Features Overview

Influential Cryptozoologists 

• Erik Beckjord, Bigfoot researcher - deceased

• John Bindernagel, Bigfoot researcher; author of North America's Great Ape: the Sasquatch

• Tom Biscardi, Bigfoot researcher

• Maurice Burton, Loch Ness Monster researcher; author of The Elusive Monster - deceased

• Mark Chorvinsky, creator of Strange Magazine - deceased

• Jerome Clark, co-author of Cryptozoology A to Z

• Loren Coleman, author of Bigfoot!: The True Story of Apes in America, Tom Slick: True Life Encounters in Cryptozoology, Mysterious America, Mothman and Other Curious Encounters; coauthor of Cryptozoology A to Z, The Field Guide to Bigfoot, Yeti, and Other Mystery Primates Worldwide, The Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents, and Other Mystery Denizens of the Deep, and other books

• William R. Corliss, general anomalist; has collected reports of unknown hominids and other cryptids - deceased

• René Dahinden, Bigfoot researcher -deceased

• Tim Dinsdale, Loch Ness Monster researcher -deceased

• Jonathan Downes, founder of Centre for Fortean Zoology

• Richard Ellis, marine life artist; author of The Search For The Giant Squid

• Paul Freeman, Bigfoot researcher - deceased

• Richard Freeman, researcher affiliated with Centre for Fortean Zoology

• Josh Gates, researcher, TV host

• Ken Gerhard, Big Bird researcher/author

• Bob Gimlin, with Roger Patterson, allegedly filmed Bigfoot in 1967

• Rex Gilroy, Australian cryptozoologist focused on the Megalania and the Yowie.

• John Willison Green, Bigfoot researcher

• J. Richard Greenwell, secretary of the International Society for Cryptozoology - deceased

• Bernard Heuvelmans, author of On the Track of Unknown Animals; "father of cryptozoology" - deceased

• Fredrick William Holiday, Loch Ness Monster researcher - deceased

• John Keel, Mothman researcher - deceased

• Alexandr Mikhailovych Kondratov, Russian scientist, author of books about lake monsters, living dinosaurs and many more - deceased

• Grover Krantz, mainstream physical anthropologist known for his interest in Bigfoot - deceased

• Willy Ley, author of Exotic Zoology - deceased

• Roy Mackal, University of Chicago professor known for interest in Loch Ness Monster and Mokele mbembe - deceased

• Scott Marlowe, Swamp Ape researcher and founder of Pangea Institute

• Jeff Meldrum, Idaho State University anatomy professor; Bigfoot researcher

• Reinhold Messner, mountaineer; author of My Quest for the Yeti - skeptic

• Marc Wolfgang Miller, explorer, author of Chasing Legends & The Legend Continues

• Darren Naish, University of Portsmouth, vertebrate palaeontologist, researcher on aquatic cryptids

• John Napier, primatologist and Bigfoot researcher - deceased

• Rory Nugent, Mokele mbembe researcher

• Anthonie Cornelis Oudemans, Sea serpent researcher - deceased

• Roger Patterson, with Bob Gimlin, allegedly filmed Bigfoot in 1967 - deceased

• Robert Michael Pyle, author of Where Bigfoot Walks: Crossing the Dark Divide

• Ivan T. Sanderson, celebrity zoologist/anomalist; author of Abominable Snowmen: Legend Come to Life - deceased

• Esteban Sarmiento, Bigfoot researcher

• Peter Scott, conservationist; coined a scientific name for the Loch Ness Monster - deceased

• Karl Shuker, author of Mystery Cats of the World, Dragons: A Natural History, In Search of Prehistoric Survivors, From Flying Toads To Snakes With Wings, Mysteries of Planet Earth, The New Zoo: New and Rediscovered Animals of the Twentieth Century, The Beasts That Hide From Man, Extraordinary Animals Revisited, and other books

• Tom Slick, adventurer who funded searches for Bigfoot and other cryptids - deceased

• Roderick Sprague, Bigfoot researcher

• Michael Williams, Australian researcher and author of Australian Big Cats: An Unnatural History of Panthers, and The Tasmanian Tiger: Extinct or Extant?

• Ezekiel Stone Wiggins, theorized Plesiosaurus in Rice Lake, deceased

Influential UFOlogists - United States

• George Adamski (April 17, 1891–April 23, 1965), controversial UFO contactee and known hoaxer of the 1950s, wrote several bestselling books about his encounters with friendly "space brothers" from other planets.[23]

• Orfeo Angelucci (aka Orville Angelucci) (June 25, 1912–July 24, 1993), one of the most unusual of the mid-1950s UFO contactees.[24][verification needed]

• Stephen G. Bassett, extraterrestrial life (ET) lobbyist, treasurer of the Extraterrestrial Phenomena Political Action Committee, and executive director of Paradigm Research Group[25]

• Art Bell (birth name: Arthur William Bell, III) (Jun 17, 1945-Apr 13, 2018), U.S. radio broadcaster and author, known primarily as the founder and longtime host of the paranormal-themed radio program Coast to Coast AM.[26]

• William J. Birnes, American writer, editor, book publisher and literary rights agent. He is best known as an active publisher of UFO literature (UFO Magazine) and is a New York Times bestselling author.

• Jerome Clark (b. 1946), UFO historian, author of the UFO Encyclopedia[27]

• Philip J. Corso (1915–1998), Army Military Intelligence officer, wrote highly disputed book on Roswell UFO incident.[28]

• Robert Dean (March 2, 1929-11 October 2018), UFOlogist, reportedly read a document called An Assessment (1964), a NATO report on UFOs prompted by an incident on February 2, 1961 during which 50 UFOs allegedly appeared over Europe.[29]

• Glenn Dennis (b. 1925), founder of the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico, which opened in September 1991. Dennis is a self-professed witness to the Roswell UFO incident (1947).[30]

• Richard M. Dolan (b. 1962), author of UFOs and the National Security State, Vol. I: Chronology of a Cover-Up 1941–1973, and a frequent speaker at UFO conferences. Also, a co-host of the television series Sci-Fi Investigates.[31][unreliable source?]

• Danielle Egnew (b. February 28, 1969), American Psychic / Medium and Paranormal Radio, TV and Film host. Contactee who regularly reports on first-hand communication with extraterrestrial species along with detailed physics / design of extraterrestrial propulsion systems.[32][33][verification needed]

• Raymond E. Fowler (b. 1934), long-time UFO investigator, details one of the best multiple witness alien abduction cases on record, author of The Andreasson Affair and The Allagash Abductions.[34][35]

• Daniel Fry (July 19, 1908–December 20, 1992), American contactee who claimed he had multiple contacts with an alien and took a ride in a remotely piloted alien spacecraft on July 4, 1949.[36][verification needed]

• Allen H. Greenfield (b. 1946), American occultist, Ufologist, writer, editor.[37][verification needed]

• Steven M. Greer (b. 1955), American physician known as a proponent of openness in government, media and corporations when it comes to advanced technologies that he and others believe to have been shelved and hidden from public awareness for reasons of profit and influence.[38][verification needed][39]

• Richard H. Hall (December 25, 1930–July 17, 2009), former assistant Director of NICAP in the 1960s, former director of the Fund for UFO Research in the 1980s.[40]

• Charles I. Halt,(b. 1939) retired USAF Colonel who was a key figure in the Rendlesham UFO incident in 1980.[41]

• Allan Hendry (b. 1950), astronomer, full-time UFO investigator for the Center for UFO Studies in the late 1970s and early 1980s.[42][verification needed]

• Budd Hopkins (1931 -2011), alien abduction researcher.[43][verification needed]

• Linda Moulton Howe (b. 1942), journalist known for investigating cattle mutilations.[44][verification needed]

• J. Allen Hynek (May 1, 1910–April 27, 1986), astronomer, consultant to Project Blue Book (USAF). Founded CUFOS (Center for UFO Studies).[45][verification needed]

• Morris K. Jessup ( March 2 or 20, 1900–April 20, 1959), photographer, is probably best remembered for his pioneering UFOlogical writings and his role in uncovering the so-called Philadelphia Experiment.[46][verification needed]

• John Keel (birth name: Alva John Kiehle) (March 25, 1930–July 3, 2009), journalist, investigated the famous Mothman Sightings in West Virginia in 1966 and 1967.[47][unreliable source?][verification needed]

• Donald Keyhoe (June 20, 1897–November 29, 1988), aviator and Marine Corps officer, was the leader of NICAP, the largest civilian UFO research group in the U.S., in the 1950s and 1960s.[48][verification needed]

• Philip J. Klass (November 8, 1919 – August 9, 2005), senior editor of Aviation Week and Space Technology, leading UFO skeptic/debunker from mid-1960s until his death in 2005.[citation needed]

• George Knapp (b. 1952), American investigative journalist.[49]

• Bob Lazar (b. 1959), former physicist and owner of a mail-order scientific supply company who claims to have worked from 1988 until 1989 at an area called S-4 (Sector Four).[50]

• Bruce Maccabee (b. 1942), retired US Navy optical physicist, has analyzed numerous UFO videos and photos.[51][non-primary source needed][verification needed]

• Jim Marrs (December 5, 1943 – August 2, 2017), conspiracy theorist, news reporter, college professor, and author of books and articles on a wide range of assorted conspiracy theories.[52][verification needed]

• Riley Martin (b. 1946), self-described alien contactee, author, and radio host.[53]

• John E. Mack (1929–2004), Harvard psychiatrist/professor, alien abduction researcher.[54]

• Donald Howard Menzel (1901–1976), professor of astronomy at Harvard University, leading UFO skeptic of the 1950s and 1960s.[55]

• James W. Moseley (1931–2012), editor of Saucer Smear, long-time observer, author and commentator of the UFO phenomena.[56]

• George Noory (b. 1950), broadcaster of the popular "Coast to Coast" radio broadcast; the program discusses paranormal events.[57]

• Curtis Peebles, aerospace historian for the Smithsonian Institution, also a leading UFO skeptic.[58][verification needed]

• Kevin D. Randle (b. 1949), captain in the US Air Force Reserves; also a leading investigator of the Roswell UFO Incident in 1947.[59][verification needed]

• Nick Redfern (b. 1964), British UFOlogist/Cryptozoologist now living in Dallas, Texas, US.[60][verification needed]

• Edward J. Ruppelt (July 17, 1923–September 15, 1960), Air Force captain who supervised Project Blue Book, the Air Force's official study of UFO phenomena in the 1950s and 1960s.[61][verification needed]

• Harley Rutledge (1926–2006), solid-state physicist, Southeast Missouri State University.[62][non-primary source needed][verification needed]

• Robert Sheaffer (b. 1949), member of CSICOP's UFO subcommittee, a leading UFO skeptic/debunker.[63]

• Whitley Strieber (b. 1946), author of Communion, UFO researcher, paranormal phenomena expert, and alleged abductee.[64]

• Leonard H. Stringfield, (1920–1994), American UFOlogist who took particular interest in crashed flying saucer stories.

• Michael D. Swords, biophysicist at Western Michigan University, prominent ufologist for the Center for UFO Studies.[65]

• Jacques Fabrice Vallée (b. 1939), scientist, author.[66]

Influential UFOlogists 

• Fabio Zerpa, (b. 1928), parapsychologist and UFO researcher. Argentina

• Ademar José Gevaerd (b. 1962) Brazil

• Stanton Friedman, (b. 1934), U.S. born Canadian UFOlogist, former nuclear physicist, did early research on Roswell and also MJ-12 documents. Canada

• Paul Hellyer, (b. 1923), Former Canadian Defense Minister. Officially inaugurated a UFO landing pad in St. Paul, Alberta; the first in the world. Canada

• Igor Volke[4][5] (b. 1950), UFOlogist and researcher of environmental anomalies. Estonia

• Jacques Bergier (1912–1978), writer, co-wrote the best-seller The Morning of the Magicians. France

• Robert Charroux (1909–1978), writer, promoted the Ancient astronauts theory. France

• Rémy Chauvin (1913–2009), biologist and entomologist. France

• Aimé Michel (1919–1992), writer and UFOlogist. France

• Jean-Pierre Petit (b. 1937), scientist, senior researcher at National Center for Scientific Research CNRS as an astrophysicist. Promoted the Ummo theory. Created the Ufo-Science Association. France

• Jacques Vallée (b. 1939) computer scientist, important figure in the UFO studies in France and in the United States. Promoted the extraterrestrial hypothesis and later the interdimensional hypothesis. France

• J. Salatun, (1927–2012), pioneer of UFO research in Indonesia. Indonesia

• Monsignor Corrado Balducci, (1923–2008), Roman Catholic theologian of the Vatican Curia long time exorcist for the Archdiocese of Rome. Italy

• Jaime Maussan, (b. 1953), Mexican journalist and UFOlogist. Mexico

• Ion Hobana Romania

• Dan Apostol Romania

• Doru Davidovici Romania

• Iker Jiménez Elizari (b. 1973), journalist born in the Basque city of Vitoria. He's licensed in Sciences of the Information by the Complutensian University of Madrid and the European University of Madrid. His wife, Carmen Porter, is also a journalist and investigator on paranormal activity; both work together in the show Cuarto Milenio, in the TV network Cuatro, and its radio version Milenio 3 in Cadena SER, about paranormal activity, UFOlogy and other mysteries. Spain

• Clas Svahn Sweden

• Erich von Däniken, (b. 1935), controversial Swiss author best known for his books which examine possible evidence for extraterrestrial influences on early human culture. Switzerland

• Billy Meier, (b. 1937) Switzerland

• George King, (1919–1997) regarded himself as "Primary Terrestrial Mental Channel" for great and evolved extraterrestrial Intelligence. United Kingdom

• Elizabeth Klarer, (1910–1984), South African contactee and UFO photographer. United Kingdom

• Nick Pope, Former head of the UFO desk, Ministry of Defence; author of Operation Thunder Child. UK

• Jenny Randles, (b. 1951), British author and former director of investigations with the British UFO Research Association (BUFORA). United Kingdom

• Brinsley Le Poer Trench, (1911–1995), UFOlogist and a firm believer in flying saucers, and in particular, the Hollow Earth theory. United Kingdom

• Colin Wilson, (1931–2013), English philosopher and author of Alien Dawn (1999). United Kingdom

Influential Paranormal Psychologists

• William Seabrook

• Joseph Banks Rhine

• George Estabrooks

• Rufus Osgood Mason

• Karlis Osis

• Peter Hurkos

• Frederick Bligh Bond

• Sir William Crookes

• Harry Price

• Montague Summers