RENO, Nev. -- Bob Wilkins, the former host of KTVU's popular late-night horror movie program "Creature Features" during the 1970's passed away Wednesday from Alzeheimer's disease. He was 76 years old.

Wilkins came to his position as something of an icon for Bay Area horror and science fiction fans as a matter of circumstance. While working as writer and producer of television commercials at KCRA Channel 3 in Sacramento, Wilkins was approached by station management about hosting a late-night movie for the station. After helming the program on Channel 3 for four years, Wilkins went on to host both the Bob Wilkins Horror Show on Sacramento's Channel 40 from 1970-1981 and "Creature Features" on KTVU Channel 2 from 1971-1979.

Smoking his trademark cigar and making dry jokes about the questionable quality of the movies, Wilkins became a late-night horror institution in the Bay Area in large part because of his deadpan humor, quick wit and unpretentious attitude. Though he entered into the business with little knowledge about horror and science fiction -- frequently deferring to the expertise of staff and special guests on the show -- Wilkins got the opportunity to interview genre icons such as Christopher Lee and Boris Karloff.

Wilkins also served as the weather man for the Ten O'Clock News for two years in addition to spending hosting the afternoon kids show "Captain Cosmic" which featured everything from the 'Flash Gordon' serials from the 1930's to Japanese monster and animation television shows like 'Ultraman,' 'Johnny Sokko and his Giant Robot' and Star Blazers (aka 'Space Battleship Yamato').

Though he would walk away from television's demanding schedule in the early 1980's, resuming his career in marketing by opening his own advertising agency, Wilkins remained a beloved fixture of local horror and fantasy conventions.

Wilkins died January 7, 2009, of complications from Alzheimer's Disease. He passed away peacefully in a residential care facility in Reno, Nevada, surrounded by family and in the care of Circle of Life Hospice Program. He is survived by his wife Sally, his son Rob, who still resides in Oakland, his daughter and son-in-law Nancy and Tom Fitzpatrick and his five sisters Nancy George, Linda Seth, Judie Chism, Sally Blevins and Sue Dorrance.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Bob Wilkins will be held for family and friends on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at Montclair Presbyterian Church in Oakland. A fan celebration of Bob's career will be planned in the coming months with details to be posted on his official Web site, www.bobwilkins.net.