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John Knoll Biography

Birth Name:John Knoll

Birth Place:Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Profession Visual effects, Actor, Writer, Producer, Special effects

Fast Facts

  • Graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in cinema production
  • Got his first job in the film industry due to the impressiveness of his college student film
  • Was inspired to become a filmmaker after watching "Star Wars․"
  • Started out working as a technical assistant for Light & Magic in 1986
  • Has served as the chief creative officer of Lucasfilm
  • Well known for his visual effects work on action films
  • Is one of the co-creators of the computer technology Photoshop

Awards

  • 1997Saturn Award-Best Special Effects: nominated
  • 1997OFTA Film Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 1997OFTA Film Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 1997Golden Satellite Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2000Oscar-Best Effects, Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2000Saturn Award-Best Special Effects: winner
  • 2000BAFTA Film Award-Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2000OFTA Film Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2001Video Premiere Award-Best Audio Commentary: nominated
  • 2003Oscar-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2003Saturn Award-Best Special Effects: winner
  • 2003INOCA-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2003OFTA Film Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2003PFCS Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2003VES Award-Best Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2004Oscar-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2004Saturn Award-Best Special Effects: nominated
  • 2004BAFTA Film Award-Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2004Gold Derby Film Award-Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2004INOCA-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2004OFTA Film Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2004PFCS Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2004Golden Satellite Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2004VES Award-Outstanding Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2005Satellite Award-Outstanding Visual Effects: winner
  • 2006Saturn Award-Best Special Effects: nominated
  • 2006Gold Derby Film Award-Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2006Hollywood Film Award-Visual Effects of the Year: winner
  • 2006OFTA Film Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2006Satellite Award-Best Visual Effects: winner
  • 2006VES Award-Outstanding Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2006VES Award-Best Single Visual Effect of the Year: nominated
  • 2007Oscar-Best Achievement in Visual Effects: winner
  • 2007Saturn Award-Best Special Effects: winner
  • 2007BAFTA Film Award-Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects: winner
  • 2007Gold Derby Film Award-Visual Effects: winner
  • 2007OFTA Film Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2007VES Award-Best Single Visual Effect of the Year: winner
  • 2007VES Award-Outstanding Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Motion Picture: winner
  • 2008Oscar-Best Achievement in Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2008Saturn Award-Best Special Effects: nominated
  • 2008BAFTA Film Award-Best Special Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2008Gold Derby Film Award-Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2008OFTA Film Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2008VES Award-Best Single Visual Effect of the Year: nominated
  • 2008VES Award-Outstanding Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2009IOFCP Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2010VES Award-Best Single Visual Effect of the Year: nominated
  • 2012OFTA Film Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2013Hollywood Film Award-Visual Effects of the Year: winner
  • 2013SLFCA Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2014Saturn Award-Best Special Effects: nominated
  • 2014BAFTA Film Award-Best Special Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2014CinEuphoria-Best Special Effects (Sound or Visual) - International Competition: nominated
  • 2014Gold Derby Film Award-Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2014INOCA-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2014IOMA-Best Special Effects (Migliori effetti speciali): nominated
  • 2014OFTA Film Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2014Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2014VES Award-Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2016ACCA-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2016NFCS Award-Best Visual Effects: winner
  • 2017Oscar-Best Achievement in Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2017Saturn Award-Best Special Effects: winner
  • 2017BAFTA Film Award-Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2017Dragon Award-Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie: nominated
  • 2017Gold Derby Film Award-Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2017INOCA-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2017OFTA Film Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2017SFCS Award-Best Visual Effects: nominated
  • 2017VES Award-Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature: nominated
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie: winner
  • 2021VES Award-Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project: nominated
  • 2025VES Award-Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode: nominated