Mike Quinn (puppeteer)

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Mike Quinn
Quinn in 2022
Born1964 (age 59–60)
London, England, U.K.
Other namesMike Quinby
Michael E. Quinn
Michael Quinn
Occupation(s)Puppeteer, animator, actor, director, producer, voice-over artist, puppet builder, composer, mentor
Years active1980–present
Spouse
(m. 1988; div. 2004)

Mike Quinn (born July 28, 1964) is an English puppeteer, animator, actor, director, producer, voice-over artist, puppet builder, composer and mentor. He is also known as Mike Quinby, Michael E. Quinn, and Michael Quinn.

Early life and career[edit]

Quinn was born in London, but grew up in Enfield, Middlesex. He began puppeteering at age eight.[citation needed]

In 1977, Mike regularly visited the set of The Muppet Show with his homemade puppets, eventually meeting Jim Henson. Through his visits, he learned more about puppeteering and received encouragement from Jim Henson and his co-workers.[citation needed]

Mike Quinn at Galaxy Con Raleigh 2023

After leaving school in 1980, Quinn joined The Jim Henson Company and worked on the 1981 film The Great Muppet Caper puppeteering in crowd scenes and acting as a double for various main Muppet characters. Quinn later designed and built the Podlings for The Dark Crystal, where he also performed the Skeksis Slave Master SkekNa (who was voiced by David Buck).

During the filming of Return of the Jedi, Quinn (and David Barclay and David Greenaway) were assistant puppeteers to Frank Oz in his performance of Yoda. He also performed the role of Nien Nunb in Return Of the Jedi. Between the late 1980s and early 1990s, Quinn joined with fellow puppeteer David Barclay, creating Ultimate Animates, a production company specializing in new building and performing techniques for internal and external puppet productions.

Quinn joined George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic as an animator, first working on Jurassic Park III and then Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones.

He reprised his role as Nien Nunb in Star Wars: The Force Awakens,[1] a role that he reprised again in Star Wars: The Last Jedi[2] and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and performed for the Disney theme park ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

In 2018, Quinn provided the voice of the Stan Laurel-based character Agnes Packard in the Cartoon Network series, Mighty Magiswords opposing Ken Mitchroney voicing her Oliver Hardy-based husband Mr. Pachydermus in the episode "Pachydermus Packard and the Camp of Fantasy".

Mike Quinn at Galaxy Con Raleigh 2023

Quinn appeared as a guest on The George Lucas Talk Show during their May the AR Be LI$$ You Arli$$ Marathon fundraiser.

Personal life[edit]

From 1989 to 2004, Quinn was married to fellow puppeteer Karen Prell.

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1981 The Great Muppet Caper Additional Muppets
1982 The Dark Crystal SkekNa - the slavemaster Skeksis Performer plus puppet builder
1983 Return of the Jedi Nien Nunb and various roles Yoda (assistant performer)
1985 Dreamchild Puppeteer
1986 Little Shop of Horrors Puppeteer
1986 Labyrinth Goblins plus various Puppeteer
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic Bulbous, Mayor Bunnyparte
1988 Who Framed Roger Rabbit Puppeteer
1989 How to Get Ahead in Advertising Puppeteer of the boil and growing head
1992 The Muppet Christmas Carol Undertaker performer of Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear
1996 Muppet Treasure Island Additional Muppets
1996 Mary Reilly Special effects Puppeteer
1998 A Bug's Life Animator
1999 Toy Story 2 Animator, including the 'Woody's Roundup' TV sequence
2001 Jurassic Park III Dinosaur animator
2002 Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones Animator
2005 The Muppets' Wizard of Oz Additional Muppets Credited as Michael Quinn
2011 The Muppets Additional Muppets
2014 Muppets Most Wanted Additional Muppets
2015 Star Wars: The Force Awakens Nien Nunb
2017 Star Wars: The Last Jedi [2]
2019 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1983–87 Fraggle Rock Gobo Fraggle (UK and French versions), Traveling Matt (UK and French versions), Sprocket (French and German versions) and various recorded regional variations for UK, Germany, France
1987 Jim Henson's Mother Goose Stories Brown Gosling, Humpty Dumpty, plus various Credited as Mike Quinby
1988 The Storyteller Devil Episode: "The Soldier and Death" puppeteer
1989 The Ghost of Faffner Hall Riff, synthesiser fly

-

1993 The Great Bong Producer, director, puppeteer, puppet builder
1994 The Secret Life of Toys Various, Rabbit Lamp
Jim Henson's Animal Show Chuck The Lion 4 episodes
1995 Heroes of Comedy Designer, builder, performer of Max Miller puppet Series 1, Episode 3
1995-97 The Slow Norris Puppeteer, Puppet Builder
2005 The Muppets' Wizard of Oz Muppet Performer
2013 Shake It Up Parrot Episode: "Ty It Up"
Good Luck Charlie Additional Muppet Performer Episode: "Duncan Dream House"
Glee Puppeteer Episode: "Puppet Master"
2015-16 The Muppets Additional Muppet Performer
2018–present Kidding Secret Chef, Wedding Groomsman and Puppeteer 4 episodes
Mighty Magiswords Agnes Packard Episode: "Pachydermus Packard and the Camp of Fantasy"
2020 Muppets Now Additional Muppet Performer 6 episodes
2020 The George Lucas Talk Show Himself May the AR Be LI$$ You (Arli$$ Marathon fundraiser)

Event[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2015 TEDx Talk Assistant puppeteer to Kermit the Frog
2016 Outside Lands Music Festival Golden Gate Park, San Francisco Muppet Performer for Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem August 7
2017 The Muppets Take the Bowl Additional Muppet Performer Live show at the Hollywood Bowl, September 8–10
2018 The Muppets Take the O2 Additional Muppet Performer and voices Live show at the O2 Arena London, July
2019 and continuing Disney Theme Park Ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Nien Nunb Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disneyland

Crew[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ward, Jason (25 October 2015). "Star Wars Legend Mike Quinn returns as Nien Nunb in Star Wars: The Force Awakens!". Making Star Wars. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b Orange, B. Alan (5 February 2016). "Nien Nunb Will Return in 'Star Wars 8'". MovieWeb. Retrieved 19 February 2016.

External links[edit]