Tom Woodruff, Jr., AVP

Academy Award-winning special effects artist, Tom Woodruff, Jr. has created some of the most memorable effects ever seen on the big screen. Together with his partner, Alec Gillis, they are responsible for making Meryl Streep's head turn backwards in Death Becomes Her; fabricating Tim Allen's plump belly in The Santa Clause; creating the enormous bugs in Starship Troopers; fashioning John Travolta's giant angel wings in Michael; designing and modifying the changing looks of the alien in the last four Alien movie installments including the much anticipated, AVP (Alien Vs. Predator). Together, Woodruff and Gillis have also authored the upcoming book, AVP: The Creature Effects of ADI which provides an inside look at all of the effects used in the movie.

Born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Woodruff developed an early interest in horror films as a result of watching countless late-night broadcasts of the now classic Universal monster movies and the stop-motion effects of Ray Harryhausen. After seeing one of the Planet Of The Apes films in a theater, he focused his attention on the craft of make-up and special effects. At 13, he got his hands on his father's 8mm home movie camera and has been creating his own special effects laden films ever since.

Woodruff finally made the move to Los Angeles in 1982. After a year of working with small make-up effects houses, he joined the renowned Stan Winston to work on Terminator. That was the beginning of a five-year period during which Woodruff became a key coordinator under Winston, with the opportunity to work on such features as Aliens and Predator as well as TV shows such as Amazing Stories . During this time, Woodruff began wearing the complicated costumes and make-ups of the creatures designed at the studio. His physical build and tolerance, as well as his ability to perform as an actor, led to his portrayal of the title characters in such movies as Monster Squad and Pumpkinhead.

In 1988, Woodruff teamed up with another of Winston's character designer, Alec Gillis, to form AMALGAMATED DYNAMICS, INC. (ADI) The company, which is dedicated to the highest standards of quality in animatronics and special make-up, quickly became known as one of the major character effects studios in the business.   Their work gathered numerous accolades and awards including the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for the Meryl Streep/Goldie Hawn feature Death Becomes Her . They have also earned an Oscar nomination for Starship Troopers.

Other feature films Woodruff has worked on include Scary Movie 3, Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2, Looney Tunes Back in Action, The Santa Clause 2, Panic Room, Evolution, Bedazzled, The Nutty Professor 2, Cast Away, Wonder Boys, The X-Files (feature), Mortal Kombat, The Grifters and Tremors .

His television credits include creating an animatronic gorilla that was used in the series Chicago Hope, Seven Days and Beyond Belief .  He also designed an animatronic deer for the television movie, The Yearling , fashioned numerous prosthetic body parts and make-up for Tales from the Crypt and Monsters and produced the animatronic lead character for the series What a Dummy .

Not content only to create the visual image, Woodruff continues to be personally involved in the performances of the characters as well.  He has acted in a variety of creature and animal rolls. Woodruff actually wears the complicated costumes, while Gillis works a complex panel of controls. The twosome has worked together to create natural and realistic performances in such feature films as The Hollow Man, Alien Resurrection, Alien 3, AVP, Jumanji, The X-Files feature and more.

Woodruff joined the Directors Guild in 1998, directing a number of segments for the Dick Clark television series, Beyond Belief.  

In between effect-oriented productions, Woodruff continues to write and develop projects with Gillis using ADI as an umbrella under which their own film productions can eventually grow.  

Woodruff currently resides in Los Angeles, with his wife Tami and their three teenage sons. In his spare time, he tinkers on his handmade replica of the Batmobile.