Carmilla Karnstein aka Ingrid Pitt has passed into the great beyond...

Fathergeek here... European horror queen Ingrid Pitt collapsed in a London street on her way to a fan event and died later in a local hospital of heart failure on November 21st. Born Ingoushka Petrov in Poland on November 21, 1937 she survived 3 years in a Nazi concentration camp, escaped from communist East Berlin, and became a well known star of stage, screen, and TV. Known to most as the seductive bisexual vampire Carmilla in1970's The Vampire Lovers, Ingrid became a staple in the Hammer Films horror line up starring in 73's Wicker Man, as well as 1971's House That Dripped Blood and Countess Dracula, and several others. However she did enjoy a productive non-horror film career as well, appearing in motion pictures like Chimes at Midnight, Doctor Zhivago, A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum, and 1968's Where Eagles Dare. She appeared in 5 episodes of the BBC's renowned Doctor Who series and many other TV shows in England and the USA. Her last film role was as Anna in 2008's Sea of Dust. Meeting Ingrid is one of old Fathergeek's unfilled desires, alas, it was not ment to be, but hanging on the wall here at geek headquarters in a shadowbox is a book that once belonged to Forry Ackerman signed by Bela Lugosi, John Carradine, Paul Naschy and other vampires of note including Ingrid Pitt. Farewell dear Ingrid, sleep well.