Post by Mr. H on Jul 30, 2014 22:37:07 GMT -5
I know it's been a while but for those fellow members on here who knew him or talked with him, it's with a heavy heart I have to report that MortimerWest aka Paul Hernandez (writer of Sky High as well as The Greatest American Hero movie when it was at Disney and nearly produced in 2002-2003) has passed away on Sunday Morning due to complications with a severe liver infection. My heart goes out to his family, his mother and especially his two children. He always had such high spirits, a funny story and lots of laughs on hand to go around. He was gregarious, outgoing and had quite a gift of gab. So strange that someone so full of life even til the very end can be taken from us so quickly and far too soon. I knew he had been sick but I too was under the impression he always seemed on the mend. I expected to be hanging out with him again at a Convention or getting noodles in just a few weeks or months down the line.
Paul was a natural storyteller, quick on his wits and a master of the anecdote. I'll miss his crazy stories of his youth in Texas, his tales of triumph and trials of Hollywood, and our general geek discussions of all things comics and SciFi. He swayed me on music and Anime and I swayed him over to Doctor Who and some British SF. He introduced me to this very forum and got me to join back in 2002, he brought me to my first San Diego Comic Con (SDCC '01 Still the high watermark!), the *good* Japanese Anime, the Queen discography (beyond just the hits), great sushi, Little Tokyo, Ultraman (because you never *really* know your Ultraman til you talk to Paul) and a number of writing tips. We met because our mutual love of our childhood favorite show, The Greatest American Hero. Like most 21st century relationships we met online on the old GAH forum in late 2000 and started hanging out in person in Spring of '01. He was so welcoming to me then and I was happy to have found a kindred spirit to swap stories and share adventures. I'll miss our marathon phone calls where we'd talk movies, sound board scripts, talk GAH tidbits and just have a laugh. Now I won't know who to call after midnight about the latest Marvel movie or upcoming Con. Although, I'm sure he's up there right now hanging out with Freddie Mercury, Robert Culp and Jack Kirby having a blast and telling more tales.
I'll miss his discussions on here about the suit, various stories from Katt or Cannell, the almost made episodes, the state of GAH film and his crazy posts he used to make back in the day about GAH being shown in foreign countries as "Fly Straight You American". If you have any stories or memories please feel free to share them here. I always believe no one is truly gone as long as you remember them.
We texted back and forth through out this year's SDCC up until the day before be passed. He seemed his usual self. I was shooting him pics, picking up a few things for him and keeping him in the loop since he couldn't make it and that had him really down. One of his last texts to me says "Dude - I just want to thank you - I feel so drained from today - but your text messages have made me laugh - so thanks." I'm glad even at the end I could give him a smile. I wish I could have done more. My eyes may glisten and my heart may sink, but I hang on to all the good times and all the positive influences he gave me. Life is a journey where you need good friends around you and I've just lost a great one. I'll miss you Paul, you were one of kind. Take care, brother.
theconsummateculp.com/2013/02/greatest-american-hero-movie-news/
www.yourhoustonnews.com/archives/pasadena-native-strikes-hollywood-gold-with-american-hero/article_043b306f-37b7-5ea2-b88d-f6484712fff1.html
www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/20/believe-it-or-not-disney-signs-scribe-for-greatest-american-hero
"Paul Hernandez has been hired by Disney to write the script for "The Greatest American Hero," reports Variety. The relatively inexperienced screenwriter won the job by wearing the original "Hero" suit from the early-'80s TV show during his pitch meeting.
The show centered on a schoolteacher who receives a powerful costume from aliens, but he loses the instruction manual and is left to his own devices to harness the suit's abilities. Hernandez's version will introduce additional suits to the story. "
Paul was a natural storyteller, quick on his wits and a master of the anecdote. I'll miss his crazy stories of his youth in Texas, his tales of triumph and trials of Hollywood, and our general geek discussions of all things comics and SciFi. He swayed me on music and Anime and I swayed him over to Doctor Who and some British SF. He introduced me to this very forum and got me to join back in 2002, he brought me to my first San Diego Comic Con (SDCC '01 Still the high watermark!), the *good* Japanese Anime, the Queen discography (beyond just the hits), great sushi, Little Tokyo, Ultraman (because you never *really* know your Ultraman til you talk to Paul) and a number of writing tips. We met because our mutual love of our childhood favorite show, The Greatest American Hero. Like most 21st century relationships we met online on the old GAH forum in late 2000 and started hanging out in person in Spring of '01. He was so welcoming to me then and I was happy to have found a kindred spirit to swap stories and share adventures. I'll miss our marathon phone calls where we'd talk movies, sound board scripts, talk GAH tidbits and just have a laugh. Now I won't know who to call after midnight about the latest Marvel movie or upcoming Con. Although, I'm sure he's up there right now hanging out with Freddie Mercury, Robert Culp and Jack Kirby having a blast and telling more tales.
I'll miss his discussions on here about the suit, various stories from Katt or Cannell, the almost made episodes, the state of GAH film and his crazy posts he used to make back in the day about GAH being shown in foreign countries as "Fly Straight You American". If you have any stories or memories please feel free to share them here. I always believe no one is truly gone as long as you remember them.
We texted back and forth through out this year's SDCC up until the day before be passed. He seemed his usual self. I was shooting him pics, picking up a few things for him and keeping him in the loop since he couldn't make it and that had him really down. One of his last texts to me says "Dude - I just want to thank you - I feel so drained from today - but your text messages have made me laugh - so thanks." I'm glad even at the end I could give him a smile. I wish I could have done more. My eyes may glisten and my heart may sink, but I hang on to all the good times and all the positive influences he gave me. Life is a journey where you need good friends around you and I've just lost a great one. I'll miss you Paul, you were one of kind. Take care, brother.
theconsummateculp.com/2013/02/greatest-american-hero-movie-news/
www.yourhoustonnews.com/archives/pasadena-native-strikes-hollywood-gold-with-american-hero/article_043b306f-37b7-5ea2-b88d-f6484712fff1.html
www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/20/believe-it-or-not-disney-signs-scribe-for-greatest-american-hero
"Paul Hernandez has been hired by Disney to write the script for "The Greatest American Hero," reports Variety. The relatively inexperienced screenwriter won the job by wearing the original "Hero" suit from the early-'80s TV show during his pitch meeting.
The show centered on a schoolteacher who receives a powerful costume from aliens, but he loses the instruction manual and is left to his own devices to harness the suit's abilities. Hernandez's version will introduce additional suits to the story. "
