John Alexander(II)
- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Special Effects
Born in Scotland and having spent time in Malta -- where his father, an
officer in the British Royal Navy, was stationed -- John Alexander has
made a career out of playing highly specialized and physical character
roles in sophisticated adventure films. A favorite of special effects
gurus Rick Baker and the late Stan Winston, he is often found buried
under extensive make-up or wrapped in complex animatronic suits.
Alexander originally found his calling back in his native Scotland,
where he studied at the Celtic Ballet School. It was here that he began
building his background in movement and acrobatics; experience that
would serve him well in the coming years.
Beginning his career as a circus performer while in his teens,
Alexander was discovered by a French comedy acrobatic act, The
Ghezzies, and was offered a contract. From there he traveled Europe,
doing stints on television and in cabaret acts for years, before
committing to the theatre full time in London. It was while working at
the London Palladium for two years, in Barnum starring Michael
Crawford, that his first film work came about through the answering of
a blind ad for a project that would become "Greystoke: The Legend Of
Tarzan," a role (White Eyes, Primate leader) that required him to wear
a complicated gorilla suit for Rick Baker.
More film work followed in such notable roles as both the Cowardly Lion
and one of the manic Wheelers in Disney's "Return To Oz" and the
gorilla Digit in Warner Bros. "Gorillas In The Mist." In addition to
playing several more gorilla roles in such movies as "Baby's Day Out,"
"Congo," "Mighty Joe Young," "Fierce Creatures" and Tim Burton's
"Planet Of The Apes," Alexander has played a variety of diverse roles,
including the alien Mikey in "Men In Black," Will Smith's nemesis Jarra
in "Men In Black 2," one of the Who's of Whoville in "How The Grinch
Stole Christmas," a Country Bear in Disney's "The Country Bears," the
Robot in "Zathura" and most recently, the disembodied character of
Johann Krauss and the Bethmoora Goblin in "Hellboy II: The Golden
Army." He has also acted as Consultant, Choreographer and Puppeteer in
many special effects extravaganzas. To date, Alexander has one of the
more interesting resumes in Hollywood, boasting such skills as acting,
dance, acrobatics, prosthetic and mask work, puppeteering, creature
movement, fight arrangement, horse riding and unicycle. He looks
forward to adding to that resume at every opportunity.
officer in the British Royal Navy, was stationed -- John Alexander has
made a career out of playing highly specialized and physical character
roles in sophisticated adventure films. A favorite of special effects
gurus Rick Baker and the late Stan Winston, he is often found buried
under extensive make-up or wrapped in complex animatronic suits.
Alexander originally found his calling back in his native Scotland,
where he studied at the Celtic Ballet School. It was here that he began
building his background in movement and acrobatics; experience that
would serve him well in the coming years.
Beginning his career as a circus performer while in his teens,
Alexander was discovered by a French comedy acrobatic act, The
Ghezzies, and was offered a contract. From there he traveled Europe,
doing stints on television and in cabaret acts for years, before
committing to the theatre full time in London. It was while working at
the London Palladium for two years, in Barnum starring Michael
Crawford, that his first film work came about through the answering of
a blind ad for a project that would become "Greystoke: The Legend Of
Tarzan," a role (White Eyes, Primate leader) that required him to wear
a complicated gorilla suit for Rick Baker.
More film work followed in such notable roles as both the Cowardly Lion
and one of the manic Wheelers in Disney's "Return To Oz" and the
gorilla Digit in Warner Bros. "Gorillas In The Mist." In addition to
playing several more gorilla roles in such movies as "Baby's Day Out,"
"Congo," "Mighty Joe Young," "Fierce Creatures" and Tim Burton's
"Planet Of The Apes," Alexander has played a variety of diverse roles,
including the alien Mikey in "Men In Black," Will Smith's nemesis Jarra
in "Men In Black 2," one of the Who's of Whoville in "How The Grinch
Stole Christmas," a Country Bear in Disney's "The Country Bears," the
Robot in "Zathura" and most recently, the disembodied character of
Johann Krauss and the Bethmoora Goblin in "Hellboy II: The Golden
Army." He has also acted as Consultant, Choreographer and Puppeteer in
many special effects extravaganzas. To date, Alexander has one of the
more interesting resumes in Hollywood, boasting such skills as acting,
dance, acrobatics, prosthetic and mask work, puppeteering, creature
movement, fight arrangement, horse riding and unicycle. He looks
forward to adding to that resume at every opportunity.