For all of us here at FANGORIA, the passing of actor/songwriter David Hess is a dark day indeed. Hess has been such a presence in horror culture from his work in Wes Craven’s landmark LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, to other equally rough pictures as Ruggero Deodato’s HOUSE BY THE EDGE OF THE PARK and Pasquale Campinile's HITCH HIKE to his most recent picture, chewing scenery in Lee Demarbre’s SMASH CUT.

And then there was his musical legacy, writing songs for Elvis, Pat Boone and Sal Mineo. The multi-hyphenate Hess was no slouch and was a funny, charming, down-to-earth guy, as anyone who shared space with him at any number of conventions through the years–FANGO cons included–can attest to. Hess was 69. By all accounts his death was due to natural causes, but that doesn’t take away the eerie sting of his loss. David Hess loved life, and on that note, in honor of that life well lived and of the fans, friends and family who loved him the most, raise a glass, listen to one of David’s many tunes, and watch one of his films where he will be, of course, immortal.

Sleep easy, sir.

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