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Today we mark the passing of a man whose show you'd never want to make an appearance on. Actor Robert Stack, best known as the host of popular TV show "Unsolved Mysteries," died of heart failure in 2003 at the age of 84. Dennis Farina took over Stack's hosting duties when the show began a new run in 2008.

The concept behind "Unsolved Mysteries" is a simple one. Strange happenings that have stumped authorities are reenacted by professional actors in hopes that viewers might have information that will help solve these cases. Everything from unexplained deaths and alien abductions to murders and long-lost loves have been featured on the show.

According to the show's official Web site, more than half of the wanted fugitives profiled on the show have been brought to justice, many because of tips from viewers. For most of us, however, the show results in a tendency to sleep with the lights on and flee indoors every time we see flashing lights in the sky.

Stack was also an accomplished actor outside of the "Unsolved Mysteries" soundstage. He played Prohibition agent Eliot Ness in the 1959 TV series "The Untouchables" (a fictional account of the real Untouchables, a group of law enforcement agents who sought to enforce Prohibition and put Al Capone in the slammer) and Rex Kramer in the 1980 film "Airplane!", who helps pilot-with-a-drinking-problem Ted Striker to land the plane.

Since we opened with the thrills and chills of "Unsolved Mysteries," we would like to end with one of Rex Kramer's best quotes from "Airplane!" so that everyone can have a nice laugh and not be paranoid about alien abductions for the rest of the day:

(while asking Striker questions to see how much he knows about landing a plane): "Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. Sorry, Ted, that's a dumb question... skip that."

Wow...:rip: I loved him as the host of UM, but REALLY loved his role as Captain Kramer in Airplane!! I still :rofl: when he beats up all the zealots in the airport. :brent

Wow...:rip: I loved him as the host of UM, but REALLY loved his role as Captain Kramer in Airplane!! I still :rofl: when he beats up all the zealots in the airport. :brent

Me too! He played the "humorous straight man" really well. I first saw that movie around the time I was just getting into UM (around 1993/94) and thought that was hilarious. Same with when he's driving with the younger guy to the airport (talking on a carphone) and is oblivious to hitting a guy on a bike and running the car offroad.

I can't believe it's been 6 years, he wasn't even that old (although he did live a long life) so that was especially sad for me. He seemed like a great guy and was pretty dedicated to UM.

RIP Mr. Stack. :(

Me too! He played the "humorous straight man" really well. I first saw that movie around the time I was just getting into UM (around 1993/94) and thought that was hilarious. Same with when he's driving with the younger guy to the airport (talking on a carphone) and is oblivious to hitting a guy on a bike and running the car offroad.

I can't believe it's been 6 years, he wasn't even that old (although he did live a long life) so that was especially sad for me. He seemed like a great guy and was pretty dedicated to UM.

RIP Mr. Stack. :(
Yes, he did seem like a real cool guy, onscreen and off. RS also did a bit on Jay Leno in the mid-90s, a spoof on his UM role. He wore the trench coat. The last thing he said was, "Our next mystery - finding a town that does not have a Starbucks or Gap store." :rofl:

We all miss and love you RS.

Has it been 6 year's Robert you sure aremissed by everyone

Has it been 6 year's Robert you sure aremissed by everyone

It feels like an eternity since he's been gone. I have a clip of his appearance in BASEketball where he spoofs UM...never fails to make me laugh.

I agree with Apostapler. It seems so much longer than 6 years. We were all very fortunate to have witnessed the greatness and the presence RS brought to the table. Nobody did it better. RIP Robert Stack.

I can't believe it's been six years. RIP Robert.

It feels like an eternity since he's been gone. I have a clip of his appearance in BASEketball where he spoofs UM...never fails to make me laugh.

I loved that part of the movie.

It feels like an eternity since he's been gone. I have a clip of his appearance in BASEketball where he spoofs UM...never fails to make me laugh.

Oh yeah I was just thinking of Baseketball too. :)

Catlover- I totally agree that even though Stack was serious about his job he had a great self depricating sense of humor. I wish I'd seen that Leno appearance. Does anyone remember the Pepsi Club commercial around '97?

Oh yeah I was just thinking of Baseketball too. :)

Catlover- I totally agree that even though Stack was serious about his job he had a great self depricating sense of humor. I wish I'd seen that Leno appearance. Does anyone remember the Pepsi Club commercial around '97?
No, I don't, sadly. The Leno appearance aired in '96 or '97, if I'm not mistaken. He did have that great deadpan humor. :cool:

Oh, I remember that Pepsi commercial.

I always liked how Stack could change his delivery to suit the stories. In the murder stories he was always very stern, almost menacing, and had a take-no-crap attitude. He made you feel for the victims and WANT to help them find justice. But he could also soften it up for the lost loves stories, and he'd make you wonder if those UFO or ghost stories could really be true.

Stack gave this show life. Now....I don't know what it is.

Pepsi Club (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzcCwS2_KoQ)

I wasn't sure if the rules regarding youtube also applied to this commercial.

Oh man! That commercial is awesome!

I always liked how Stack could change his delivery to suit the stories. In the murder stories he was always very stern, almost menacing, and had a take-no-crap attitude. He made you feel for the victims and WANT to help them find justice. But he could also soften it up for the lost loves stories, and he'd make you wonder if those UFO or ghost stories could really be true.

He definitely had a lot of credibility as the host of UM. You could tell from his performance that not only was he was legitimately invested in the show, but also genuinely cared about a lot of the stories (especially the murder cases) presented on it.

It's very hard to believe that Robert Stack has been deceased for six years. I first learned the news of his death on the internet. Once I found out about it, I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. In today's Hollywood, people like him are few and far between.

When Robert Stack died, there were a number of famous people who publicly commented on him. One of them was former First Lady Nancy Reagan. She said: "Just when it seemed he was ready to retire, he always found a new project that kept him busy and filled with wonderful stories."

It is no secret that Robert Stack was friends with Ronald Reagan. In addition, Stack donated money to Reagan's presidential campaigns (first in 1979 and then in 1984). Also, a letter that Reagan wrote to Stack in 1988 was later published in the book Reagan: A Life in Letters. Sadly, at the time of Stack's death, the Gipper was so incapacitated from Alzheimer's disease that he was unable to comment on his good friend. :(

By the way, I remember the Pepsi commercial he appeared in. He displayed his "tough guy" image in that commercial very well.

Pepsi Club (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzcCwS2_KoQ)

I wasn't sure if the rules regarding youtube also applied to this commercial.
Now I remember that commercial. Thanks, Charles. :cool: