Bob Kelljan(1930-1982)

Bob Kelljan was born as Robert Kelljchian on June 23, 1930, in Union City, NJ. He began his show-business career as an actor: He appeared in episodes of both The Twilight Zone (1959) and The Outer Limits (1963) but also pops up in small roles in the fun biker opus Hells Angels on Wheels (1967) and the groovy hippie flick Psych-Out (1968) Kelljan made his filmmaking debut as writer and co-director of the sordid incest drama Flesh of My Flesh (1969). He achieved his greatest commercial success with the excellent drive-in horror hit Count Yorga, Vampire (1970) and its equally solid sequel, The Return of Count Yorga (1971). His other theatrical features include the funky blaxploitation outing Scream Blacula Scream (1973), the splendidly sleazy vigilante revenge exploitation winner Act of Vengeance (1974) and the enjoyable redneck action romp Black Oak Conspiracy (1977). He also directed episodes of such TV shows as Hill Street Blues (1981), Bring 'Em Back Alive (1982), Fame (1982), Police Story (1973), Charlie's Angels (1976), The Dukes of Hazzard (1979), "Vega$ (1977)_, _"Starsky and Hutch" (1975)_ and Wonder Woman (1975).

Bob Kelljan died from cancer at the tragically young age of 52 on November 25, 1982.