David Barrington Holt, longtime manager of the Jim Henson Company’s Creature Shop in L.A., died March 13 of complications from cancer, his son, Chris Holt, announced. He was 78.
After receiving a BA in industry design with honors from London’s University of the Arts in 1963, Holt began his illustrious 30-year career as a creator, quickly building his reputation as a skilled photographer, designer, engineer and model maker.
In 1986, Holt began collaborating with the Jim Henson Company, a partnership that would span over two decades. He started in the U.K. as deputy supervisor of the Creature Shop before being moved up to creative supervisor. In 1993, he moved across the world to Los Angeles to assist in starting the Henson Company’s first creature shop on the West Coast in preparation to produce the characters for Disney’s 1991 jurassic sitcom “Dinosaurs.” At the Creature Factory, Holt oversaw creative oversight of shop operations,...
After receiving a BA in industry design with honors from London’s University of the Arts in 1963, Holt began his illustrious 30-year career as a creator, quickly building his reputation as a skilled photographer, designer, engineer and model maker.
In 1986, Holt began collaborating with the Jim Henson Company, a partnership that would span over two decades. He started in the U.K. as deputy supervisor of the Creature Shop before being moved up to creative supervisor. In 1993, he moved across the world to Los Angeles to assist in starting the Henson Company’s first creature shop on the West Coast in preparation to produce the characters for Disney’s 1991 jurassic sitcom “Dinosaurs.” At the Creature Factory, Holt oversaw creative oversight of shop operations,...
- 4/6/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety Film + TV
David Barrington Holt, who established and ran the first Creature Shop on the West Coast for The Jim Henson Company during his two-plus decades with the firm, has died. He was 78.
Holt died March 13 of complications from cancer at his home in Los Angeles, his son, Chris Holt, announced.
Holt started out with the Henson Co. in 1986 as deputy supervisor of its Creature Shop in the U.K. and was promoted to creative supervisor. He moved to Los Angeles in 1993 to set up a Creature Shop and produce the 1991-94 Disney-abc series Dinosaurs.
In L.A., Holt had creative oversight of shop operations including puppetry, animatronics, effects, performers, administrative matters and R&d, with developments in the field of real-time 3D CG animation.
He was instrumental in the creation of the Henson Performance Control System, which allowed a single performer to operate complex, computer-driven puppets in the same manner as though they were physical.
Holt died March 13 of complications from cancer at his home in Los Angeles, his son, Chris Holt, announced.
Holt started out with the Henson Co. in 1986 as deputy supervisor of its Creature Shop in the U.K. and was promoted to creative supervisor. He moved to Los Angeles in 1993 to set up a Creature Shop and produce the 1991-94 Disney-abc series Dinosaurs.
In L.A., Holt had creative oversight of shop operations including puppetry, animatronics, effects, performers, administrative matters and R&d, with developments in the field of real-time 3D CG animation.
He was instrumental in the creation of the Henson Performance Control System, which allowed a single performer to operate complex, computer-driven puppets in the same manner as though they were physical.
- 4/6/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
David Barrington Holt, who was instrumental in development of the ground-breaking Henson Performance Control System, which allowed a single performer to operate complex, computer-driven puppets, died March 13 from cancer complications.
His credits included George of the Jungle, The Phantom, Dr. Dolittle, and Scooby-Doo, among other productions.
Born in England in June of 1945, he received his BA in Industrial Design with honors from London’s University of the Arts in 1963.
Over the next 20 years, he built a reputation as a designer, photographer, modelmaker, and restorer of mechanical antiquities. His clients included the London Science Museum, the Greater London Council, the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, and numerous other businesses and private individuals in England and abroad.
In 1984, he founded Hero Models, which supplied models, miniatures, and hero effects for the TV, film, and commercial industries. One such project including re-creating the fly-past of the spacecraft Giotto and Halley’s comet for the film Children of the Dust.
His credits included George of the Jungle, The Phantom, Dr. Dolittle, and Scooby-Doo, among other productions.
Born in England in June of 1945, he received his BA in Industrial Design with honors from London’s University of the Arts in 1963.
Over the next 20 years, he built a reputation as a designer, photographer, modelmaker, and restorer of mechanical antiquities. His clients included the London Science Museum, the Greater London Council, the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, and numerous other businesses and private individuals in England and abroad.
In 1984, he founded Hero Models, which supplied models, miniatures, and hero effects for the TV, film, and commercial industries. One such project including re-creating the fly-past of the spacecraft Giotto and Halley’s comet for the film Children of the Dust.
- 4/6/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
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