Paul Warren(VI)
- Actor
Paul Warren is a British actor and creature performer. He is best known for playing characters wearing heavy prosthetic makeup and/or creature suits, most notably in Star Wars films and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), Andor (TV series) (2022), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Thor: The Dark World (2013) Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) and The Marvels (2023).
He has also had creature roles in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Clash of the Titans, World War Z, Ghost Stories, Willow (TV series) and the goblin horror film Unwelcome, where as well as playing the Redcap Goblin Mr Sniff, he was also the Creature Movement Coach for the Stunt Team.
Although now known for his creature performing work, he began his film career as a body double for Daniel Radcliffe on the film Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix and was one of the Skinny Steve Rogers VFX doubles in Marvel's Captain America: The First Avenger.
Occasionally he steps out from behind the prosthetics, for example when he provided mime/movement for Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One and when he was a special action performer on Kingsman: The Secret Service for that stunning stunt scene in the church choreographed by the late great Brad Allan.
In 2007, he was recommended to the legendary Stan Winston Studio as a good choice to portray an emaciated version of the title character in 'The Deaths of Ian Stone'. The horror role required full body prosthetics and CGI head replacement with lead actor Mike Vogel. The invaluable experience Paul gained working with Stan's crew to achieve this tricky effect is what ultimately set him on a path to becoming a creature performer.
His first creature role was in the remake of Clash of the Titans. Working with the Oscar nominated Creatures Inc, he underwent a 5 hour makeup process to transform into a tortured soul that pulls the boatman across the river Styx. To add to the challenge of performing covered in such extreme silicone prosthetics, the scene was filmed in a large outside water tank at Pinewood studios.
In 2010, Paul was chosen by director Joe Johnston to be a visual effect double for skinny Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger. Working closely with Lola Visual Effects, he helped bring Skinny Steve to life in the pre-production VFX tests and was on set as a visual reference for the recruitment scene. The remainder of body double duties on the film were performed by Leander Deeny.
He has since gone on to be a core creature performer in Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor: The Dark World, The Marvels and World War Z, however he is probably most known for his work with Neal Scanlan's creature department on Star Wars. Paul is credited on Star Wars: The Force Awakens as a 'creature and droid puppeteer' and plays an alien called 'Varmik'. This character is of particular interest to Star Wars fans due to his origin; Varmik is based on 2 classic pieces of production art from George Lucas' first Star Wars film in 1977 - the cantina showdown and early Chewbacca designs by Ralph McQuarrie. The cantina showdown was a particular favourite of J.J Abrams' that he wanted to bring to life on screen.
In Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Paul plays a dowager alien called Gatha Elbaphay. The character created quite a buzz online when it was confirmed by director Rian Johnson that the animatronic space pug it holds was based on Carrie Fisher's very own pet pooch Gary. It was affectionately known on set as Space Gary.
He performed the 4 armed character Doctor Quadpaw (along side Aidan Cook and Matt Lyons) in Star Wars: Andor and was a Troll in the fantasy sequel TV series Willow.
2023 saw Paul working once again with Neal Scanlan's creature department on Tim Burton's much anticipated sequel to Beetlejuice titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. He played the role of Shrinker Tom and was a puppeteer in the waiting room performing the hand for the man in a box.
He has also had creature roles in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Clash of the Titans, World War Z, Ghost Stories, Willow (TV series) and the goblin horror film Unwelcome, where as well as playing the Redcap Goblin Mr Sniff, he was also the Creature Movement Coach for the Stunt Team.
Although now known for his creature performing work, he began his film career as a body double for Daniel Radcliffe on the film Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix and was one of the Skinny Steve Rogers VFX doubles in Marvel's Captain America: The First Avenger.
Occasionally he steps out from behind the prosthetics, for example when he provided mime/movement for Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One and when he was a special action performer on Kingsman: The Secret Service for that stunning stunt scene in the church choreographed by the late great Brad Allan.
In 2007, he was recommended to the legendary Stan Winston Studio as a good choice to portray an emaciated version of the title character in 'The Deaths of Ian Stone'. The horror role required full body prosthetics and CGI head replacement with lead actor Mike Vogel. The invaluable experience Paul gained working with Stan's crew to achieve this tricky effect is what ultimately set him on a path to becoming a creature performer.
His first creature role was in the remake of Clash of the Titans. Working with the Oscar nominated Creatures Inc, he underwent a 5 hour makeup process to transform into a tortured soul that pulls the boatman across the river Styx. To add to the challenge of performing covered in such extreme silicone prosthetics, the scene was filmed in a large outside water tank at Pinewood studios.
In 2010, Paul was chosen by director Joe Johnston to be a visual effect double for skinny Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger. Working closely with Lola Visual Effects, he helped bring Skinny Steve to life in the pre-production VFX tests and was on set as a visual reference for the recruitment scene. The remainder of body double duties on the film were performed by Leander Deeny.
He has since gone on to be a core creature performer in Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor: The Dark World, The Marvels and World War Z, however he is probably most known for his work with Neal Scanlan's creature department on Star Wars. Paul is credited on Star Wars: The Force Awakens as a 'creature and droid puppeteer' and plays an alien called 'Varmik'. This character is of particular interest to Star Wars fans due to his origin; Varmik is based on 2 classic pieces of production art from George Lucas' first Star Wars film in 1977 - the cantina showdown and early Chewbacca designs by Ralph McQuarrie. The cantina showdown was a particular favourite of J.J Abrams' that he wanted to bring to life on screen.
In Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Paul plays a dowager alien called Gatha Elbaphay. The character created quite a buzz online when it was confirmed by director Rian Johnson that the animatronic space pug it holds was based on Carrie Fisher's very own pet pooch Gary. It was affectionately known on set as Space Gary.
He performed the 4 armed character Doctor Quadpaw (along side Aidan Cook and Matt Lyons) in Star Wars: Andor and was a Troll in the fantasy sequel TV series Willow.
2023 saw Paul working once again with Neal Scanlan's creature department on Tim Burton's much anticipated sequel to Beetlejuice titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. He played the role of Shrinker Tom and was a puppeteer in the waiting room performing the hand for the man in a box.
