Chris Walas is a renowned American film director, special effects expert, and make-up artist, hailing from the vibrant city of Chicago, Illinois.
Throughout the 1980s, Walas' exceptional skills in special effects catapulted him to fame, with his work featured in iconic films such as "Airplane!" (1980),"Dragonslayer" (1981),and "Return of the Jedi" (1983). His impressive portfolio also includes the unforgettable scene in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981),where the Nazi villains' faces melt due to the intense heat generated by the Ark of the Covenant.
In 1984, Walas was credited with designing the iconic gremlins in the film "Gremlins", which grossed an astonishing 153.1 million dollars at the box office. His work on "The Fly" (1986) earned him the opportunity to direct the sequel, "The Fly II" (1989),marking his directorial debut and garnering approximately 39 million dollars worldwide.
Walas' subsequent directing credits include the horror comedy "The Vagrant" (1992),which received a limited release in 8 movie theaters. In the 1990s, his film credits for effects and make-up included 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). Although none of these films achieved significant commercial success, Walas' work remained a testament to his skill and dedication.
In the 2000s, Walas' special effects expertise was less in demand, and his last film credit to date was creating the angels for the horror film "Dark Heaven" (2002).
