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 La quatrième dimension (1959) and Au-delà du réel (1963) but also pops up in small roles in the fun biker opus Le Retour des anges de l'enfer (1967) and the groovy hippie flick Un monde psychédélique (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 Vengeance de femmes (1974) and the enjoyable redneck action romp Black Oak Conspiracy (1977). He also directed episodes of such TV shows as Capitaine Furillo (1981), Frank, chasseur de fauves (1982), Fame (1982), Police Story (1973), Drôles de dames (1976), Shérif, fais-moi peur! (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.