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Dennis Muren

  • Visual Effects
  • Additional Crew
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Dennis Muren
Light & Magic
Play trailer2:11
Light & Magic (2022–2025)
2 Videos
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Dennis Muren is the Senior Visual Effects Supervisor and Creative Director of Industrial Light & Magic. A recipient of nine Oscars for Best Achievement in Visual Effects and a Technical Achievement Academy Award®, Muren is actively involved in the evolution of the company, as well as the design and development of new techniques and equipment. In June 1999, Muren became the first visual effects artist to be honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In February 2007, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Visual Effects Society. Muren is currently working on a book focusing on "observation" for digital artists.

As Creative Director of Industrial Light & Magic, Muren is a key member of the company's leadership team and collaborates with all of ILM's supervisors on each of the films that the company contributes to.
BornNovember 1, 1946
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    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornNovember 1, 1946
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Won 6 Oscars
      • 32 wins & 34 nominations total

    Photos20

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    Known for

    Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Ariana Richards, BD Wong, Joseph Mazzello, Martin Ferrero, and Bob Peck in Jurassic Park (1993)
    Jurassic Park
    8.2
    • Visual Effects
    • 1993
    Tom Cruise, Tim Robbins, Miranda Otto, Michael Kevin Walker, Ed Vassallo, Michael Arthur, Becky Ann Baker, Gene Barry, David Alan Basche, John Michael Bolger, Justin Chatwin, Robert Cicchini, Vito D'Ambrosio, Marianne Ebert, John Eddins, Dakota Fanning, Daniel Franzese, Peter Gerety, Stephen Gevedon, Rick Gonzalez, Jim Hanna, Danny Hoch, Amy Hohn, Tracy Howe, Omar Jermaine, Erika LaVonn, Adam Lazarre-White, Mark Manley, Mariann Mayberry, Sharrieff Pugh, Ana Maria Quintana, Zoe Quist, Ann Robinson, Amy Ryan, Camillia Monet, John Scurti, Yul Vazquez, Lenny Venito, Jerry Walsh, Lisa Ann Walter, Christopher Evan Welch, Julie White, Marlon Young, Dan Ziskie, David Harbour, Michael Stanton, Lisa Waters, Michael Brownlee, GoGo Toucette, Rafael Sardina, Stacy Ann Wilkins, Patrick Tierney, Ty Simpkins, Ed Schiff, Channing Tatum, David Conley, Tommy Guiffre, Michael Waldron, Athena Stamos, January LaVoy, Miguel Antonio Ferrer, Mark Valinsky, Lorelei Llee, Daniel Eric Gold, Ellen Barry, Roz Abrams, Kenneth Wright, Nicole Signore, Tasciotti, Johnny Torres, Rochelle Warner, Joseph Benjamin Stewart, Terry Ward, Tracy Lee Staton, Jessica Anne Taylor, Mike Yedwab, and William G. Stowell in War of the Worlds (2005)
    War of the Worlds
    6.6
    • Visual Effects
    • 2005
    Dennis Quaid in Innerspace (1987)
    Innerspace
    6.8
    • Visual Effects
    • 1987
    Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, Warwick Davis, David Prowse, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Carter, and Larry Ward in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
    Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
    8.3
    • Visual Effects
    • 1983

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Visual Effects



    • Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Kenny Baker, Michael Giacchino, Peter Mayhew, Nigel Godrich, Oscar Isaac, Brian Herring, Lupita Nyong'o, Dave Chapman, Adam Driver, Gwendoline Christie, John Boyega, and Daisy Ridley in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
      Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
      7.7
      • creative consultant: ILM
      • 2015
    • Kathryn Newton in Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)
      Paranormal Activity 4
      4.7
      • senior creative executive: ILM
      • 2012
    • Super 8 (2011)
      Super 8
      7.0
      • visual effects supervisor: ILM
      • 2011
    • Tom Cruise, Tim Robbins, Miranda Otto, Michael Kevin Walker, Ed Vassallo, Michael Arthur, Becky Ann Baker, Gene Barry, David Alan Basche, John Michael Bolger, Justin Chatwin, Robert Cicchini, Vito D'Ambrosio, Marianne Ebert, John Eddins, Dakota Fanning, Daniel Franzese, Peter Gerety, Stephen Gevedon, Rick Gonzalez, Jim Hanna, Danny Hoch, Amy Hohn, Tracy Howe, Omar Jermaine, Erika LaVonn, Adam Lazarre-White, Mark Manley, Mariann Mayberry, Sharrieff Pugh, Ana Maria Quintana, Zoe Quist, Ann Robinson, Amy Ryan, Camillia Monet, John Scurti, Yul Vazquez, Lenny Venito, Jerry Walsh, Lisa Ann Walter, Christopher Evan Welch, Julie White, Marlon Young, Dan Ziskie, David Harbour, Michael Stanton, Lisa Waters, Michael Brownlee, GoGo Toucette, Rafael Sardina, Stacy Ann Wilkins, Patrick Tierney, Ty Simpkins, Ed Schiff, Channing Tatum, David Conley, Tommy Guiffre, Michael Waldron, Athena Stamos, January LaVoy, Miguel Antonio Ferrer, Mark Valinsky, Lorelei Llee, Daniel Eric Gold, Ellen Barry, Roz Abrams, Kenneth Wright, Nicole Signore, Tasciotti, Johnny Torres, Rochelle Warner, Joseph Benjamin Stewart, Terry Ward, Tracy Lee Staton, Jessica Anne Taylor, Mike Yedwab, and William G. Stowell in War of the Worlds (2005)
      War of the Worlds
      6.6
      • visual effects supervisor: ILM
      • 2005
    • Ang Lee in Hulk (2003)
      Hulk
      5.7
      • visual effects supervisor
      • 2003
    • Samuel L. Jackson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Anthony Daniels, Frank Oz, Kenny Baker, Hayden Christensen, Temuera Morrison, Bodie Taylor, and Richard Stride in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
      Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
      6.6
      • visual effects supervisor: ILM
      • 2002
    • Haley Joel Osment in A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
      A.I. Artificial Intelligence
      7.2
      • visual effects supervisor: ILM
      • 2001
    • George Lucas, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Anthony Daniels, Liam Neeson, John Williams, Jake Lloyd, Kenny Baker, Ahmed Best, Keira Knightley, Ray Park, and Peter Serafinowicz in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
      Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
      6.5
      • visual effects supervisor: ILM
      • 1999
    • Woody Allen, Demi Moore, Elisabeth Shue, Robin Williams, Kirstie Alley, Billy Crystal, Mariel Hemingway, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Richard Benjamin, Judy Davis, Amy Irving, Tobey Maguire, and Stanley Tucci in Deconstructing Harry (1997)
      Deconstructing Harry
      7.3
      • creative advisor: ILM
      • 1997
    • Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton in Twister (1996)
      Twister
      6.6
      • creative advisor: ILM
      • 1996
    • Brad Garrett, Joe Alaskey, Joe Nipote, and Malachi Pearson in Casper (1995)
      Casper
      6.2
      • digital character supervision: ILM
      • 1995
    • Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Ariana Richards, BD Wong, Joseph Mazzello, Martin Ferrero, and Bob Peck in Jurassic Park (1993)
      Jurassic Park
      8.2
      • full-motion dinosaurs
      • visual effects supervisor: ILM (uncredited)
      • 1993
    • Arnold Schwarzenegger and John Pantellas in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
      Terminator 2: Judgment Day
      8.6
      • visual effects supervisor: ILM
      • 1991
    • The Abyss (1989)
      The Abyss
      7.5
      • visual effects supervisor: ILM (special edition)
      • 1989
    • Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson in Ghostbusters II (1989)
      Ghostbusters II
      6.6
      • visual effects supervisor: ILM
      • 1989

    Additional Crew



    • Jonathan Bailey, Scarlett Johansson, and Mahershala Ali in Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025)
      Jurassic World: Rebirth
      5.9
      • full-motion: dinosaurs
      • 2025
    • Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, DeWanda Wise, and Isabella Sermon in Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)
      Jurassic World: Dominion
      5.6
      • full-motion dinosaurs
      • 2022
    • Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Keri Russell, J.J. Abrams, Lynn Robertson Bruce, Hassan Taj, Oscar Isaac, Brian Herring, Jimmy Vee, Dave Chapman, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, Robin Guiver, Daisy Ridley, Lee Towersey, Joonas Suotamo, and Naomi Ackie in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
      Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker
      6.4
      • consultant (uncredited)
      • 2019
    • Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
      Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
      6.1
      • full motion-dinosaurs (uncredited)
      • 2018
    • Chris Pratt in Jurassic World (2015)
      Jurassic World
      6.9
      • full-motion dinosaurs
      • 2015
    • WALL·E (2008)
      WALL·E
      8.4
      • visual consultant
      • 2008
    • The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
      The Lost World: Jurassic Park
      6.6
      • full-motion dinosaurs
      • 1997
    • Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible (1996)
      Mission: Impossible
      7.2
      • creative advisor
      • 1996
    • Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton in Twister (1996)
      Twister
      6.6
      • creative advisor
      • 1996
    • Time Machine: The Journey Back (1993)
      Time Machine: The Journey Back
      7.7
      Video
      • Time Machine restoration crew
      • 1993

    Director



    • Star Tours (1987)
      Star Tours
      8.0
      Short
      • Director
      • 1987
    • Equinox (1970)
      Equinox
      5.2
      • Director (uncredited)
      • 1970
    • The Equinox... A Journey Into the Supernatural (1967)
      The Equinox... A Journey Into the Supernatural
      6.0
      • Director
      • 1967
    • Dancing Beer Bottles
      Short
      • Director
      • 1963

    Videos2

    Light & Magic
    Trailer 2:11
    Light & Magic
    Light & Magic (Italian Subtitled)
    Trailer 2:12
    Light & Magic (Italian Subtitled)
    Light & Magic (Italian Subtitled)
    Trailer 2:12
    Light & Magic (Italian Subtitled)

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Alternative name
      • Dennis Murren
    • Born
      • November 1, 1946
      • Glendale, California, USA
    • Spouse
      • Zara PinfoldJuly 29, 1981 - present (2 children)
    • Publicity listings
      • 4 Interviews

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Is the first special effects artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6764 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
    • Quotes
      Most breakthroughs don't just happen by evolution. They are driven either by an individual or the demands of a project.
    • Trademark
        State-of-the-Art Oscar-winning special visual effects work combining motion-controlled live-action footage with CGI (Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), The Abyss (1989), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Jurassic Park (1993), & Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)).

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