Kirk Thatcher

Kirk Thatcher is a director, writer, producer, designer, and puppeteer who is best known for working with the Muppets since 1987 (according to an interview). He started his career working at George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic when he was only 18. At ILM, Kirk designed, built, painted, and puppeteered creatures for many films such as Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Gremlins, to name a few. Later, Thatcher did many things like concept art and designs for music videos and starting a production company for director David Fincher. But his career with the Muppets started on The Jim Henson Hour as associate producer and designer of new characters before making Dinosaurs. In the 1990's he was writer and supervising producer for Muppets Tonight until he became a full-time director, starting with Muppet shorts called Muppetisms. Kirk Thatcher has also served as an additional Muppet performer for The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland. He definitely had a busy past with all of the films and companies he worked with before joining the Muppets full-time. From TV movies to commercials to live performances, he has written and directed them all. Kirk is still working on Muppet projects for Disney such as Muppets Haunted Mansion, as well as on projects within the Henson Company such as Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow. Thatcher must have been lucky to direct other performers over the years such as Bill Barretta, Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson, and Matt Vogel, just to name a few. He'll probably continue to write and direct Muppet projects for the near future because that is where his directorial career began. ILM really helped him become a well known and hard working man, so he should give credit to George Lucas. Kirk Thatcher, you're an awesome director, writer, and designer since you've been working with puppets for decades. Keep doing Muppet projects because it's what you do best. And always have faith in yourself too. Well done Kirk. Great action Thatcher!