Dan O'Bannon, screen writer of many, many films, passed away December 17, 2009 due to an undisclosed illness in Los Angeles, California. He has written such films as Blue Thunder, Return of the Living Dead (which he also directed), Lifeforce, Total Recall, Screamers and of course... Alien.

Our thoughts go out to all his family and friends. RIP Dan, you helped change the world of film and we're all better off for it.