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Alec Gillis

Acting

Born August 29, 1959 · New York City, New York, USA

Also known as Alec 'Prop' Gillis · Alec Dougal Gillis

Biography

Alec Dougal Gillis is an Academy Award-winning American special effects artist and actor who served as part of the creature effects crew on the 1986 film Aliens, the 1992 film Alien3, the 1997 film Alien Resurrection, the 2004 film Alien vs. Predator, the 2007 film Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem and the 2018 film The Predator. He also appeared in a cameo as an unnamed technician in Alien vs. Predator, although he was not credited for the role. In 1988, Gillis co-founded Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc. (ADI) with Tom Woodruff, Jr., and the company has since provided creature effects for Alien3, Alien Resurrection, Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. Gillis's work has won an Academy Award for Visual Effects (for Death Becomes Her, although he was not listed on the official nomination) and a BAFTA. For his work on Alien3, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Visual Effects, a BAFTA and a Saturn Award.

Awards & recognition

  • Academy AwardBest Visual Effects · 1998 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Visual Effects · 1993 · nominated

Filmography38 titles

Aliens

1986as Alien (uncredited)

Predator: Badlands

2025Creature Design, Special Effects Supervisor

Prey

2022as Predator Puppeteer (ADI)

Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters

2019as Self

The Movies That Made Us

2019as Self

Spider-Man

2002Makeup Designer

Alien: Romulus

2024Special Effects Supervisor

It

2017Makeup Effects Designer

Creature Designers - The Frankenstein Complex

2015as Self

Jumanji

1995Makeup Designer

Starship Troopers

1997Creature Effects Technical Director

The X Files

1998Makeup Effects

Tremors

1990Creature Design

It: Chapter Two

2019Makeup Designer

Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film

2019as Self

Panic Room

2002Makeup Effects, Special Effects Makeup Artist

Smile

2022Special Effects Makeup Artist

The Monster Squad

1987Special Effects Makeup Artist

Smile 2

2024Makeup Effects Designer

The Santa Clause

1994Animatronics Designer, Special Effects Key Makeup Artist

Skin Wars

as Self - Guest Judge

Oats Studios

2017as Militia #1 / Bill

San Andreas

2015Makeup Effects

Alien: Resurrection

1997as Hero Alien Warrior (uncredited)

Stay Tuned

1992Makeup Effects Designer

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter

1984Special Effects Makeup Artist

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

2013Special Effects Makeup Artist

The Santa Clause 2

2002Makeup Effects Designer

The 6th Day

2000Makeup Effects

Hollow Man

2000Makeup Designer

Leviathan

1989Creature Design

Alien vs. Predator

2004as Technician (uncredited)

Galaxy of Terror

1981Prosthetics

Wellwood

2025Executive Producer

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2

2015Special Effects Makeup Artist

Astronaut: The Last Push

2012as Charlie

Skyline

2010Creature Design

Harbinger Down

2015Director, Writer