Irving Block
Irving Block was a painter, illustrator, muralist, writer, and professor known for his work in Hollywood movies with visual effects, his authorship of the story behind the film Forbidden Planet, his work as a professor in academia, and his artwork. His daughter is the writer Francesca Lia Block.
Early life and education
Irving Alexander Block was born on December 2, 1910, in New York City. He pursued his education at New York University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, and later continued his artistic studies at the National Academy of Design. During the 1930s, Block became involved with the Works Projects Administration's Federal Art Project, a New Deal initiative aimed at supporting artists during the Great Depression.Career in Hollywood
In the 1940s, Block relocated to California, where he began his career in Hollywood. He joined 20th Century Fox as a matte shot artist, contributing visual effects and designs for various films. Block worked primarily on low-budget science fiction and horror films, gaining recognition for his ability to create innovative special effects using paintings and models. One of his most notable achievements was writing the original story for the iconic 1956 film Forbidden Planet, a classic in the science fiction genre. He is also credited with co-designing Robby the Robot, the iconic character from the same film.Over the years, Block contributed to numerous films, including Macabre, Kronos, The Caretakers, Alice in Wonderland, Atomic Submarine, Daniel in the Lion's Den, David and Goliath, The Exiles, The First Murder, Flight to Mars, From Caveman to Spaceman, Goya, Judgement of Solomon, Ripley's Believe it or Not, Stranger in my Skull, The Tower of Babel, and Venus and Adonis. His expertise in creating special effects with matte paintings and models made him a respected figure in the film industry.