Sylvia Anderson (1927-2016)

"Gerry wasn’t a very social person so if we went anywhere I’d be the one who had to break the ice.

I’m much more outgoing.

There’s nothing wrong with one of you being outgoing and one of you being quiet so long as the one who is quiet doesn’t start to resent the very thing that drew you together in the first place."

 

-Sylvia Anderson on the end of her partnership with then husband Gerry Anderson-

Once upon a time we covered a blog post each week called the FAB FRIDAY post. What better way to honor all things Gerry and Sylvia Anderson than to pay tribute to the latter here with a FAB FRIDAY post.

While certainly not fabulous news to learn of her passing, nevertheless, Sylvia Anderson (1927-2016) was indeed absolutely fabulous and an essential part of the team that was Gerry and Sylvia Anderson productions.



We paid tribute to Gerry Anderson here and here after he passed away in 2012.

Sadly the creative voice and the voice of Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward (of Thunderbirds) has been silenced at 88. Click here for more on that character.

Her contributions to the world of Supermarionation cannot be understated.



Stingray (1964-1965) of course and my personal favorite Thunderbirds (1965-1966) (here) were super big deals among her popular works. There was of course her visual influence on the wonderful UFO (here). Biggest of all was Anderson's role as producer on Space:1999 Year One with her then husband Gerry Anderson. The two were married from 1960-1981, her then third marriage.

Anderson battled hard against Lew Grade over the casting of Martin Landau in favor of actor Robert Culp (The Greatest American Hero) but lost.



In a rare guest appearance Sylvia appeared in the new Thunderbirds Are Go! (2015-present) series in the episode Designated Driver (Dec 2015). Actress Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) handles the Lady Penelope voice chores for the new series.

Her imprint on a number of productions should not be discounted. Her partnership with Gerry was true and she recognized its importance. She played a pivotal and influential role in a number of these unforgettable productions and was a true, creative female pioneer. She even handled a role as a London-based HBO talent scout for thirty years at a time when she was caring and ultimately lost her sister to cancer.



For those interested they should seek her autobiography, My FAB Years (2007) which includes some fantastic photos and insight into all things Anderson.

Musings Of A Sci-Fi Fanatic would be remiss not to pay her an honored tribute. Her daughter declared recently, "I'd like her to be remembered as the first lady of sci-fi." Fair enough. She certainly had a hand in a number of early favorites for this Sci-Fi Fanatic.

And what a lady m'lady was! Another one of Great Britain's creative royalty has left us.