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Joe Viskocil(1952-2014)

  • Special Effects
  • Visual Effects
  • Production Department
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Joe Viskocil was born on 21 December 1952. He is known for Independence Day (1996), Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) and The Terminator (1984). He died on 11 August 2014 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
BornDecember 21, 1952
DiedAugust 11, 2014(61)
BornDecember 21, 1952
DiedAugust 11, 2014(61)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
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  • Won 1 Oscar
    • 4 wins & 2 nominations total

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Known for

Independence Day (1996)
Independence Day
7.0
  • Special Effects
  • 1996
Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, and Kenny Baker in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
8.6
  • Visual Effects
  • 1977
Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator (1984)
The Terminator
8.1
  • Visual Effects(as Joseph Viskocil)
  • 1984
Cas Anvar, Vera Farmiga, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jeffrey Wright, Michelle Monaghan, and Michael Arden in Source Code (2011)
Source Code
7.5
  • Special Effects
  • 2011

Credits

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IMDbPro

Special Effects



  • Adrian Paul, Danny Trejo, Nick Chinlund, Kevin Grevioux, Morgan Schmidt, Cire Hensman, Matthew Hensman, Lance Miccio, Fahim Fazli, David Velez, Mingyu Chu, Gustavo Sainz de la Peña, and Matt Musgrove in The Prey: Legend of Karnoctus (2022)
    The Prey: Legend of Karnoctus
    3.6
    • special effects supervisor
    • 2022
  • Glow (2013)
    Glow
    7.2
    Short
    • special effects supervisor
    • 2013
  • Rob Schneider, Adrien Brody, Lindsay Lohan, and Michelle Rodriguez in InAPPropriate Comedy (2013)
    InAPPropriate Comedy
    2.7
    • special effects
    • 2013
  • Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta! (2012)
    Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta!
    4.4
    Video
    • special effects technician (as Joseph Viskocil)
    • 2012
  • Supah Ninjas (2011)
    Supah Ninjas
    5.8
    TV Series
    • special effects foreman
    • 2011
  • Cas Anvar, Vera Farmiga, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jeffrey Wright, Michelle Monaghan, and Michael Arden in Source Code (2011)
    Source Code
    7.5
    • pyrotechnics consultant
    • 2011
  • Love & Vengeance
    Short
    • special effects
    • 2010
  • Dorito-hibition!
    Short
    • special effects supervisor
    • 2010
  • Judy Greer and Patrick Wilson in Barry Munday (2010)
    Barry Munday
    5.8
    • special effects technician (as Joseph Viskocil)
    • 2010
  • The Sierra (2010)
    The Sierra
    5.5
    Short
    • special effects
    • 2010
  • An American Tragedy (2007)
    An American Tragedy
    8.1
    Short
    • special effects
    • 2007
  • Lucifer (2007)
    Lucifer
    5.2
    Short
    • special effects
    • 2007
  • 10.5: Apocalypse (2006)
    10.5: Apocalypse
    4.5
    TV Mini Series
    • special effects
    • 2006
  • Slip (2006)
    Slip
    4.4
    • special effects
    • 2006
  • Matt Stone, Trey Parker, Masasa Moyo, and Kristen Miller in Team America: World Police (2004)
    Team America: World Police
    7.2
    • special effects supervisor (as Joseph Viskocil)
    • 2004

Visual Effects



  • Adrian Paul, Danny Trejo, Nick Chinlund, Kevin Grevioux, Morgan Schmidt, Cire Hensman, Matthew Hensman, Lance Miccio, Fahim Fazli, David Velez, Mingyu Chu, Gustavo Sainz de la Peña, and Matt Musgrove in The Prey: Legend of Karnoctus (2022)
    The Prey: Legend of Karnoctus
    3.6
    • visual effects supervisor
    • 2022
  • Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
    Journey to the Center of the Earth
    5.8
    • miniature effects supervisor
    • 2008
  • Sean Connery, Jason Flemyng, Tony Curran, Naseeruddin Shah, Stuart Townsend, Shane West, and Peta Wilson in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
    The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
    5.8
    • pyrotechnic supervisor: Cinema Production Services Inc. (as Joseph Viskocil)
    • 2003
  • Gary Sinise, Madeleine Stowe, and Mekhi Phifer in Impostor (2001)
    Impostor
    6.2
    • pyrotechnic supervisor: Cinema Production Services (as Joseph Viskocil)
    • 2001
  • Battlefield Earth (2000)
    Battlefield Earth
    2.5
    • miniature special effects supervisor
    • 2000
  • Charlize Theron and Ben Affleck in Reindeer Games (2000)
    Reindeer Games
    5.8
    • pyrotechnic supervisor: miniatures, Cinema Production Services
    • 2000
  • Neve Campbell, Parker Posey, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, and Deon Richmond in Scream 3 (2000)
    Scream 3
    5.7
    • pyrotechnics supervisor: Fantasy II Film Effects (as Joseph Viskocil)
    • 2000
  • Mafia! (1998)
    Mafia!
    5.6
    • pyrotechnics supervisor: Stargate Films
    • 1998
  • Liv Tyler, Bruce Willis, and Ben Affleck in Armageddon (1998)
    Armageddon
    6.7
    • pyro / special effects crew chief: Digital Domain
    • 1998
  • Godzilla (1998)
    Godzilla
    5.5
    • miniature special effects supervisor (as Joseph Viskocil)
    • 1998
  • Volcano (1997)
    Volcano
    5.6
    • miniature effects supervisor: mechanical effects
    • miniature pyrotechnics supervisor (as Joseph Viskocil, as Joseph Viskocil)
    • 1997
  • Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 (1995)
    Apollo 13
    7.7
    • pyrotechnics supervisor: Digital Domain
    • 1995
  • Keanu Reeves in Johnny Mnemonic (1995)
    Johnny Mnemonic
    5.6
    • pyrotechnic supervisor: Fantasy II Film Effects
    • 1995
  • Tom Cruise and Kirsten Dunst in Interview with the Vampire (1994)
    Interview with the Vampire
    7.5
    • visual effects pyrotechnic supervisor: Digital Domain
    • 1994
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger in True Lies (1994)
    True Lies
    7.3
    • pyrotechnics supervisor: Digital Domain (as Joseph Viskocil)
    • 1994

Production Department



  • Bob Burns, Glenn Johnson, Kathy Roach Anderson, and Art Laing in The Further Adventures of Major Mars (1976)
    The Further Adventures of Major Mars
    7.8
    Short
    • production staff (uncredited)
    • 1976

Personal details

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  • Alternative names
    • Joseph Viscocil
  • Born
    • December 21, 1952
  • Died
    • August 11, 2014
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(complications from liver and kidney failure)

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    He had a hand in various special effects tasks. As a powderman and pyrotechnician he became regarded as the industry's leading expert in creating spectacular looking explosions in miniature.

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