American actor
Tom Woodruff Jr.
Woodruff Jr. in 2018
Born (1959-01-21 ) January 21, 1959 (age 66) Alma mater Lycoming College Occupations Years active 1984–present Spouse
Children 3
Tom Woodruff Jr. (born January 21, 1959) is an American actor, director, producer and special effects supervisor . He won an Academy Award for Best Special Effects for his work on the 1992 dark fantasy film Death Becomes Her Alien 3
Some of his most notable works include: Starship Troopers Cast Away It Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom [ 1]
Early life
Woodruff was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on January 21, 1959. He grew up in nearby Loyalsock Township, Pennsylvania and attended Loyalsock Township High School and graduated in 1977. Upon graduating high school, he enrolled at Lycoming College in Pennsylvania where he earned a dual degree in business administration and theater.[ 2] greasepaint at the back of a local pharmacy - such as using art class to create masks based on Planet of the Apes plaster bandages.[ 3]
Career
After graduating college, Woodruff moved to Los Angeles with his wife in 1982, pursuing his dream of working with special effects.[ 2] Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn Star Trek III: The Search for Spock [ 4] Tom Burman bringing Woodruff along to The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension The Terminator special effects supervisor ,[ 5] Stan Winston Studios , working with the effects crew on the 1986 films The Vindicator Aliens [ 6] [ 7] Gill-man in the 1987 comedy-action film The Monster Squad Pumpkinhead Alien .
In 1988, as Stan Winston prepared to direct A Gnome Named Gnorm Amalgamated Dynamics in Chatsworth, Los Angeles . The company soon became highly requested in Hollywood, with movies such as Alien 3 , Death Becomes Her Academy Award for Best Visual Effects , won by the latter), Demolition Man , Wolf Starship Troopers [ 8] Alien vs. Predator [ 4] Grown Ups 2 Ender's Game Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Harbinger Down Unnatural It Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Godzilla: King of the Monsters [ 9]
In 1993 his alma mater Lycoming College awarded Woodruff the Dr. James E. Douthat Outstanding Achievement Award for alumni.
In early 2017 Woodruff and his company Amalgamated Dynamics announced they would be creating and designing the cosmetics for Pennywise in the Andy Muschietti directed horror film It [ 10] Bill Skarsgård portraying Pennywise to be able to speak clearly and smile in a way needed for the film. His contributions in this area were recognized by Muschietti after the film's release when he said "... without all the hard work from Tom, Alec and all the guys Pennywise wouldn't have had such a big impact on the audience that it did.[ 11]
Woodruff and his team received praise for their work on It. They were nominated for Best Makeup by Hawaii Film Critics Society and again at the 44th Saturn Awards .[ 12] [ 13]
Woodruff and Amalgamated Dynamics were the designers and builders of the life like dinosaurs in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom [ 14]
In 2019 Woodruff served as the lead creature character designer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters executive producer for the short film Playtime which was released on March 9, 2019.[ 15] The Mortuary Collection Godzilla vs. Kong [ 16] Guest House Severed Road . Woodruff is also the executive producer in the upcoming science fiction film Wellwood [ 17] [ 18] Smile Prey [ 3]
Personal life
In 1983 Woodruff married fellow Loyalsock and Lycoming grad Tami Spitler.[ 19] commencement speech at his alma mater Lycoming College .[ 20] Pennsylvania , settling back in their home-town of Loyalsock Township .[ 4] [ 21]
Filmography
Film
Television
Awards and nominations
See also
References
^ "With horror industry heavy hitters already in place from the 1970s, the 1980s built upon that with the rise of brilliant minds in makeup and effects artists, as well as advances in technology" . Bloody-Discusting.com . March 6, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018 .^ a b Rashid, Jerry. "A special homecoming" (PDF) . Lycoming magazine . No. Spring 2011. Lycoming College . p. 14. ^ a b Tom Woodruff, Jr. - Creature Effects Designer & Monster Suit Performer ^ a b c Mussina, Mark (December 5, 2019). "After almost 40 years, Academy Award winner returns to Williamsport's CTL" . NorthcentralPA.com . Retrieved June 24, 2020 . ^ Tom Woodruff Jr. , Stampede Entertainment^ "One of Tom Woodruff Jr.'s most abiding memories of playing an alien in the Alien movies" . Vanity Fair . Retrieved March 9, 2018 .^ "The Worst Parts of Playing the Xenomorph in Alien" . CinemaBlend.com . May 19, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2018 .^ VFX Artists Tom Woodruff & Alec Gillis Of StudioADI Celebrate 30 Years ^ "Tom Woodruff Jr working on Monsters FX Inbound" . May 23, 2017.^ Zelig, Leonard (January 17, 2018). "Interview with Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr. of Studio ADI" . The Fincher Analyst . Retrieved June 24, 2020 . ^ "Practical-ly Perfect: Pennywise, Past and Present with Alec Gillis, Tom Woodruff Jr., and Bart Mixon" . Daily Dead . October 17, 2017. Retrieved June 24, 2020 .^ Hammond, Pete (June 28, 2018). " . Deadline . Retrieved June 24, 2020 . ^ Ryan, Jackson. "The Last Jedi, Black Panther win big at the 44th Saturn Awards" . CNET . Retrieved June 24, 2020 . ^ Failes, Ian (July 9, 2018). "The Unexpected Techniques 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' Used to Create Super-Realistic FX" . Thrillist . Retrieved June 24, 2020 . ^ Playtime , retrieved June 24, 2020 ^ "Godzilla Vs Kong: Release Date, Cast, Trailer, Plot And Every Detail At One Place" . Auto Freak . June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020 .^ N'Duka, Amanda (January 30, 2018). " . Deadline . Retrieved June 24, 2020 . ^ "StudioADI Providing Extraterrestrial FX to Sci-Fi Film Wellwood" . Dread Central . February 5, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2020 .^ "Award-winning Hollywood special effects creator to speak at Lycoming College" . Lycoming College . Retrieved June 24, 2020 .^ "Academy Award winner to deliver Lycoming College commencement address" . Lycoming College . Retrieved June 24, 2020 .^ "David T. Woodruff's bio at IMDb.com" . IMDb ^ Gilchrist, Todd (January 27, 2023). "Jordan Peele's 'Nope,' Ti West's 'Pearl' Lead Fangoria's Chainsaw Award Nominations" . Variety . Retrieved May 23, 2023 .
External links
1963–1980
Emil Kosa Jr. – Cleopatra Peter Ellenshaw , Eustace Lycett , and Hamilton Luske – Mary Poppins John Stears – Thunderball Art Cruickshank – Fantastic Voyage L. B. Abbott – Doctor Dolittle Stanley Kubrick – 2001: A Space Odyssey Robbie Robertson – Marooned A. D. Flowers and L. B. Abbott – Tora! Tora! Tora! Alan Maley , Eustace Lycett , and Danny Lee – Bedknobs and Broomsticks L. B. Abbott and A. D. Flowers – The Poseidon Adventure Frank Brendel , Glen Robinson , and Albert Whitlock – Earthquake Albert Whitlock and Glen Robinson – The Hindenburg Carlo Rambaldi , Glen Robinson , and Frank Van der Veer – King Kong John Stears , John Dykstra , Richard Edlund , Grant McCune , and Robert Blalack – Star Wars Les Bowie , Colin Chilvers , Denys Coop , Roy Field , Derek Meddings , and Zoran Perisic – Superman H. R. Giger , Carlo Rambaldi , Brian Johnson , Nick Allder , and Dennis Ayling – Alien Brian Johnson , Richard Edlund , Dennis Muren , and Bruce Nicholson – The Empire Strikes Back 1981–2000
Richard Edlund , Kit West , Bruce Nicholson , and Joe Johnston – Raiders of the Lost Ark Carlo Rambaldi , Dennis Muren , and Kenneth F. Smith – E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Richard Edlund , Dennis Muren , Ken Ralston , and Phil Tippett – Return of the Jedi Dennis Muren , Michael J. McAlister , Lorne Peterson , and George Gibbs – Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Ken Ralston , Ralph McQuarrie , Scott Farrar , and David Berry – Cocoon Robert Skotak , Stan Winston , John Richardson , and Suzanne M. Benson – Aliens Dennis Muren , Bill George , Harley Jessup , and Kenneth F. Smith - Innerspace Ken Ralston , Richard Williams , Edward Jones , and George Gibbs – Who Framed Roger Rabbit John Bruno , Dennis Muren , Hoyt Yeatman , and Dennis Skotak – The Abyss Eric Brevig , Rob Bottin , Tim McGovern , and Alex Funke – Total Recall Dennis Muren , Stan Winston , Gene Warren Jr. , and Robert Skotak – Terminator 2: Judgment Day Ken Ralston , Doug Chiang , Douglas Smythe , and Tom Woodruff Jr. – Death Becomes Her Dennis Muren , Stan Winston , Phil Tippett , and Michael Lantieri – Jurassic Park Ken Ralston , George Murphy , Stephen Rosenbaum , and Allen Hall – Forrest Gump Scott E. Anderson , Charles Gibson , Neal Scanlan , and John Cox – Babe Volker Engel , Douglas Smith , Clay Pinney , and Joe Viskocil – Independence Day Robert Legato , Mark Lasoff , Thomas L. Fisher , and Michael Kanfer – Titanic Joel Hynek , Nicholas Brooks , Stuart Robertson , and Kevin Mack – What Dreams May Come John Gaeta , Janek Sirrs , Steve Courtley , and Jon Thum – The Matrix John Nelson , Neil Corbould , Tim Burke , and Rob Harvey – Gladiator 2001–2020
Jim Rygiel , Randall William Cook , Richard Taylor , and Mark Stetson – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Jim Rygiel , Joe Letteri , Randall William Cook , and Alex Funke – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Jim Rygiel , Joe Letteri , Randall William Cook , and Alex Funke – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King John Dykstra , Scott Stokdyk , Anthony LaMolinara , and John Frazier – Spider-Man 2 Joe Letteri , Brian Van't Hul , Christian Rivers , and Richard Taylor – King Kong John Knoll , Hal Hickel , Charles Gibson , and Allen Hall – Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Michael L. Fink , Bill Westenhofer , Ben Morris , and Trevor Wood – The Golden Compass Eric Barba , Steve Preeg , Burt Dalton , and Craig Barron – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Joe Letteri , Stephen Rosenbaum , Richard Baneham , and Andrew R. Jones – Avatar Paul Franklin , Chris Corbould , Andrew Lockley , and Peter Bebb – Inception Robert Legato , Joss Williams , Ben Grossmann , and Alex Henning – Hugo Bill Westenhofer , Guillaume Rocheron , Erik-Jan de Boer , and Donald R. Elliott – Life of Pi Tim Webber , Chris Lawrence , Dave Shirk , and Neil Corbould – Gravity Paul Franklin , Andrew Lockley , Ian Hunter , and Scott R. Fisher – Interstellar Mark Williams Ardington , Sara Bennett , Paul Norris , and Andrew Whitehurst – Ex Machina Robert Legato , Adam Valdez , Andrew R. Jones , and Dan Lemmon – The Jungle Book John Nelson , Gerd Nefzer , Paul Lambert , and Richard R. Hoover – Blade Runner 2049 Paul Lambert , Ian Hunter , Tristan Myles , and J. D. Schwalm – First Man Guillaume Rocheron , Greg Butler , and Dominic Tuohy – 1917 Andrew Jackson , David Lee , Andrew Lockley , and Scott R. Fisher – Tenet 2021–present
International National People Other
