Gerald Home

Gerald Home was a British actor and puppeteer who was best known for his work on Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, playing Tessek and a Mon Calamari officer. His other film credits include Little Shop of Horrors (as one of Audrey II's puppeteers), London Boulevard, and Chatroom. As for television, Gerald was one of the puppeteers on Spitting Image and made appearances on The Boot Street Band, Casualty, Harry's Mad, Keeping Mum, and various others. Home was also known for being the original Mr. Muscle in a batch of Mr. Muscle cleaning brand television commercials. As a puppeteer, he got to perform with legends such as Anthony Asbury, Mike Quinn, David Barclay, and Christopher Leith, all on Little Shop of Horrors. It was probably easier for him to puppeteer on Spitting Image as the film had complicated puppets. Gerald Home even got to work in the theatre within the West End of London area, like on No Sex Please, We're British, The Arabian Nights, and The Blue Angel, to name a few. It's a shame he never puppeteered on any British productions by the Henson Company, though he technically got to work under the direction of the Muppet legend Frank Oz on LSOH. Sadly, his life came to an end for he died of liver cancer in 2021, which meant no chances of puppetry/acting with Henson Company ever. At least Gerald worked for both stage and screen throughout his life in the entertainment industry. And Home was lucky enough to meet Frank Oz and work under his direction in operating a very complicated plant puppet. He may be gone, but nobody will ever forget him, and despite not being credited in Star Wars, he'll still be best known for that. If only producers would give him credit for films in the past. Gerald Home, you were a great actor and puppeteer for film and television. Even though you're gone, people will always watch your work in media. Rest in peace and always watch over your friends from heaven. Your co-workers will look up to you Gerald. Farewell to you Home!

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