Terri Hardin
Encyclopedia
Terri Hardin is a Muppet puppeter, actress and stand-up comedienne.
A child of a mixed marriage during an era where such marriages were frowned upon (and even illegal in certain areas of the United States), Hardin learned to appreciate art at an early age from her Caucasian mother, a talented painter who worked in watercolors.
As a grade school student, Hardin immersed herself in both art and drama, landing her first role at age six as a singer in a school Christmas pageant in which she sang Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
. Chosen because hers was the only voice that could project to the rear of the auditorium, she was, in her own words, "bitten by the acting bug" as a result. Hardin's next role came in the sixth grade when she was cast as the Cowardly Lion
in a school production of The Wizard of Oz
. The opportunity to see master puppeter Shari Lewis
perform inspired Hardin to create her own version of Lewis' iconic Lamb Chop
.
It would be Hardin's skill as a puppeter that opened doors for her in Hollywood since she was concerned about her looks, fearing "she looked too weird to be used." Her first Hollywood job came during her college years in which she built the stillsuits for the film version of Dune
and acted as a stunt double for Shawn Young. A job on the Columbia Pictures
blockbuster Ghostbusters
followed in which she played both of the demon dogs at the "Temple of Zuul" and served as a puppeter for both the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man
and the ghost librarian seen at the opening of the film.
Hardin was contacted by the Disney Studios
in 1987 during her stint with Universal Studios Hollywood
as a sculptor creating "walk-around" character costumes. After eight interviews, she was hired and given the assignment of helping design the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
and DragonsLair attractions at Disneyland Paris. Her passion did not go unnoticed and she was given the opportunity to design the entire DragonsLair attraction with the blessing of her supervisor, Tony Baxter
.
Despite her success, Hardin still dreamed of a job with Disney's sculpting team. Her audition consisted of creating both an animation maquette and full-sized head of Song of the South
's Brer Fox. She got the position and was assigned the same cubicle her personal hero Blaine Gibson worked at years prior. She even had the opportunity to review Gibson's own documentation.
Vistiors to the Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland
and Walt Disney World can see Hardin's work both in Disneyland's Splash Mountain
(her sculpture is that of Brer Rabbit lounging on a boat) as well as in Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D at Disney's California Adventure
.
Terri Hardin lives in Southern California with her husband Lindsey Jackson, stepson Ian and her miniature bulldog Tillie.
A child of a mixed marriage during an era where such marriages were frowned upon (and even illegal in certain areas of the United States), Hardin learned to appreciate art at an early age from her Caucasian mother, a talented painter who worked in watercolors.
As a grade school student, Hardin immersed herself in both art and drama, landing her first role at age six as a singer in a school Christmas pageant in which she sang Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
"Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is a Christmas song. It was written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie, and was first sung on Eddie Cantor's radio show in November 1934....
. Chosen because hers was the only voice that could project to the rear of the auditorium, she was, in her own words, "bitten by the acting bug" as a result. Hardin's next role came in the sixth grade when she was cast as the Cowardly Lion
Cowardly Lion
The Cowardly Lion is the main character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. He is a Lion, but he talks and interacts with humans....
in a school production of The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1902 stage play)
The Wizard of Oz was a 1902 musical extravaganza based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, which was originally published in 1900...
. The opportunity to see master puppeter Shari Lewis
Shari Lewis
Shari Lewis was an American ventriloquist, puppeteer, and children's television show host, most popular during the 1960s and 1990s...
perform inspired Hardin to create her own version of Lewis' iconic Lamb Chop
Lamb Chop (puppet)
Lamb Chop is a sock puppet sheep created by comedian and ventriloquist Shari Lewis. In 1957, Lamb Chop, a ewe, first appeared with Lewis on Hi Mom, a local morning show that aired on WNBC in New York....
.
It would be Hardin's skill as a puppeter that opened doors for her in Hollywood since she was concerned about her looks, fearing "she looked too weird to be used." Her first Hollywood job came during her college years in which she built the stillsuits for the film version of Dune
Dune (film)
Dune is a 1984 science fiction film written and directed by David Lynch, based on the 1965 Frank Herbert novel of the same name. The film stars Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides, and includes an ensemble of well-known American and European actors in supporting roles. It was filmed at the Churubusco...
and acted as a stunt double for Shawn Young. A job on the Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
blockbuster Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters is a 1984 American science fiction comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The film stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis and follows three eccentric parapsychologists in New York City, who start a...
followed in which she played both of the demon dogs at the "Temple of Zuul" and served as a puppeter for both the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man
Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man
The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is a fictional mascot from the Ghostbusters franchise of media, which sometimes appears as a giant, lumbering paranormal monster. It becomes the physical manifestation of the Sumerian demonic deity Gozer...
and the ghost librarian seen at the opening of the film.
Hardin was contacted by the Disney Studios
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
in 1987 during her stint with Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the unincorporated Universal City community of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use...
as a sculptor creating "walk-around" character costumes. After eight interviews, she was hired and given the assignment of helping design the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is an indoor/outdoor mine train roller coaster located in Frontierland at several Disneyland-style Disney Parks worldwide...
and DragonsLair attractions at Disneyland Paris. Her passion did not go unnoticed and she was given the opportunity to design the entire DragonsLair attraction with the blessing of her supervisor, Tony Baxter
Tony Baxter (imagineer)
Tony Wayne Baxter is currently Senior Vice President, Creative Development, Walt Disney Imagineering, and is responsible for overall creative direction for the Disneyland Resort....
.
Despite her success, Hardin still dreamed of a job with Disney's sculpting team. Her audition consisted of creating both an animation maquette and full-sized head of Song of the South
Song of the South
Song of the South is a 1946 American musical film produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film is based on the Uncle Remus cycle of stories by Joel Chandler Harris. The live actors provide a sentimental frame story, in which Uncle Remus relates the folk tales of the...
's Brer Fox. She got the position and was assigned the same cubicle her personal hero Blaine Gibson worked at years prior. She even had the opportunity to review Gibson's own documentation.
Vistiors to the Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disneyland
is a 115 acre theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Disney park to be built outside of the United States and opened on April 15, 1983...
and Walt Disney World can see Hardin's work both in Disneyland's Splash Mountain
Splash Mountain
Splash Mountain is a themed log flume attraction at Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, and the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort, based on the characters, stories and songs from the 1946 Disney film Song of the South...
(her sculpture is that of Brer Rabbit lounging on a boat) as well as in Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D at Disney's California Adventure
Disney's California Adventure
Disney California Adventure, or simply California Adventure, is a theme park in Anaheim, California, adjacent to Disneyland Park and part of the larger Disneyland Resort. It opened on February 8, 2001 as Disney's California Adventure Park. The park is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and...
.
Terri Hardin lives in Southern California with her husband Lindsey Jackson, stepson Ian and her miniature bulldog Tillie.