed stop his alcoholism. Manlove also appeared in a few episodes of Dragnet and Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and was to put up money for the unmade The Day the Mummies Danced (a project Ed was dreaming as a comeback project late in his life).

Wood Credits: Final Curtain; Plan 9 From Outer Space

Paul Marco

Marco played the fumbling, bumbling comedy relief character Kelton the Cop in three Ed Wood films (Bride of the Monster, Plan 9, and Night of the Ghouls). He also served as prop man on many films. Non-Wood screen appearances included John Frankenheimer's The Young Savages. Like Conrad Brooks, he has attended numerous fan conventions. He died in 2006 during production of a new crop of short films reviving Kelton, the first called Kelton's Dark Corner.

Wood Credits: Bride of the Monster; Plan 9 From Outer Space; Night of the Ghouls

Norma McCarthy

Ed was briefly married to the straight-laced McCarthy...but the marriage was annulled as soon as she found out about Ed's transvestitism. Annullment or no annullment, she played Edith the flight attendant in Plan 9, and much later appeared in The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr.

Wood Credit: Plan 9 From Outer Space

Dr. Tom Mason

Ed's chiropractor secured his footnote in history when he extremely unconvincingly served as Bela Lugosi's stand-in (holding his cape in front of his face during all his scenes). Mason also served as executive producer of Final Curtain, and got a speaking part in Night of the Ghouls.

Wood Credits: Final Curtain; Plan 9 From Outer Space; Night of the Ghouls

Tony McCoy

Tony McCoy landed the role of the leading man in Bride of the Monster because his father, Donald McCoy, was the chief investor. Ed clearly was unhappy, and was still bitter about having to use the clearly untalented Tony later in his life ("He was the worst I've ever had," Ed said in an interview). Tony appeared in only one other movie, Naked City. He died in 2000.

Wood Credit: Bride of the Monster

Mona McKinnon

McKinnon, a friend of Dolores Fuller, played roles of farying lengths in several Wood productions. Her biggest role was as Paula Trent in Plan 9 From Outer Space. She was also to play a large role in the uncompleted Hellborn. Other films include the cult classic Mesa of Lost Women (from which Jail Bait got its musical score).

Wood Credits: Jail Bait; Plan 9 From Outer Space; Night of the Ghouls (stock footage)

Duke Moore

Born James Moore in 1913, "Duke" was with Ed from the beginning, appearing in many of his early TV commercials. His most notable Wood roles were the pistol waving Lt. Harper in Plan 9 and ghost chaser Lt. Bradford in Night of the Ghouls. He was, besides Criswell, the only Wood regular to appear in one of Ed's porn movies (1970's Take it Out in Trade). He died in 1976 of a heart attack.

Wood Credits: Crossroads of Laredo; Final Curtain; Plan 9 From Outer Space; Night of the Ghouls; The Sinister Urge; Take it Out in Trade

Don Nagel

Born in 1926, Don appeared in many of Ed's earlier films. His most memorable Wood role was as Tex, the doomed cowboy in Crossroads of Laredo. Supporting roles followed, usually playing police officers. In addition to his Ed Wood work, he appeared on several episodes of Barnaby Jones and The Bob Newhart Show. His last role was as "Doberman" in the TV special, Columbo: An Exercise in Fatality. He died in 1996.

Wood Credits: Crossroads of Laredo; Crossroad Avenger; Jail Bait; Bride of the Monster; Night of the Ghouls

Maila Nurmi

Maila Nurmi's Vampira character, created for a small Californian television station, was a short lived but phenomenal hit. As her sensual but spooky character introduced old horror movies, ratings skyrocketed, and she even got an emmy nomination for "best new personality." However, she was soon blacklisted, and her show was cancelled. After several years of refusing offers from Ed Wood, the starving actress finally agreed to be in Plan 9. Her other films Sex Kittens go to College, The Magic Sword, and the documentary Vampira: About Sex, Death and Taxes. She appeared in the "new" Ed Wood film I Woke Up Early the Day I Died. She was a friend of James Dean.

Wood Credits: Plan 9 From Outer Space

Herbert Rawlinson

A star of hundreds of silent films, this actor's career was still doing relatively well as a supporting player by the time he played world famous plastic surgeon Dr. Boris Gregor in Jail Bait. His performance admittedly brought a touch of class to the film. He died of lung cancer on July 12, 1953, (belive it or not) the day after shooting his Jail Bait scenes. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Wood Credits: Jail Bait

Steeve Reeves

The man who would be Hercules made his screen debut as the occasionally bare-chested Lt. Lawrence in Jail Bait. The former Mr. Universe, his screen successes included such hits as Hercules and Hercules Unchained.

Wood Credit: Jail Bait

Ed Reynolds

After seeing Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments, J. Edward Reynolds felt called by God to come to Hollywood to make biblical epics. Ed Wood convinced him that before making biblical epics, he should try exploitation films to make a name for himself (more specifically, he should try Ed Wood exploitation films). Ed Reynolds somehow got the Baptist Church of Beverly Hills to put up the money for Plan 9. Unfortunately, Ed and Ed frequently clashed over matters such as profits and even the title. He can be seen in Plan 9 as a gravedigger early on. He died not long after Plan 9's released, never having made a biblical epic.

Wood Credit: Plan 9 From Outer Space

Joseph F. Robertson

Robertson, a war buddy of Ed's, began his career producing grade-Z exploitation films like The Crawling Hand and The Slime People. Like Ed, he descended to directing, writing, and producing soft core pornography. He directed Ed as Mr. Murphy the photographer in The Love Feast and (most embarassingly) a transvestite in The Sensuous Wife, as well as another role in the uncompleted Misty.

Wood Credits: The Love Feast; The Sensuous Wife

Lyle Talbot

A former contract player at Warner Brothers, Talbot played supporting roles in numerous movies before winding up in Ed's orbit. After the Wood films, his television career thrived, with appearances on The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, Petticoat Junction, and others. His last screen appearance before dying in 1996 was the documentary The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr. I've always had a particular fondness for his work as Comminsioner Gordon in the old Batman and Robin serial (1947).

Wood Credits: Glen or Glenda?; Crossroad Avenger; Jail Bait; Plan 9 From Outer Space

Crawford John Thomas

Crawford John Thomas and Ed Wood joined forces in the late 40s for Wood-Thomas Productions, a company that focused on TV commercials. Ed somehow convinced Crawford to produce a 30-minute Western called Crossroads of Laredo that would be his first film. The film was not completed until the 1990s because it went overbudget, and the pair parted ways (this apparently lead Crawford to contemplate suicide!). Crawford later produced the documentary The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr. He died in 1998.

Wood Credit: Crossroads of Laredo

Harry Thomas

Thomas was a veteran make-up man who worked on most of Ed's best known movies. While some of his make-up may be mocked, it must be remembered that he did a good job with very limited resources, and some of his make-up (Night of the Ghouls, maybe even the final scenes of The Unearthly) were actually pretty good. His movies include Gold Raiders (with the Three Stooges), Superman and the Mole Men, Invasion USA, Son of the Renegade, Cat-Women of the Moon, Project Moon Base, From Hell it Came, Baby Face Nelson, Night of the Blood Beast, Frankenstein's Daughter, The Little Shop of Horrors, and even The Ten Commandments. He died in 1996.

Wood Credits: Glen or Glenda?; Jail Bait; Bride and the Beast; Plan 9 From Outer Space; Night of the Ghouls

William C. Thompson

The director of photography on all of Ed's best known movies, Bill Thompson was, amazingly enough, colour blind. He also was a stern believer in static photography (he didn't like shadows in movies), and was thus a heavy contributing factor to Ed's movies. Before working with Ed, he did photography on many silent movies. Among his sound triumphs were the unforgettable 1934 exploitation classic Maniac, Girl Gang, and The Lawless Rider (which Ed ghostwrote). He died in 1963.

Wood Credits: Glen or Glenda?; Jail Bait; Bride of the Monster; The Violent Years; Final Curtain, Plan 9 From Outer Space; Night of the Ghouls; The Sinister Urge

George Weiss

Through his company Screen Classics, Ed got the financing to make his first feature length film, Glen or Glenda. Weiss, who evidently had trouble selling the film, originally intended it to be about Christine Jorgensen. His other films as a producer include Phil Tucker's Dance Hall Racket (with Lenny Bruce) and Girl Gang. In one of his later books, Ed described him as a "delightful, gutsy little fellow."

Wood Credit: Glen or Glenda?

Kathy Wood

Kathleen Everette O'Hara was married to Ed for the better part of two decades, living with until the bitter end. She worked in the art department of Night of the Ghouls and appeared in the documentary Ed Wood: Look Back in Angora and the film I Woke up Early the Day I Died.

Wood Credit: Night of the Ghouls