Bert I. Gordonwho was given the nickname “MR. GREAT” by Famous Filmland Monsters editor-in-chief Forrest J. Ackerman, not just because it matched his initials, but also because it matched the director’s favorite subject on the big screen — giant monsters — passed away today. He was 100 years old. His daughter Patricia Gordon confirmed the filmmaker’s death to the New York Times.

Gordon often produced, directed, wrote and created the special effects for his films, which were shot on ultra-low budgets over the course of a few weeks. According the temperature his first film, 1955 dinosaur kingwas shot with four actors over seven days for around $15,000.

In addition to monsters, Gordon’s films featured screen legends picking up a few days of work. They included Orson Welles, Basil Rathbone, Ida Lupino, Lon Chaney, Don Amiche, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Peter Graves.

But the monsters were the real stars. His two dozen films include a Cyclops, dinosaurs, massive mealworms, oversized rats, huge spiders and grasshoppers, dragons, and – perhaps most frighteningly – giant teenagers.

Among Gordon’s best-known works are The Cyclops (1957), Giants’ Village (1965), Necromancy (1972), The Food of the Gods (1976) and ant empire (1977).

Many of his films have been distributed by US International Photoswhich often paired Gordon’s films with another scary project for a double feature.