Colin Chilvers, the Oscar-winning visual effects artist who made audiences believe a man could fly with Superman, has died. Chivlers passed away on November 19 in Fort Erie, Ontario, where he resided. He was 79 years old.
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His nephew, Chris Corbould, known for his VFX work on Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, and Spectre, confirmed the news of his passing.
“I am forever indebted to Colin as he instigated the start of my own career in special effects when he invited me onto the set of Tommy in 1974 when I was 16 years old and inspired me to make a career in the film industry,” Corbould recalled to The Hollywood Reporter.
The cause of Chilvers’ death has not been disclosed.
Among Chilvers’ most notable achievements, alongside The Who’s Tommy, were the visual effects that created the illusion of flight for Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder in Richard Donner’s 1978 classic Superman. This work earned him a share in a team Oscar for Visual Effects.
In 1986, Chilvers devised the stunning illusion that enabled Michael Jackson to seemingly defy gravity, leaning forward at a 45-degree angle without visible support in the “Smooth Criminal” music video. Chilvers not only directed this iconic video but also oversaw numerous other Jackson videos.
Colin Chilvers’ Visual Effects Appeared in Both Blockbusters and Cult Films
Chilvers’ post-Superman filmography, spanning the 1980s to the 2000s, boasts titles such as Superman 2, Superman 3, Bride of Chucky, X-Men, and K-19: The Widowmaker.
Born in London in 1945, he honed his skills at Hornsey College of Art. Briefly, he worked as an uncredited trainee animation director on the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Chilvers also contributed to the special effects of several unconventional and often countercultural films of the 1970s, including 200 Motels, Frankenstein: The True Story, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Lisztomania.
Chilvers also played a crucial role in introducing his four British nephews—Chris, Ian, Paul, and Neil Corbould—to the family business, where they each established themselves as seasoned special effects experts. In 2022, three of the brothers were shortlisted for Oscars in VFX categories for different films.
Chilvers’ last credit was the 2007 action film Shoot ‘Em Up, featuring Clive Owen. According to his friend Andrew Harris on 101.1FM, after retiring from Hollywood, Chilvers moved to Ontario and developed a passion for woodworking.