Biography

Carlo Rambaldi was born on September 15, 1925 in Vigarano Mainarda, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He is known for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Alien (1979) and King Kong (1976). He was married to Bruna Basso. He died on August 10, 2012 in Lamezia Terme, Calabria, Italy.

Visual effects wizard, famous for designing 'E.T.' and the mechanical head effects for the creatures in "Alien".

Father of Alex Rambaldi.

He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, Italy. He was an artist before going into films in 1957.

Father of Vittorio Rambaldi.

They use all the movements, but the head cuts are so quick, and the action is framed so predominantly in extreme closeup, that frequently it's impossible to tell what you are seeing! In my opinion, I gave the director 100 possibilities, and he used but 20. (on his Alien (1979) head effects innovations experience)

[on computerized special effects] The mystery's gone. It's as if a magician had revealed all of his tricks.

[on E.T.] The success of "E.T." means that it no longer is important to have Marlon Brando or John Travolta. If the special effect is created very well, most people don't think whether it's mechanical or not -- they're thinking about the story. When I finally saw the finished movie even I cried a little.

The secret of creating what technology is unable to express lies in the work of the artisan, who is able to develop characteristics that touch our deepest emotions.