Paul Warren (born 28 October 1974) is a British actor. He is best known for playing characters wearing heavy prosthetic makeup and/or creature suits, most notably in Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in films and television series such as Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), Andor (2022), and The Marvels (2023).
Warren also had creature acting roles in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), Clash of the Titans (2010), World War Z (2013), Ghost Stories (2017), Willow (2022) and Unwelcome (2023).
Early life Paul Warren was born in West London.
Career He began his film career in 2006 as a body double for Daniel Radcliffe on the film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007): "I spent much of my time 20ft up in the air on the hydraulic broomstick system and doing other physically demanding activities during the shoot, whilst building a good rapport with the cast/crew and a reputation as a versatile performer".
Later that same year, he was recommended to Stan Winston Studio as a good choice to portray an emaciated version of the title character (played by Mike Vogel) in The Deaths of Ian Stone. Crediting Winston and his team, he said, "This door opening into the world of acting under silicone and foam latex, is what ultimately led to a film career playing characters in heavy prosthetics and creature suits".
His first creature performing role was in 2009, where he played a tortured soul who pulls the boat across the River Styx in the remake of Clash of the Titans.
In 2010, Warren was used as a visual effect double for skinny Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger. He was the original template for Skinny Steve in the pre-production VFX head replacement tests and was on set for the recruitment scene as a visual reference. Body double duties for the rest of production (which total about 5% according to director Joe Johnston) were performed by stage actor Leander Deeny.
On getting the role of Varmik, one of the Hassk triplet's in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, he says, "It felt very surreal. I wasn't told what it was that I was being asked to go in for; only that the production was putting together a team of core creature performers for a film at Pinewood Studios. I had been recommended to them by creature designer and makeup artist Martin Rezard, who I had worked with previously on Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor: The Dark World."
Varmik is of particular interest to Star Wars fans due to his origin: "The character is based on 2 classic pieces of Ralph McQuarrie's Star Wars production art from 1975. The cantina showdown and early Chewbacca designs. The former is a particular favorite of J. J. Abrams' that he wanted to bring to life on screen."
In Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Warren plays a dowager alien called Gatha Elbaphay in the Canto Bight casino. The character created quite a buzz online when it was revealed by director Rian Johnson that the animatronic space pug Awgree she holds was based on Carrie Fisher's very own pet pooch Gary, affectionately known on set as Space Gary.
Warren is credited as Quadpaw performer in the Star Wars television series Andor. He was also a Troll in episode 6, season 1 of the TV series Willow. Both were produced by Lucasfilm.
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Warren joined the cast and crew of the killer goblin film Unwelcome. As well as playing the Redcap goblin Mr. Sniff, he also took on a new role of Creature Movement Coach for Nick Chopping's stunt team.
2023 saw Paul working once again with Neal Scanlan's creature workshop on the much anticipated sequel to Beetlejuice titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. He played the role of Shrinker Tom and was a puppeteer in the waiting room performing the hand for the man in a box.
Occasionally he still steps out from behind the prosthetics, for example when he provided mime/movement for Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One in 2018 and when he was a special action performer on Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) for that stunt scene in the church choreographed by the late Brad Allan.
Filmography Film Year Title RoleNotes 2006 Children of Men Injured Refugee 2007 The Deaths of Ian Stone Emaciated Ian Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Harry Potter Body double2010 Hereafter Dying Hospital Patient Clash of the Titans Charon's Tortured Soul Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 Ministry Wizard 2011 X-Men: First Class Young Magneto Body double Captain America: The First Avenger Skinny Steve Rogers Pre-production visual effects body double2012 Wrath of the Titans Hermes Deleted scene2013 Jack the Giant Slayer The Not-So-Strong Man The Tractate Middoth Rant's Ghost BBC film shown on Christmas Day 2013 Thor: The Dark World Marauder Creature The Last Days on Mars Infected Marko World War Z Russian Zombie Also visual effects movement reference 2014 Kingsman: The Secret Service Church congregation Stunts Guardians of the Galaxy Toothless 2015 Star Wars: The Force Awakens Varmik Credited as creature and droid puppeteer2017 Ghost Stories Woolly Star Wars: The Last Jedi Gatha Elbaphay Credited as creature and droid puppeteer 2018 Ready Player One IOI (special movement) 2018 Ghost Stories Woolly 2021 Lair Abyzou2023 The Marvels Skrull Also played the character 'Toothless' (deleted scene) Unwelcome Redcap Mr Sniff Also creature movement coach 2024 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Tom - Shrinker Also was a waiting room puppeteer for the man in a box
Television Year Title RoleNotes 2008 That Mitchell and Webb Look Cricketer Episode #2.3 2008–2009 Sorry, I've Got No Head Witchfinder 7 episodes2010 The Legend of Dick and Dom Goblin Episode: "Beastly" Pete versus Life Paul the Tramp Episode: "Fankoo" The Bill Drug Addict Episode: "Tombstone"2011 How TV Ruined Your Life Paul the Tramp Episode: "Aspiration" Holby City Drug Addict Episode: "Rescue Me" 2010–2011 EastEnders Dan Pearce 2012 Peep Show Supply Teacher Episode: "Business Secrets of the Pharaohs" 2014 Rev. Steve's Mate Episode #3.4 2016 Houdini and Doyle First Alien Episode: "The Monsters of Nethermoor"2022 Willow Troll Episode: "Prisoners of Skellin" Andor Quadpaw Performer Season 1 Episode 6
References
External links
Paul Warren on Twitter Paul Warren on Facebook Paul Warren on Instagram