Alec Gillis
Biography
Alec Dougal Gillis is an American special effects artist and actor born on August 29, 1959, in New York City. Throughout his career, he has contributed to the creature effects crews for several films, including Aliens, Alien3, Alien Resurrection, Alien vs. Predator, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, and The Predator. In 1988, he co-founded the company Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc. alongside Tom Woodruff, Jr. This company provided creature effects for Alien3, Alien Resurrection, Alien vs. Predator, and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. Additionally, Gillis made an uncredited cameo appearance as a technician in the 2004 film Alien vs. Predator. He is recognized for his extensive work in the industry, with 75 known credits listed in his professional profile.
Career overview
Alec Dougal Gillis is an American special effects artist and actor born on August 29, 1959, in New York City. Throughout his professional career, he has accumulated 75 known credits. As a special effects artist, he contributed to the creature effects crews for several films in the Alien and Predator franchises, including Aliens in 1986, Alien3 in 1992, Alien Resurrection in 1997, Alien vs. Predator in 2004, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem in 2007, and The Predator in 2018. In 1988, he co-founded the company Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc. with Tom Woodruff, Jr. This organization subsequently provided creature effects for Alien3, Alien Resurrection, Alien vs. Predator, and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem.
In addition to his work behind the camera, Gillis has participated in acting roles. He made an uncredited cameo appearance as an unnamed technician in the 2004 film Alien vs. Predator. His professional profile also notes that he is an Academy Award-winning artist. He is sometimes referred to by the nickname Alec Prop Gillis.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
77 titles- Predator: Badlands (2025) Creature Design
- Predator: Badlands (2025) Special Effects Supervisor
- Wellwood (2025) Executive Producer
- Cringe (2025) as Fitz
- Alien: Romulus (2024) Special Effects Supervisor
- Smile 2 (2024) Makeup Effects Designer
- Eulogy to Us (2023)
- Prey (2022) as Predator Puppeteer (ADI)
- Prey (2022) Makeup Effects Designer
- Smile (2022) Special Effects Makeup Artist
- OATS Studios (2021) as 民兵
- OATS Studios (2021) as William 'Billy'
- Oats Studios: Volume 1 (2021) as Militia #1 / Bill
- Witches Midnight (2021) as Oswald Octav
- Tremors: Making Perfection (2020) as Himself
- Bad President - Kenya (2020) as William "Billy" Coltran
- Adam 2.0 (2020) Thanks
- It Chapter Two (2019) Makeup Designer
- The Movies That Made Us (2019) as Self
- Playtime (2019) Director
- Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film (2019) as Self
- Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters (2019) as Self
- It (2017) Makeup Effects Designer
- Rakka (2017) as Militia #1
- Cooking with Bill (2017) as Bill
- Bad President - Oil Spill (2017) as William 'Billy' Coltran
- Bad President - All My Sh*t (2017) as William 'Billy' Coltran
- San Andreas (2015) Makeup Effects
- Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015) Special Effects Makeup Artist
- Harbinger Down (2015) Writer
- Harbinger Down (2015) Director
- Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex (2015) as Self
- The Martians Are Coming!: The Making of 'Invaders from Mars' (2015)
- Skin Wars (2014) as Self - Guest Judge
- Leviathan: Monster Melting Pot (2014) as Himself
- Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013) Special Effects Makeup Artist
- Astronaut: The Last Push (2012) as Charlie
- Men in Suits (2012) as Self
- Children of the Atom - Filming X-Men: First Class (2011) as Self
- Skyline (2010) Creature Design
- Chiller 13: The Decade's Scariest Movie Moments (2010) as Self
- Tales from the Lumber Yard: The Making of Galaxy of Terror (2010) as Self
- Wolverine Unleashed: The Complete Origins (2009) as Self
- Monster Squad Forever! (2007) as Self
- Elektra (2005) as Puppeteer
- Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection (2005) as Self
- The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz (2005) as Self
- AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004) as Technician (uncredited)
- Shooting 'Panic Room' (2004) as Self
- Wreckage and Rage: Making 'Alien³' (2003) as Self
- Superior Firepower: Making 'Aliens' (2003) as Self
- Spider-Man (2002) Makeup Designer
- Panic Room (2002) Makeup Effects
- Panic Room (2002) Special Effects Makeup Artist
- The Santa Clause 2 (2002) Makeup Effects Designer
- Death from Above: The Making of 'Starship Troopers' (2002) as Self
- Starship Troopers: Know Your Foe (2002) as Self
- Behind the Scenes of 'John Q' (2002) as Self
- Hollow Man (2000) Makeup Designer
- The 6th Day (2000) Makeup Effects
- Lions and Monkeys and Pods... Oh My!: The Special Effects of 'Jumanji' (2000) as Self
- Making Jumanji: The Realm of Imagination (2000) as Self
- The X-Files (1998) Makeup Effects
- The Making of ‘Tremors’ (1998) as Self
- Alien Resurrection (1997) as Hero Alien Warrior (uncredited)
- Starship Troopers (1997) Creature Effects Technical Director
- Jumanji (1995) Makeup Designer
- The Santa Clause (1994) Animatronics Designer
- The Santa Clause (1994) Special Effects Key Makeup Artist
- Stay Tuned (1992) Makeup Effects Designer
- Tremors (1990) Creature Design
- Leviathan (1989) Creature Design
- The Monster Squad (1987) Special Effects Makeup Artist
- Aliens (1986) as Alien (uncredited)
- Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) Special Effects Makeup Artist
- Galaxy of Terror (1981) Prosthetics
- Fleshing Out the Hollow Man as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Alec Gillis best known for?
Alec Gillis is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Predator: Badlands (2025), Predator: Badlands (2025), Alien: Romulus (2024), Smile 2 (2024).
When and where was Alec Gillis born?
Alec Gillis was born on August 29, 1959 in New York City, New York, USA.
How many credits does Alec Gillis have?
Alec Gillis has accumulated over 77 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1981 to 2025.
What is Alec Gillis's background in cinema and television?
Alec Dougal Gillis is an American special effects artist and actor born on August 29, 1959, in New York City. Throughout his career, he has contributed to the creature effects crews for several films, including Aliens, Alien3, Alien Resurrection, Alien vs. Predator, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, and The Predator. In 19...
Alec Gillis by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Aliens (1986) as Alien (uncredited) — aged about 26
- Prey (2022) as Predator Puppeteer (ADI) — aged about 62
- The Movies That Made Us (2019) as Self — aged about 59
- Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex (2015) as Self — aged about 55
- Rakka (2017) as Militia #1 — aged about 57
- Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film (2019) as Self — aged about 59
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