Tim Lawrence

Tim Lawrence was a puppeteer, builder, sculptor, and visual effects artist who was known for working on various feature films over the years. He puppeteered on Caddyshack (as Mr. Gopher), Purple People Eater (as Purple), and TMNT III (assisting Splinter), to name a few. For television he built and designed the character costumes and puppets for Dumbo's Circus and puppeteered D.E.C.K.S. on Wake, Rattle & Roll. Other than that, Tim has mostly been involved with films within the science fiction or horror genre such as Howard the Duck, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Harry and the Hendersons, and more, all within the visual effects department. In addition to puppets/creatures, Lawrence was also a sculptor for the first three Shrek films before taking a hiatus from 2007-2018. I only wish he got to work within the Creature Shop because the company provides both puppets and creatures for film and television. I've read online that in 1983, he got to perform one of the zombies for Michael Jackson's music video, Thriller. Not only that, but over the years, Tim Lawrence got to work with a few other puppeteers like John Lovelady, Paul Fusco, James Murray, and Rick Lyon, most of which were Muppet performers. In 2018, he was special effects technician on The House with a Clock in Its Walls which turned out to be his final film, for he died the following year. Even though he never got to do a film with the Creature Shop, he still worked with Muppet performers throughout his career in the film industry. It's a real shame Tim died, he would have been terrific in the Creature Shop back in the 1980s or 1990s when he was most active. Lawrence is probably watching from heaven above and feeling pride in how much people appreciated the work he did in the films. Hopefully everyone will always remember him by watching the films he contributed to and maybe look up on how he was able to make the creature so lifelike. You never know when someone will do that, you just got to hope he's still watching from above. Tim Lawrence, you were wonderful at special effects and puppets too. The film industry won't be the same without you. Hopefully your own legacy will be carried on by other visual effects artists. Farewell Tim. Sweet thrills Lawrence!