Wynn Thomas is an American film production designer. Thomas is particularly associated with the films of Spike Lee. Thomas has been described as the first African-American production designer in motion pictures.
Biography Wynn Thomas studied for an MFA in Theater Design at Boston University. He spent many years working in theater before working alongside Richard Sylbert on The Cotton Club for director Francis Ford Coppola. Thomas designed theater sets for the Negro Ensemble Company, Arena Stage of Washington, D.C., the Great Lakes Shakespeare Company, and Joe Papp's Public Theatre. He was the recipient of an Academy Honorary Award at the 16th Annual Governors Awards in 2025. Thomas has designed the sets for 11 films by Spike Lee. He has also worked with the directors Tim Burton, Robert Townsend, Robert De Niro, and Ron Howard.
Filmography YearTitleProduction roleDirectorNotes1981Heavy MetalBackground Artist Jack Stokes(segment "Den")CBS Children's Mystery TheatreProduction Designer Robert FuestEpisode: "Mystery at Fire Island"1982American PlayhouseAssistant Art Director Lloyd RichardsEpisode: "Medal of Honor Rag"1984Beat StreetArt DirectorStan Lathan1986The Money PitAssistant Art DirectorRichard BenjaminShe's Gotta Have ItProduction DesignerSpike LeeABC Afterschool SpecialsThomas SchlammeEpisode: "The Gift of Amazing Grace"Brighton Beach MemoirsAssistant Art DirectorGene Saks1987Scared StiffProduction DesignerRichard FriedmanAs Wynn P. ThomasEddie Murphy: RawRobert Townsend1988School DazeSpike LeeHomeboyArt DirectorMichael Seresin1989The PackageAndrew DavisDo the Right ThingProduction DesignerSpike Lee1990Mo' Better Blues1991The Five HeartbeatsRobert TownsendJungle FeverSpike Lee1992Malcolm X1993A Bronx TaleRobert De Niro1994CrooklynSpike Lee1995To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie NewmarBeeban Kidron1996Mars Attacks!Tim Burton1997Wag the DogBarry Levinson1998He Got GameSpike LeeWitness to the MobThaddeus O'SullivanTV Movie1999Analyze ThisHarold Ramis2000Keeping the FaithEdward NortonThe Original Kings of ComedySpike LeeAs Wynn P. Thomas2001A Huey P. Newton StoryTv MovieA Beautiful MindRon Howard2002Analyze ThatHarold Ramis2005Cinderella ManRon Howard2006Inside ManSpike Lee2007BreachBilly Ray2008Get SmartPeter Segal2010All Good ThingsAndrew Jarecki2012The Odd Life of Timothy GreenPeter HedgesMade in Jersey Mark Waters4 Episodes2013Grudge MatchPeter Segal2014How to Get Away with MurderMichael OfferEpisode: "Pilot"2016War on Everyone John Michael McDonaghAlmost ChristmasDavid E. TalbertHidden FiguresTheodore Melfi2018Alex StrangeloveCraig Johnson2019The Sun is Also a StarRy Russo-YoungShaftTim Story2020Da 5 BloodsSpike Lee2021King RichardReinaldo Marcus Green2022DevotionJ. D. Dillard202380 for BradyKyle MarvinLawmen: Bass ReevesChristina Alexandra VorosTV Mini Series
Legacy Thomas's films were shown at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York from June-July 2021 as part of a retrospective of his work.
MOMA praised his work as encompassing the "campy, candy-colored sci-fi sets" of Mars Attacks! to the "clubs, prison, and homes" of Malcolm X in his meticulous crafting of reality "for characters to inhabit in any era".
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