A Salute to Michael Lennick

Michael Lennick on the set of Kinji Fukasaku's Virus (1980). Photo courtesy of Michael Lennick.

I'm very sorry to report the passing of Michael Lennick. Michael was a special effects technician/supervisor and documentary filmmaker, who worked on films like Videodrome (1982), The Dead Zone (1983), and Dick (1999).

I interviewed Michael several years ago for G-FAN about his involvement with Virus (a.k.a. Fukkatsu no hi, 1980), a Japanese end-of-the-world sci-fi film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. He had many great memories about making the film, and he sent me a few behind-the-scenes photos, including this one of him on the Palmer Station set.

According to Michael's friend Robert J. Sawyer, Michael died yesterday after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor just a month ago. He was 61. Rest in peace, Michael.