Chris Walas is an American actor, stuntman, and film director. He is best known for his roles in films such as Gremlins, The Fly, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Walas was born in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1952. He grew up in a family of five, with his parents, two sisters, and himself. As a young man, he was an avid outdoorsman, and spent much of his time hiking, fishing, and camping.
In his teenage years, Walas developed a passion for film and theater. He attended the University of Delaware, where he earned a degree in film production. After college, he moved to Los Angeles in pursuit of a career in Hollywood.
Walas got his big break in 1982 when he was cast as the voice of the Gremlin in the classic horror/comedy film Gremlins. He went on to reprise his role in the sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch.
Walas’s next major role was as Dr. Seth Brundle in the 1986 science-fiction/horror classic The Fly. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in the film.
Walas also had a small role in Raiders of the Lost Ark and its sequel, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. He also appeared in other films such as Outbreak and The Vagrant.
Throughout his acting career, Walas also worked as a stuntman and film director. He directed the cult horror film The Vagrant, which starred Bill Paxton and Bridget Fonda. In 1991, he directed and co-wrote the science-fiction film Leviathan, starring Peter Weller and Daniel Stern.
In the 2000s, Walas moved away from acting and directing to focus on special effects makeup. He created and designed the creature effects for the hit television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, for which he won an Emmy Award.
Throughout his career, Chris Walas has been an essential part of the Hollywood landscape. He has starred in some of the most beloved films of all time, and his work in special effects makeup has earned him much acclaim. He is one of Hollywood’s most iconic and beloved figures.
