Gerald Stadden

Gerald Stadden was an English dwarf actor and suit performer who served as one of the performers for the walking/suit versions of characters on The Dark Crystal. Years later, he served as the stand-in for Marvin in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (doubling for Warwick Davis at times). Gerald should have done more Creature Shop projects in between the years of those films, but he was probably too occupied. Stadden has done tons of films and TV appearances outside of the Creature Shop throughout his career, starting with Return of the Jedi (an Ewok). Some of the films he did include Willow, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and History of the World, Part I. As for television, he made appearances on The Goodies, Space: 1999, and The League of the Gentlemen, to name a few. Gerald Stadden didn't appear on screen following production of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which means that the film was his last project ever. Nobody really knew the whereabouts of this performer until 2023 when a fundraiser site revealed that he died. It's a real shame he died, he did so wonderful on screen whether it's through film or TV. At least Gerald's last project was doubling within a Creature Shop film. Other performers Stadden worked with on The Dark Crystal include Malcolm Dixon, Sadie Corre, and Deep Roy, not to mention the legendary Muppet performers. Let's hope people are still remembering him to this very day, after all he did perform in numerous films and did television appearances. Perhaps the site with the fundraiser was a big success in 2023, you never know. Gerald Stadden, you've done well with the Creature Shop as well as all those other fantasy and science-fiction films. I'll bet your co-workers are still remembering you when watching the films you were in. Rest in peace and join fellow British puppeteers from above. The world bids you farewell Gerald. Keep watching from above Stadden!

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