Skip Martin(1928-1984)

Skip Martin was an excellent and underrated British actor who only acted in a handful of movies and TV shows throughout his regrettably sporadic career. He was born as Derek George Horowitz on March 28, 1928 in Sydenham, London, England. Martin made his film debut in Otto Preminger's historical drama "Saint Joan." He was frequently cast in horror pictures. Skip gave an outstanding performance as the cunning Hop Toad in Roger Corman's magnificent "The Masque of the Red Death." Martin was likewise fine as sneaky blackmailer Mr. Big in "Circus of Fear," genuinely creepy as the sinister Michael in the wonderfully eerie and offbeat Hammer item "Vampire Circus," very engaging and flat-out hilarious as the hapless Frederick in the delightfully campy "Horror Hospital," and deliciously wicked as evil dwarf Igor in the failed horror comedy "Son of Dracula." He worked as a tobacconist in between acting assignments. Skip Martin died at age 56 on November 4, 1984 in London, England.