His main body of work is with special effects in a wide variety of films, from
science fiction to action-adventure. His work on
The Fly won him an
Academy Award for Best Make-Up and led to his directorial debut on
The Fly II. Walas grew up a fan of monster movies and particularly the work of
Ray Harryhausen, even considering becoming a
stop motion animator. After moving to Los Angeles in his early twenties seeking any filmmaking opportunity, he got a job at Don Post Studios, a mask-making company, learning all about creation of props and prosthetics. After meeting
Phil Tippett making
Piranha, Walas was recruited by him to do effects in
Dragonslayer. At the same time Tippett joined another
Industrial Light & Magic production,
Raiders of the Lost Ark, Walas would then work in
Return of the Jedi, designing five creatures seen in
Jabba the Hutt's palace. Walas left ILM to found his own company, Chris Walas Inc. (CWI), once he was recruited by
Piranha director
Joe Dante to create the creatures from
Gremlins. CWI remained in high demand for film, television and commercials. ==Filmographies==