N. Brock Winkless IV (October 12, 1959 – July 18, 2015)N. Brock Winkless IV
/ref> was an American

puppeteer A puppeteer is a person who manipulates an inanimate object called a puppet to create the illusion that the puppet is alive. The puppet is often shaped like a human, animal, or legendary creature. The puppeteer may be visible to or hidden from the ...

and

visual effects Visual effects (sometimes abbreviated as VFX) is the process by which imagery is created or manipulated outside the context of a live-action shot in filmmaking and video production. The integration of live-action footage and other live-action fo ...

technician. He was the puppeteer of Chucky in the 1988 horror film, '' Child's Play'', and its first three sequels, as well as the puppeteer of the Crypt Keeper in several episodes of the

HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based a ...

television series A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming plat ...

, '' Tales from the Crypt''.

Career

He was known for his attention to detail on his puppets and other creations. ''Make-Up Artist Magazine'' noted that Winkless "was one of the few people who understood and excelled at lipsyncing a puppet's mouth and jaw movements, which made him invaluable for projects such as the Child's Play series, as well as the Crypt Keeper character from the Tales from the Crypt television show." Winkless frequently collaborated with

Kevin Yagher Kevin Yagher (born June 23, 1962) is an American special effects technician, known for Freddy Krueger's makeup and The Crypt Keeper creature. Career His company, Kevin Yagher Productions, has created effects for '' A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: ...

, a

film director A film director or filmmaker is a person who controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfillment of that Goal, vision. The director has a key role ...

and

make-up artist A make-up artist, also called a makeup artist, and often shortened to MUA, is an artist whose medium is the human body, applying makeup and Prosthetic makeup, prosthetics on others for theatre, television, film, fashion, magazines and other simil ...

, including the ''Child's Play'' series, the Crypt Keeper, and '' Honey, I Blew Up the Kid''. Winkless also partnered with Stan Winston Studio, AnimatedFX Inc., which is owned by Dave Nelson and Norman Tempia, and

Rick Baker Richard Alan "Rick" Baker (born December 8, 1950) is a retired American special make-up effects creator and actor. He is mostly known for his creature designs and effects. Baker has won the Academy Award for Best Makeup a record seven times f ...

's Cinovation Studios for make-up and visual effects during his career. Winkless was best known as the lead puppeteer of Chucky, the evil, murderous doll in '' Child's Play''. He was also credited as one of Chucky's puppeteers on several sequels in the Child's Play franchise, including '' Child's Play 2'' in 1990, '' Child's Play 3'' in 1991, and ''

Bride of Chucky ''Bride of Chucky'' is a 1998 American black comedy slasher film written by Don Mancini and directed by Ronny Yu. The fourth installment in the ''Child's Play'' franchise, it stars Jennifer Tilly, Brad Dourif, John Ritter, Katherine Heigl, and ...

'' in 1998. Winkless was also the puppeteer of the Crypt Keeper in the television series, '' Tales from the Crypt'' and its related film, '' Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight'' in 1995. He also performed the

puppetry Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance that involves the manipulation of puppets – wikt:inanimate, inanimate objects, often resembling some type of human or animal figure, that are animated or manipulated by a human called a puppeteer. S ...

for The Crypt Keeper's

cameo appearance A cameo appearance, also called a cameo role and often shortened to just cameo (), is a brief guest appearance of a well-known person or character in a work of the performing arts. These roles are generally small, many of them non-speaking on ...

in 1995's '' Casper''. Aside from Chucky and The Crypt Keeper, Winkless was a puppeteer during the productions of '' Honey, I Blew Up the Kid'' in 1992, ''

Death Becomes Her ''Death Becomes Her'' is a 1992 American satirical surrealistic black comedy fantasy film directed and produced by Robert Zemeckis and written by David Koepp and Martin Donovan. The film stars Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis, a ...

'' in 1992, ''

Man's Best Friend "Man's best friend" is a common title given to both domestic dogs, referring to their multi-millennia-long history of Human-canine bond, close relations, loyalty, friendship, and companionship with humans. The first recorded use of a related ph ...

'' in 1993, '' Congo'' in 1995, ''

The X-Files ''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction on television, science fiction drama (film and television), drama television series created by Chris Carter (screenwriter), Chris Carter. The original series aired from September 10, 1993, to Ma ...

'', and '' Dr. Dolittle 2'' in 2001. Winkless was a member of the mechanical department for

James Cameron James Francis Cameron (born August 16, 1954) is a Canadian filmmaker, who resides in New Zealand. He is a major figure in the post-New Hollywood era and often uses novel technologies with a Classical Hollywood cinema, classical filmmaking styl ...

's 1991 film, '' Terminator 2: Judgment Day'', starring

Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July30, 1947) is an Austrian and American actor, businessman, former politician, and former professional bodybuilder, known for his roles in high-profile action films. Governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger, ...

. He also worked on the

visual The visual system is the physiological basis of visual perception (the ability to detect and process light). The system detects, transduces and interprets information concerning light within the visible range to construct an image and buil ...

and

special effects Special effects (often abbreviated as F/X or simply FX) are illusions or visual tricks used in the theatre, film, television, video game, amusement park and simulator industries to simulate the fictional events in a story or virtual world. ...

for ''

Meet the Applegates Meet may refer to: People with the name * Janek Meet (born 1974), Estonian footballer * Meet Mukhi (born 2005), Indian child actor Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Meet'' (TV series), an Australian television series * '' Meet: Badlegi Duniya K ...

'' in 1990, ''

Alien 3 ''Alien 3'' (stylized as ''ALIEN3'') is a 1992 American science fiction horror film directed by David Fincher and written by David Giler, Walter Hill, and Larry Ferguson, from a story by Vincent Ward. Starring Sigourney Weaver reprising her ...

'' in 1992, and '' Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest'' in 1995.

Death

Winkless died from complications of

multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease resulting in damage to myelinthe insulating covers of nerve cellsin the brain and spinal cord. As a demyelinating disease, MS disrupts the nervous system's ability to Action potential, transmit ...

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, on July 18, 2015, at the age of 55. He had suffered from a loss of muscle control due to the condition for more than 15 years.

Filmography

*''

Mac and Me ''Mac and Me'' is a 1988 American science fiction film directed by Stewart Raffill, and co-written with Steve Feke. Starring Christine Ebersole, Jonathan Ward, and Tina Caspary alongside Lauren Stanley and Jade Calegory, it centers on a "Myster ...

'' (1988) - Alien Puppeteer *'' Child's Play'' (1988) - Puppeteer of Chucky *'' Child's Play 2'' (1990) - Puppeteer of Chucky *''

'' - Creature effects *'' Terminator 2: Judgment Day'' (1991) - Mechanical department *''

And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird ''And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird'' is a 1991 American comedy film written and directed by Tony Cookson in his feature directorial debut. The film stars Marcia Strassman, Joshua Miller, Edan Gross, John Quade, Sam Behrens, and Alan ...

'' (1991) - Robot builder *''

Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey ''Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey'' is a 1991 American science fiction comedy film, and the feature directorial debut of Pete Hewitt. It is the second film in the ''Bill & Ted'' franchise, and a sequel to ''Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure'' (1989) ...

'' (1991) - Puppeteer *'' Child's Play 3'' (1991) - Puppeteer of Chucky *'' Honey, I Blew Up the Kid'' - Puppet/makeup effects artist *''

Alien³ ''Alien 3'' (stylized as ''ALIEN3'') is a 1992 American science fiction horror film directed by David Fincher and written by David Giler, Walter Hill, and Larry Ferguson, from a story by Vincent Ward. Starring Sigourney Weaver reprising her ...

'' (1992) - Alien creature effects *''

'' (1992) - Puppeteer *''

Harry and the Hendersons ''Harry and the Hendersons'' is a 1987 American fantasy comedy film directed and produced by William Dear and starring John Lithgow, Melinda Dillon, Don Ameche, David Suchet, Margaret Langrick, Joshua Rudoy, Lainie Kazan, and Kevin Peter Hal ...

'' (1993) - Puppeteer *''

'' (1993) - Puppeteer *'' Tales from the Crypt'' (1989–1995) - Puppeteer *'' Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight'' (1995) - Puppeteer *'' Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest'' (1995) - Additional special makeup effects *'' Casper'' (1995) - Puppeteer of Crypt Keeper *'' Congo'' (1995) - Puppeteer *'' Bordello of Blood'' - Puppeteer of Crypt Keeper *''

The X Files ''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction drama television series created by Chris Carter. The original series aired from September 10, 1993, to May 19, 2002, on Fox, spanning nine seasons, with 202 episodes. A tenth season of six e ...

'' (1998) - Puppeteer *''

'' (1998) - Puppeteer of Chucky *'' Dr. Dolittle 2'' (2001) - Puppeteer

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Winkless, Brock 1959 births 2015 deaths American puppeteers Neurological disease deaths in California Deaths from multiple sclerosis People with multiple sclerosis American visual effects artists