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'Space 1999' creator Gerry Anderson dies at 83

8:19 AM, Dec 27, 2012   |    comments
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'Space 1999' & 'Thunderbirds' creator Gerry Anderson died on December 26 from complications related to Alzheimer's, his son said.

(WXIA) -- Gerry Anderson, creator of the hit 60s and 70s era television shows "Thunderbirds" and "Space: 1999" died Wednesday at the age of 83, according to his son's website.

Gerry Anderson was a pioneer in science fiction and fantasy television on both sides of the Atlantic, having created and produced the puppet-based shows "Supercar", "Fireball XL5" and "Stingray" with his then-wife Sylvia, before creating and helming his most famous children's series, "Thunderbirds" in 1965.

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After "Thunderbirds", Anderson moved into live-action projects, including the series "UFO" in 1969, the NBC after-school movie "The Day After Tomorrow" and the series "Space: 1999" in 1975.

Anderson died from complications related to Alzheimer's disease on Dec. 26, leaving three children from his former marriages, one son from his most recent marriage and his widow Mary.