An influential American screenwriter, director, and visual effects supervisor, he was born on September 30, 1946. He gained prominence for his work on the groundbreaking film "Alien" (1979), for which he co-wrote the screenplay. His career began with contributions to John Carpenter's "Dark Star" and continued with influential work on "Total Recall" and "The Return of the Living Dead," which he also directed. Known for his innovative storytelling and impact on the sci-fi and horror genres, he left a lasting legacy before passing away in 2009.