Ray Harryhausen

Ray Harryhausen, an American and British animator and special effects creator, worked for more than 40 years making stop-motion creatures for films. Born in Los Angeles, he was inspired by King Kong and learned from animator Willis O'Brien, later assisting on Mighty Joe Young and The Animal World. He took full charge of effects on The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953), where he introduced his Dynamation process, and then partnered with producer Charles H. Schneer on 12 films over 26 years. These included 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957), The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), Jason and the Argonauts (1963), and Clash of the Titans (1981), his final feature. He later voiced a polar bear cub in Elf (2003) and appeared in the 1998 remake of Mighty Joe Young (1998). His honors included a lifetime achievement award from the Academy, an honorary BAFTA, and a Visual Effects Society lifetime achievement award.