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Chris Walas

Chris Walas

Known For Visual Effects
Birthday Sep 17, 1955 (69)
Birthplace Chicago, Illinois, USA
Popularity 0.2 (history)
Updated Aug 09, 2025 (Update)
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
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

Known For

Filmography

Gremlins: A Puppet Story

Gremlins: A Puppet Story

2020

as Narrator

DeepStar Six

DeepStar Six

1989

as (uncredited)

Journey to the Forbidden Valley

Journey to the Forbidden Valley

2018

Writer, Special Effects

Virtuosity

Virtuosity

1995

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Jade

Jade

1995

Makeup Effects Designer

Witchcraft

Witchcraft

1991

Creature Design

Naked Lunch

Naked Lunch

1991

Creature Design

Gremlins 2: The New Batch

Gremlins 2: The New Batch

1990

Creature Design

Arachnophobia

Arachnophobia

1990

Creature Effects Technical Director

DeepStar Six

DeepStar Six

1989

Creature Effects Technical Director

The Fly II

The Fly II

1989

Effects Supervisor

House II: The Second Story

House II: The Second Story

1987

Creature Effects Technical Director

The Fly

The Fly

1986

Creature Design

Enemy Mine

Enemy Mine

1985

Special Effects Makeup Artist, Creature Design

Gremlins

Gremlins

1984

Creature Design

Return of the Jedi

Return of the Jedi

1983

Creature Design

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Raiders of the Lost Ark

1981

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Scanners

Scanners

1981

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Humanoids from the Deep

Humanoids from the Deep

1980

Special Effects

Starstruck

Starstruck

1979

Creature Design

Up from the Depths

Up from the Depths

1979

Special Effects

Piranha

Piranha

1978

Special Props

Gremlins: A Puppet Story

Gremlins: A Puppet Story

2020

Director

The Vagrant

The Vagrant

1992

Director

The Fly II

The Fly II

1989

Director

Elf-Man

Elf-Man

2012

Co-Producer

Bear

Bear

2010

Co-Producer

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

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No data available

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Year Month Avg Max Min
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2024 12 2 4 1
2025 1 3 6 1
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2025 5 1 1 1
2025 7 0 0 0
2025 8 1 4 0

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