Draft:Michael C. McCormick

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Michael Carl McCormick (born: June 18th 1940) Nationality: American Occupation: Special Effects Artist, Sculptor, Puppeteer, Designer, FX Makeup Artist.

Michael McCormick with his Punch and Judy puppets

Biography

Mike McCormick (also credited as Michael McCormick) is a puppeteer and sculptor known for his work on The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth at the Creature Shop. With a career spanning five decades, McCormick is recognized for his contributions to design, fabrication, and performance in special effects, including makeup, creature creation, puppetry, and special props. His work spans across films, television series, commercials, and theater productions.

Career

McCormick began his career as a sculptor and puppeteer in 1960, working on several notable films and television productions, including Return of the Jedi, Labyrinth, and The Dark Crystal. He contributed to both the design and performance aspects of these projects.

Filmography

"High Desert Kill" (1989) – Alien Creature Design, Build, and Performance

"White Sands" (1991) – Special Effects Makeup for "Beast Museum"

"Unsolved Mysteries" (1993) – FX Makeup and Performance

"Two of a Kind" (1993) – Puppet Construction, Performance, and Special Effects

"Dragon Riders of Pern" (1999) – Model Construction and Design

"Maniacs" (2001) – FX Makeup and Special Effects

"Unspeakable" (2002) – Special Effects

"People Versus the State of Illusion" (2012) – Lead Performance

Other Notable Works

"The Dark Crystal" (1979-1981) – McCormick was a member of the Skeksis fabrication unit on The Dark Crystal. His role expanded on Labyrinth, where he served as the goblin armor designer and contributed to the fabrication of both riding and walking goblin characters.

"Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi" (1981) – McCormick contributed to the design and creation of the character Salacious Crumb, a puppet featured in Jabba the Hutt’s court. His work was part of the broader use of puppetry and practical effects that characterized the film’s visual style.

"Labyrinth" (1983-1985) – McCormick contributed to the feasibility study for the character Ludo, designed and constructed all the goblin armor, and worked on the detailing of David Bowie's costumes, providing design and fabrication support.

McCormick's credits include serving as a puppeteer on Return of the Jedi, where he was among the original puppeteers and sculptors for characters such as Salacious Crumb, Sy Snootles, and Ephant Mon. He was also responsible for makeup effects on the 1992 feature White Sands, and performed puppetry for the 2000 short film The Phoenix.

In addition to his work on The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and Return of the Jedi, McCormick has worked on a range of other projects, including television commercials, independent films, and stage productions.

Theater and Teaching

McCormick has co-authored and directed productions like "Museum Piece" (1992) in Taos, New Mexico. He designed and built a "large-scale Audrey 2" puppet for the Albuquerque Civic Light Opera’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. Between 2002 and 2003, he contributed to the development of a 'Ghost Train Ride' at the National Wax Museum in Dublin, Ireland, where he also performed daily puppet shows.

McCormick has taught at several institutions, including the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Haystack Mountain School of Arts and Crafts in Maine. He has also conducted workshops in mask-making and puppetry in Dublin, Ireland, and taught foundry methods and design at the University of New Mexico, University of Arizona, and California College of the Arts.

McCormick taught puppetry for film and TV at the Creative Media Institute of New Mexico State University (Las Cruces) until 2008.

Awards and Recognition

McCormick received a Regional Emmy nomination for his work on Serving of Punch (1987/1988), a 30-minute independent production aired on PBS. He won a New Mexico Music Industry Award for Best Score written for Television. He is recognized for his work in the film and entertainment industry, particularly in the field of special effects.

Professional Memberships

Screen Actors Guild (SAG)

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)

Personal Life

McCormick currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and along with his son, performs a Punch and Judy.

External Links

Dark Crystal at IMDb
Return of the Jedi at IMDb
Labyrinth at IMDb
Michael McCormick at IMDb