Bolaji Badejo | |
---|---|
Born | Bolaji Badejo 23 August 1953 |
Died | 22 December 1992
Lagos, Nigeria | (aged 39)
Cause of death | Sickle cell disease |
Nationality | Nigerian |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1979 |
Known for | Alien (1979) |
Height | 208 cm (6 ft 10 in) |
Bolaji Badejo ( (23 August 1953 – 22 December 1992) was a Nigerian visual artist )[1] and actor. He was known for playing the Alien in Ridley Scott's 1979 film Alien. [2] He was 6 feet 10 inches (208 cm) tall, [2] a height which convinced Scott to cast him in the role. It is his sole acting credit.
Born in Lagos, [3] Badejo was of Yoruba descent [4] and was the son of the director general of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. [2] He first studied in Nigeria, then in the United States before finally moving to London to specialize in graphic design. [2]
Badejo was discovered in a Soho pub by a member of director Ridley Scott's casting team, [5] who had been searching for a candidate to play the titular creature in his science fiction horror film Alien. Standing at 6 ft 10 inches in height, [2] he was chosen to play the part due to his height and "very long legs". [6] [7] He was described as "mild-mannered" and "withdrawn" on set, and special effects supervisor Nick Allder said "To have been the center of attraction… it was a bit of a shock to him." [8] [9] Alien was released in 1979 to significant critical and commercial success, [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] and Screen Rant wrote in a retrospective review that he "effectively brought the Xenomorph to life ... Badejo certainly helped make the creature one of the most recognizable monsters in horror." [15]
The success of Alien spawned the Alien franchise. Badejo was offered a role in a sequel, [8] but moved back to Nigeria in 1980; this led to the sequels incorporating more puppetry and animation alongside several suit performers. Alien is his sole film credit. [16] [15]
After his return to Nigeria, Badejo began running his own art gallery in 1983. [2] [9] He died from sickle cell disease at the age of 39. [16]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1979 | Alien | Alien / Xenomorph | Feature film [17] |
Bolaji Badejo | |
---|---|
Born | Bolaji Badejo 23 August 1953 |
Died | 22 December 1992
Lagos, Nigeria | (aged 39)
Cause of death | Sickle cell disease |
Nationality | Nigerian |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1979 |
Known for | Alien (1979) |
Height | 208 cm (6 ft 10 in) |
Bolaji Badejo ( (23 August 1953 – 22 December 1992) was a Nigerian visual artist )[1] and actor. He was known for playing the Alien in Ridley Scott's 1979 film Alien. [2] He was 6 feet 10 inches (208 cm) tall, [2] a height which convinced Scott to cast him in the role. It is his sole acting credit.
Born in Lagos, [3] Badejo was of Yoruba descent [4] and was the son of the director general of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. [2] He first studied in Nigeria, then in the United States before finally moving to London to specialize in graphic design. [2]
Badejo was discovered in a Soho pub by a member of director Ridley Scott's casting team, [5] who had been searching for a candidate to play the titular creature in his science fiction horror film Alien. Standing at 6 ft 10 inches in height, [2] he was chosen to play the part due to his height and "very long legs". [6] [7] He was described as "mild-mannered" and "withdrawn" on set, and special effects supervisor Nick Allder said "To have been the center of attraction… it was a bit of a shock to him." [8] [9] Alien was released in 1979 to significant critical and commercial success, [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] and Screen Rant wrote in a retrospective review that he "effectively brought the Xenomorph to life ... Badejo certainly helped make the creature one of the most recognizable monsters in horror." [15]
The success of Alien spawned the Alien franchise. Badejo was offered a role in a sequel, [8] but moved back to Nigeria in 1980; this led to the sequels incorporating more puppetry and animation alongside several suit performers. Alien is his sole film credit. [16] [15]
After his return to Nigeria, Badejo began running his own art gallery in 1983. [2] [9] He died from sickle cell disease at the age of 39. [16]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1979 | Alien | Alien / Xenomorph | Feature film [17] |