Shane Rimmer (1929-2019)

It's another FAB FRIDAY belated tribute to memorialize the loss of dear Shane Rimmer (1929-2019) here at Musings Of A Sci-Fi Fanatic. Still, it's never too late to pay respects and so we say goodbye to the unforgettable voice of leadership that was Scott Tracy of the internationally renowned Tracy family.



The Toronto born Rimmer was absolutely phenomenal for all things Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. And that's the truth as you'll see here.

As Scott Tracy Rimmer was the leading voice of International Rescue, apart from his father Jeff Tracy, on Thunderbirds (1965-1966) for both Series One and Series Two and a grand total of 32 spectacular episodes.




Still, Rimmer had an impressive career of small roles in endless films and TV. Some favorites include Dr. Strangelove (1964), Edgar Rice Burroughs' The People That Time Forgot (1977), Warlords Of Atlantis (1978), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Gandhi (1982), Out Of Africa (1985) and Batman Begins (2005).

Little known is his work in You Only Live Twice (1967) and Diamonds Are Forever (1971) opposite Sean Connery. He did some dub work on Roger Moore's Live And Let Die (1973) before his big role opposite Moore in The Spy Who Loved Me. He first appeared opposite Moore in TV series The Saint (1964) for the episode The Hijackers. He returned to work with Moore again in Moore's TV series The Persuaders! (1971-1972) and thought highly of the 007 actor.

Films he appeared in uncredited included Star Wars (1977) and Superman II (1980).

He even guested in Doctor Who's The Gunfighters (1966), home of England's greatest science fiction series and the longest running in sci-fi history. England would be where the Toronto-born Canadian made his home.



And about his contributions to the world of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Rimmer was positively everywhere in leaving his mark. Apart from Thunderbirds, he also employed his talents on voice work for a number of Anderson productions including Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons (1967-1968), Joe 90 (1968-1969), The Secret Service (1969) and Space:1999 (1975-1977).

He even appeared in Space:1999 episode Space Brain (Y1, E20), the pre-Space:1999 space series from which the latter evolved UFO (1970) and The Protectors (1972-1974). Rimmer even penned two of the scripts for The Protectors in Zeke's Blues and Blockbuster (the final episode of the series).

He also performed in the unaired pilot for what would be come Space Precinct (1994-1995) but was replaced in one of the lead roles.




He released an autobiography titled From Thunderbirds To Pterodactyls (2000).



Rimmer was a prolific performer and unabashed in performing work no matter how big or small, in front or behind the camera. Rimmer's contributions to many glorious years of childhood viewing especially on Thunderbirds will never be forgotten.



His voice was warm and impassioned and there was never anything wooden about his infusion of work into that marionette series.

Rimmer was 89 and he was indeed F-A-B!