R.I.P. Sid Haig, the horror icon who appeared all over classic television

Watch the episode where he played a mummy alongside Lucille Ball.

Where does one begin when looking at the career of Sid Haig? His movie credits number in the dozens; his television credits reach well into the three digits. So, perhaps the easiest place to begin is, well, the beginning.

In the spring of 1962, The Untouchables was nearing the end of its third season. "The Case Against Eliot Ness" centered around the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. The characters were a typical mix of Windy City bigwigs and gangsters. Way down the cast list, credited as "Augie the Hood," was Sid Haig. It would be his first TV credit.

A few years later, he made his first significant "horror" appearance in one of the most unlikely places — alongside Lucille Ball. In the "Lucy and the Monsters" episode of The Lucy Show, Haig portrayed the Mummy, though it was hard to recognize him behind those bandages.

Haig on 'The Lucy Show'

His filmography snowballed from there. The California native quickly became a familiar face in genre productions, particularly Westerns and sci-fi. Notably, he was a Batman baddie, one of King Tut's henchmen dubbed Royal Apothecary in "The Spell is Tut" and "Tut's Case Is Shut." You can see him in the role prominently in the foreground in the image up top.

Haig had still not developed his signature look — beard and bald head — that would become as iconic to horror fans as any Universal monster. Actually, he remained pretty tough to spot in shows, especially Star Trek, where he played the eerily hooded First Lawgiver in "The Return of the Archons."

He reunited with Leonard Nimoy in several episodes of Mission: Impossible. He turned up in a handful of Gunsmoke episodes. He was a fellow called Señor Quesada on The Flying Nun. He played various toughs in action shows like Mannix, The Rockford Files and Charlie's Angels.

By the 1970s, the towering figure had developed his signature look. He was the perfect image of a Ming the Merciless–esque space villain, which he indeed played on series such as Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and Jason of Star Command.

Along the way, on the big screen, be came a regular presence in cult movies helmed by Roger Corman and Jack Hill. He also worked with George Lucas (THX 1138) and James Bond (Diamonds Are Forever).

In the early 1990s, Haig had his fill of typecasting. "I'll never play another stupid heavy again," he is quoted as saying, "And I don't care if that means that I never work, ever."

Of course, he would work again. A new generation of filmmakers weaned on the cult cinema of the '60s and '70s recognized the talents of Haig. Quentin Tarantino (of course) cast him as a judge in Jackie Brown. But his true revival came when shock-rocker Rob Zombie cast Haig in his debut feature, House of 1000 Corpses (2003). His twisted character Captain Spaulding again appeared in The Devil's Rejects.

Our own Svengoolie, Rich Koz, had this to say about Haig:

"Like a lot of horror fans, I first knew Sid from his work with Rob Zombie — but then, after seeing him in Get Smart, and then countless other MeTV shows, I have been so impressed by his lengthy career! Sadly, I never met him, but anyone who did always remarked about what a nice guy he was!"

Haig died on Saturday, September 21. His wife broke the news on his Instagram page. He was 80 years old.

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7 Comments

RobBarnes 20 months ago
One of a kind dude right there. Loved him from Spyder Baby to his Rob Zombie's flicks. Jack of all trades in front of and behind the camera from what I understand.
BuckRogers 62 months ago
Everything that could be said about Sid Haig has been said, and it still isn’t enough! His work with Rob Zombie in “House of 1000 Corpses” as Captain Spaulding was brilliant and I always will remember him as Captain Spaulding. He was in everything: classic tv crime drama, science fiction, comedy, children’s shows, low-budget Filipino action flicks, blaxploitation, grind house films, drive-in theater movies, Quentin Tarantino and Rob Zombie movies (fortunate that Tarantino and Zombie are amateur movie historians and remembered Sid to cast him in their movies). Also, he worked right up to the end, as he has several films being released in 2019 alone! It is always a pleasant surprise to see Sid pop up in tv shows and say, “Hey! There’s Sid!” Like the time he showed up in an episode of “Here Come the Brides” playing a logger harassing the Bolt brothers. Hey! There’s Sid! He was not a box office draw or idol, but he had something better: instant recognition and very long resume’. Thank you, Mr. Haig, for being there for us. Or, as Captain Spaulding would say, “Yeahyeahyeahyeahyeahyeah!”
ScarlettKaiju 62 months ago
Someone broke the news of his passing on FB a full day before his wife made the announcement, so I was hoping it wasn't true. He was a real sweetheart. While scaring people was his bread and butter, he loved making people laugh. We had a wonderful conversation at Shock Stock a few years ago about another of his classic TV roles, General Skull Fracture on SLEDGE HAMMER!
Jeremy 62 months ago
That sucks! That really sucks! It could've been worse though.
Pacificsun 62 months ago
Was also in the Man from UNCLE's "The Prince of Darkness Affair" and "The When in Roma Affair".

He was quite the character actor, very versatile!
pumkinheadfan 62 months ago
He will always be a legend! If only in my eyes...He was another actor who you always get excited when he popped up in a show. As soon as you seen him (or his name in the opening credits) you know your in for a treat! R.I.P Sid
I'm gonna leave this comment with a short seasonal film Sid lent his voice to back in 2016...Remember Halloween is just around the corner...

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