Klaatu original mask with prototype helmet

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Klaatu original mask with prototype helmet

Klaatu's Mask was made by ILM's Creature Departement led by Phil Tippett. The helmet is a prototype helmet made for this character by Pete Ronzani, also at ILM.

A Kadas’sa’Nikto from Kintan, Klaatu was a henchman of Jabba the Hutt, and spent his time at the Hutt’s palace repairing skiffs, eagerly awaiting executions and amassing ever-larger gambling debts. Klaatu confronted Luke Skywalker during the battle at the Great Pit of Carkoon, but fled after Luke disarmed him with a stroke of his lightsaber. He died when Jabba’s sail barge exploded.

Klaatu was portrayed by Corey Dee Williams, the son of actor Billy Dee Williams, during the battle of Carkoon, filmed in Yuma, Arizona. Background work earlier in the film was done by John Simpkin during the initial scenes in Jabba's Palace filmed at Elstree Studios in the UK. Klaatu was named for Klaatu barada nikto, a phrase from the 1951 film The Day The Earth Stood Still. "Klaatu" is the name of the humanoid alien protagonist in the film.

During Jabba's Palace scenes, Klaatu was portrayed by English actor John Simpkin. John filmed these scenes in Elstree Studios in London. John was then replaced by Corey Dee Williams for the US desert shoots onboard the Sail Barge.