Mike Quinn (born 1964) is an English puppeteer, animator, actor, director, producer, voice-over artist, puppet builder, composer and mentor. He is also known as Mike Quinby, Michael E. Quinn, and Michael Quinn.
Early life and career
Quinn was born in
Kent, England, and grew up in
Enfield,
Middlesex. He began puppeteering at age eight.
In 1977, Mike regularly visited the set of ''
The Muppet Show'' with his homemade puppets, eventually meeting
Jim Henson. Through his visits, he learned more about puppeteering and received encouragement from Jim Henson and his co-workers.
After leaving school in 1980, Quinn joined The Jim Henson Company and worked on the 1981 film ''
The Great Muppet Caper'' puppeteering in crowd scenes and acting as a double for various main Muppet characters. Quinn later designed and built the Podlings for ''
The Dark Crystal'', where he also performed the Skeksis Slave Master SkekNa (who was voiced by
David Buck).
During the filming of ''
Return of the Jedi'', Quinn (and
David Barclay and David Greenaway) were assistant puppeteers to
Frank Oz in his performance of
Yoda. He also performed the role of
Nien Nunb in ''Return Of the Jedi''. Between the late 1980s and early 1990s, Quinn joined with fellow puppeteer
David Barclay, creating Ultimate Animates, a production company specializing in new building and performing techniques for internal and external puppet productions.
Quinn joined
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas Jr. (born May 14, 1944) is an American filmmaker. Lucas is best known for creating the ''Star Wars'' and ''Indiana Jones'' franchises and founding Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and THX. He served as chairm ...
's Industrial Light and Magic as an animator, first working on ''
Jurassic Park III'' and then ''
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones''.
He reprised his role as Nien Nunb in ''
Star Wars: The Force Awakens'',
a role that he reprised again in ''
Star Wars: The Last Jedi''
and ''
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'', and performed for the Disney theme park ride ''
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance''.
In 2018, Quinn provided the voice of the
Stan Laurel
Stan Laurel (born Arthur Stanley Jefferson; 16 June 1890 – 23 February 1965) was an English comic actor, writer, and film director who was one half of the comedy double act, duo Laurel and Hardy. He appeared with his comedy partner Oliver Ha ...
-based character Agnes Packard in the
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (often abbreviated as CN) is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., a division that also has the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, Car ...
series, ''
Mighty Magiswords'' opposing Ken Mitchroney voicing her
Oliver Hardy
Oliver Norvell Hardy (born Norvell Hardy; January 18, 1892 – August 7, 1957) was an American comic actor and one half of Laurel and Hardy, the double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted from 1926 to 1957. He appeared with his c ...
-based husband Mr. Pachydermus in the episode "Pachydermus Packard and the Camp of Fantasy".
Quinn appeared as a guest on ''
The George Lucas Talk Show'' during their ''May the AR Be LI$$ You'' ''
Arli$$'' Marathon fundraiser.
Personal life
From 1989 to 2004, Quinn was married to fellow puppeteer
Karen Prell.
Filmography
Film
Television
Event
Crew
* ''
Dreamchild'' - Puppeteer
* ''
Jurassic Park III'' - Animator
* ''
Little Shop of Horrors
Little Shop of Horrors may refer to:
* '' The Little Shop of Horrors'', a 1960 film directed by Roger Corman
** ''Little Shop of Horrors'' (musical), a 1982 musical based on the 1960 film
** ''Little Shop of Horrors'' (film), a 1986 film adaptat ...
'' - Puppeteer
* ''
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones'' - Animator
* ''
Toy Story 2'' - Animator
* ''
Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' - Puppeteer (UK)
References
External links
The Official Mike Quinn website*
Mike Quinn's mentoring and training site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quinn, Mike
British puppeteers
Living people
1964 births
People from Kent