Known For
Crew
Born
Jun 29, 1939
Died
Jun 15, 2026
Place of Birth
Surrey, England, UK
Credits
75 titles
Brian Johnson
Biography
Brian Johncock (born 29 June 1939) is a British designer and director of film and television special effects. He changed his surname to Johnson during the 1960s. Joining the team of special effects artist Les Bowie, Johnson started his career behind the scenes for Bowie Films on productions such as On the Buses, and for Hammer Films. He is known for his special effects work on TV series including Thunderbirds (1965–66) and films including Alien (1979), for which he received the 1980 Academy Award for Best Visual Effects (shared with H. R. Giger, Carlo Rambaldi, Dennis Ayling and Nick Allder). Previously, he had built miniature spacecraft models for Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Johnson's work on Space: 1999 influenced the effects of the Star Wars films of the 1970s and 1980s. Impressed by his work, George Lucas visited Johnson during the production of the TV series to offer him the role of effects supervisor for the 1977 film. Having already been commissioned for the second series of Space: 1999, Johnson was unable to accept at the time. He worked on the sequel, The Empire Strikes Back (1980), whose special effects were recognised in the form of a 1981 Special Achievement Academy Award (which Johnson shared with Richard Edlund, Dennis Muren and Bruce Nicholson).
Known For
Filmography
Space: 1999 4K Double Bill - Breakaway and The Metamorph
Special Effects
Thunderbirds 60th Anniversary Double Bill - Trapped in the Sky / Terror in New York City
Special Effects Assistant
Prisoners in Space
Special Effects
The Eagle Obsession
Self
Century 21 Revisited
Himself
2001: Creating Kubrick’s Space Odyssey
Himself
Family Vanished
Det. Flynn
Century 21 Slough
Himself
This Is Supermarionation
Special Effects
Filmed in Supermarionation
Self
The Beast Within: Making Alien
Self
2001: The Making of a Myth
Self
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Brad Malone
The Alien Legacy
Self
Space Truckers
Special Effects
Highlander III: The Sorcerer
Visual Effects Supervisor
Their Finest Hour
Writer
Caged Fury
Stunts
Slipstream
Special Effects
Aliens
Special Effects
Spies Like Us
Special Effects
The NeverEnding Story
Special Effects
Krull
Special Effects
The Pirates of Penzance
Special Effects Supervisor
Journey Through the Black Sun
Special Effects
Countdown to Disaster
Special Effects
Dragonslayer
Special Effects
SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back
Self
Alien Attack
Special Effects
The Empire Strikes Back
Special Effects
Alien
Special Effects
The Medusa Touch
Special Effects Supervisor
Revenge of the Pink Panther
Special Effects
The Glitterball
Special Effects
The Day After Tomorrow: Into Infinity
Special Effects
Space: 1999
Visual Effects Director
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth
Special Effects
Taste the Blood of Dracula
Special Effects
Moon Zero Two
Special Effects
2001: A Space Odyssey
Special Effects
Quatermass and the Pit
Special Effects Assistant
Thunderbirds: Security Hazard
Special Effects
Thunderbirds: The Cham-Cham
Special Effects
Thunderbirds: Martian Invasion
Special Effects
Thunderbirds: Attack of the Alligators!
Special Effects
Thunderbirds: Brink of Disaster
Special Effects
Thunderbirds: The Duchess Assignment
Special Effects
Thunderbirds: Move - And You're Dead
Special Effects
Thunderbirds: Danger at Ocean Deep
Special Effects
Thunderbirds: Cry Wolf
Special Effects