Chris Walas
Biography
Chris Walas is an American film director, special effects expert, and make-up artist. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. Walas rose to fame in the 1980s, with effects for films such as "Airplane!" (1980), "Dragonslayer" (1981), and "Return of the Jedi" (1983). In the film "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981), Walas created the effects for a scene where the Nazi villains' faces melt from the intense heat generated by the Ark of the Covenant. In 1984, Walas was credited for the design of the gremlins in the film "Gremlins", a film that grossed 153.1 million dollars at the box office. After creating the creature effects for "The Fly" (1986), Walas was invited to direct the sequel film "The Fly II" (1989), His directing debut earned about 39 million dollars at the worldwide box office. His only other credit as a film director was the horror comedy "The Vagrant" (1992), depicting a man who believes himself stalked by a stranger. The film received a limited release in 8 movie theaters. In the 1990s, Walas film credits for effects and make-up included such films as the black comedy "Arachnophobia" (1990), the science fiction film "Naked Lunch" (1991), the virtual reality-themed science fiction film "Virtuosity" (1995), and the erotic thriller "Jade" (1995). None of them was particularly successful. Walas' special effects were less in demand in the 2000s. His last film credit to date was creating the angels for the horror film "Dark Heaven" (2002). - IMDb Mini Biography By: Dimos I
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (35)
Gremlins: A Puppet Story
as Narrator
2020
Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters
as Self
2019
It's Getting Weirder! The Making of "House II"
2017
Journey to the Forbidden Valley
Writer (Writing)
2017
Long Live the King
as himself
2016
Charlie Gemora: Uncredited
as Himself
2016
Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex
as Self
2015
From Gizmo to Gremlins: Creating the Creatures
as Self
2014
The Scanners Way: Creating the Special Effects in 'Scanners'
as Himself
2014
Elf-Man
Co-Producer (Production)
2012
Bear
Co-Producer (Production)
2010
Fear of the Flesh: The Making of The Fly
as Self
2005
The Brundle Museum of Natural History
as Self
2005
The Fly Papers: The Buzz on Hollywood's Scariest Insect
as Self
2000
Jade
Makeup Effects Designer (Costume & Make-Up)
1995
Virtuosity
Special Effects Makeup Artist (Costume & Make-Up)
1995
The Vagrant
Director (Directing)
1992
Naked Lunch
Creature Design (Visual Effects)
1991
Curse III: Blood Sacrifice
Creature Design (Visual Effects)
1991
Arachnophobia
Creature Effects Technical Director (Visual Effects)
1990
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Creature Design (Visual Effects)
1990
The Fly II
Director (Directing)
1989
DeepStar Six
as (uncredited)
1989
House II: The Second Story
Creature Effects Technical Director (Visual Effects)
1987
The Fly
Creature Design (Visual Effects)
1986
Enemy Mine
Creature Design (Visual Effects)
1985
Gremlins
Creature Design (Visual Effects)
1984
Return of the Jedi
Creature Design (Visual Effects)
1983
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Special Effects Makeup Artist (Costume & Make-Up)
1981
Scanners
Special Effects Makeup Artist (Costume & Make-Up)
1981
Humanoids from the Deep
Special Effects (Crew)
1980
Starstruck
Creature Design (Visual Effects)
1979
Up from the Depths
Special Effects (Crew)
1979
Island of the Fishmen
Special Effects Makeup Artist (Costume & Make-Up)
1979
Piranha
Special Props (Art)
1978
