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Portrait of Phil Tippett

Phil Tippett

Visual Effects

Biography

Phil Tippett is an American filmmaker and multi-award-winning visual effects supervisor and producer, specializing in creature design, stop-motion, and computerized character animation. Over his career, he has assisted ILM, DreamWorks, and his own company Tippet Studios, with his work appearing in movies such as the original Star Wars trilogy, Jurassic Park, and RoboCop.

Born: September 27, 1951

Place of Birth: Berkeley, California

Known For

Poster for Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi
Movie

Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi

8.5
Poster for Star Wars
Movie

Star Wars

8.2
Poster for The Making of The Empire Strikes Back
Movie

The Making of The Empire Strikes Back

8.0
Poster for Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection
Movie

Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection

8.0
Poster for Return of the Jedi
Movie

Return of the Jedi

7.9
Poster for Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy
Movie

Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy

7.7
Poster for LIGHT & MAGIC
TV

LIGHT & MAGIC

7.7
Poster for LIGHT & MAGIC
TV

LIGHT & MAGIC

7.7
Poster for LIGHT & MAGIC
TV

LIGHT & MAGIC

7.7
Poster for LIGHT & MAGIC
TV

LIGHT & MAGIC

7.7

Filmography

2025
Why Dinosaurs?

as Self

2024
Lost to Time: Unearthing the Primevals

as Self

2023
RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop

as Self

2022
Jurassic Punk

as Self

2022
LIGHT & MAGIC

as Self

2022
LIGHT & MAGIC

as Self - Creatures and Stop Motion

2022
LIGHT & MAGIC

as Self - Model Shop

2022
LIGHT & MAGIC

as Self - Creatures and Stop Motion (archive footage)

2022
Icons Unearthed: Star Wars

as Self - Miniature & Optical Effects Unit

2022
In Search of Tomorrow

as Self - Interviewee

2020
Empire at 40

as Self

2020
Star Wars : La Révolution Visuelle
2020
Making Magic: The Artistry of Karel Zeman
2019
The Movies That Made Us

as Self

2019
Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters

as Self

2019
The Creative Brain

as Self

2019
The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs

as Self

2017
Corporate Wars: The Making of 'RoboCop 2'

as Self (archive footage)

2016
Secrets of the Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey

as Self

2015
Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex

as Self

2014
The Real History of Science Fiction

as Self

2013
Worse Than the Demon

as himself

2012
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan

as Self

2011
Return to Jurassic Park

as Self

2008
RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World”

as Self

2007
Vision of a Future Passed: The Prophecy of 2001

as Self

2006
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet

as Self

2006
American Scary

as Himself

2006
The Sci-Fi Boys

as Self

2005
Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection

as Self

2004
Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy

as Self

2001
Flesh + Steel: The Making of 'RoboCop'

as Himself

1997
The Making of 'DragonHeart'

as Self

1995
The Making of 'Jurassic Park'

as Self

1988
Willow: The Making of an Adventure

as Self - Visual Effects

1983
From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga

as Self

1983
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi

as Self

1983
Return of the Jedi

as Rancor

1980
The Making of The Empire Strikes Back

as Self

1978
Piranha

as Scuba Diver (uncredited)

1977
Star Wars

as Cantina Alien (uncredited)

----
Virus: Ghost in the Machine

as Self

----
Yub-Nub! The Forgotten Ewok Adventures