Ken was born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1958, and his life took a dramatic turn when he was adopted along with his brother Cleve Hall within a year of each other. Growing up in Jacksonville, Ken's love for film was nurtured by his mother, who would take him and his brother to the movies at a very young age.
As a toddler, Ken was exposed to a wide range of films, from romantic comedies to James Bond thrillers, and even musicals and horror movies. However, it was the sci-fi and horror genres that truly captivated him, and he began to develop a passion for creating his own special effects and creature suits.
Ken's fascination with filmmaking led him to attend horror and sci-fi conventions, where he met his idols and even won costume contests. It was at one of these conventions that he met Rick Baker, a young and aspiring effects artist who encouraged Ken to pursue his dreams.
In 1982, Ken made the bold decision to move to California to pursue a career in writing and directing. He was inspired by the works of classic filmmakers such as Roger Corman, Michael McCarty, Herschell Gordon Lewis, and Russ Meyer, among others.
Ken's early screenwriting credits included The Tomb (1986),produced by Fred Olen Ray, and a string of films for Charles Band's companies, including Dr. Alien (1988) and Test Tube Teens from the Year 2000 (1994).
However, it was his breakthrough film, Puppet Master (1989),that truly launched his career. He went on to write and direct a number of films, including Ghost Writer (1989) and The Clown at Midnight (1998),starring Christopher Plummer and Margot Kidder.
In addition to his work as a writer and director, Ken also established himself as a skilled makeup and effects artist, and special effects creature and costume fabricator. He is one of a small handful of experts in the field of foam fabrication, a technique that combines pattern making and sculpting.
Some of Ken's most notable creations include the title character of Roger Corman's Carnosaur (1993) and its sequels, as well as the famous octopus prop used in Ed Wood (1994).
In 1995, Ken founded Total Fabrication, Inc., a well-respected effects house that has served the film, television, and theme park industries across the United States. Through Total Fabrication, he has created a wide range of characters and creatures, including the villain costumes for Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997) and the muscle suits for Rob Botin's lounge lizards in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998).
After eight years of working on creatures, video game characters, and food costumes, Ken is now ready to return to film-making with his indie production company, BV Entertainment, Inc. in North Hollywood, California. His latest script, "The Halfway House", is currently in pre-production, and Ken plans to remain a force to be reckoned with in the film industry for many years to come.
