John Alexander

A performer who specialized in wild, manic characterizations in action and adventure sagas, John Alexander made a memorably unusual debut as White Eyes, the leader of a tribe of apes in the Hugh Hudson-directed, Robert Towne-scripted period adventure Greystoke: Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984), a role that required him to wear a sophisticated gorilla suit by Rick Baker. Alexander then played one of the maniacal, punk rock-influenced "Wheelies" in Walter Murch's underrated effects-heavy fantasy Return to Oz (1985), and reprised his gorilla personage for several films of varying quality including Michael Apted's Dian Fossey biopic Gorillas in the Mist (1988), Baby's Day Out (1994), Fierce Creatures (1997), and Mighty Joe Young (1998). In 2008, director Guillermo del Toro recruited Alexander to portray the disembodied character of Johann Kraus (who uses a containment suit in order to survive), along with actor James Dodd and Seth MacFarlane (who supplied the character's voice), in the big-budget superhero fantasy Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008).

~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide