thoseYodaGuys.com
THE PEOPLE BEHIND YODA
Nick was 21 when he joined the creature effects team for EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Unlike the other trainees on that team, Bob Keen and David Barclay, Nick quickly established himself as Stu Freeborn’s “padawan”.
Nick Maley recalls, “Whilst Bob, David, Graham Freeborn and myself were busy completing the Wampa, Tauntauns, Ugnauts, Mynocks and more, Nick (Dudman) was attached to Stu, working directly in Stu’s workroom on the prototype Yoda. I remember him constructing the fancy perspex hand control for that puppet.
Nick was a very focused and driven individual. It was clear from the start that he had the determination to distinguish himself as a leader in the field of Special Make-up and Creature Effects. He was a force to be reckoned with from the very beginning and would have risen to the top, whoever he competed with. He attached himself to Stu like a limpet, soaking up anything and everything that he could learn and later, on RETURN OF THE JEDI, when I moved on to design the creatures for KRULL, Nick very quickly and capably filled my shoes on Stu’s team, doing the prosthetic make-ups for both the Emperor and Bib Fortuna.”
After working with Stu for four years, Nick was asked to head up the English makeup laboratory for Ridley Scott's LEGEND. He produced makeups and prosthetics for MONA LISA, LABYRINTH, WILLOW, INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, BATMAN, ALIEN 3, INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE and more.
In 1995, Nick returned to animatronics and large-scale creature effects when he headed the 55-man creature crew for the THE FITH ELEMENT. As a result he won a BAFTA Award for Visual Effects. It was this film and the HARRY POTTER movies, (which brought him another four BAFTA Award nominations), that established him as a true leader in the field of British creature effects and lead to Lucusfilm appointing him to take over Stu Freeborn’s role as Head of Creature Effects on STAR WARS Episode 1 - THE PHANTOM MENACE.
Nick’s subsequent credits include THE MUMMY, THE MUMMY RETURNS, CHILDREN OF MEN and costume effects for BATMAN BEGINS. In 2007, he was awarded a special achievement Genie by the Canadian Academy for Make-up on BEOWULF AND GRENDEL.
Nick Dudman
*NOTE: THIS SITE IS IN NOT CONNECTED TO LUCASFILM OR GEORGE LUCAS who own all rights to Yoda and the creatures from Star Wars. The use of the string "yoda" in our domain name and the presentation of images from the saga are courtesy of their generosity in allowing us to do so. Our use of the name YodaGuy is NOT intended to imply that Nick was the only "guy" who worked to produce Yoda. Several people were involved in making four versions of Yoda for ESB and more again for versions in ROTJ, PTM and AOTC. (Read making Yoda for more info). "YodaGuy" is intended to imply ONLY that Nick Maley is a guy who was involved. Yoda and all creatures for the classic Star Wars trilogy were masterminded by Stuart Freeborn who Nick worked with periodically over a 7 year period. The initial drawing: Ralph McQuarrie. Other people involved include Wendy Midner, Graham Freeborn, Ron Hone, Bob Keen and Nick Dudman.
all ART images are © copyright Nick Maley ~ text © copyright Yoda Guy Movie Museum Foundation. All Rights Reserved. | HOME | CONTACT
The info is written from memory. It’s been 30 years and there are undoubtedly some corrections needed and more contributors that we not aware of, especially from TPM. If you have further fist hand knowledge, PLEASE email it to us with details of your connection to our favorite little green guy.
