Michael McCormick
Michael McCormick has broad experience with design and fabrication in the areas of FX makeup, creatures, puppets and special props. He is a professional sculptor and puppeteer since 1960 and a member of both SAG and IATSE. McCormick was performing his “Punch and Judy” puppet show on the Santa Fe Plaza in 1980 when Roger Miller (country music legend) stopped to chat. “He told me, ‘You ever shown your stuff to Jim Henson?’ ” McCormick said. “I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘You want to?’ The New Mexico native packed his puppets and flew to London. “Jim Henson hired me, because I loved my own work,” he said. Henson hired him to work on a new project called “The Dark Crystal.” From there, he went on to work on classics like “Labyrinth,” created puppets for “Return of the Jedi” and did special effects for other TV shows and movies.