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Birthplace
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Birthday
October 6, 1962Deathday
N/A
John Knoll
John Knoll (born October 6, 1962) is an American visual effects supervisor and chief creative officer (CCO) at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). One of the original creators of Adobe Photoshop (along with his brother, Thomas Knoll), he has also worked as visual effects supervisor on the Star Wars prequels and the 1997 special editions of the original trilogy. He also served as ILM's visual effects supervisor for Star Trek Generations and Star Trek: First Contact, as well as the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Along with Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and Allen Hall, Knoll and the trio's work on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest earned them the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
Knoll has been praised by directors James Cameron, Gore Verbinski, Guillermo del Toro, and Brad Bird. Del Toro, who worked with Knoll for the first time on Pacific Rim, stated "He basically has the heart of a kid and the mind of a scientist, and that's a great combination."
Knoll is also the inventor of Knoll Light Factory, a lens flare generating software inspired by his work at Industrial Light and Magic.
John Knoll awards and nominations
| Year | Category | Subcategory | Info | Movie/Tv Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Winner Primetime Emmy | Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie (Joe Bauer, Richard Bluff, Abbigail Keller, Hal T. Hickel, Roy K. Cancino, John Knoll, Enrico Damm, John Rosengrant, Joseph Kasparian) | The Mandalorian |
| 2017 | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Winner Saturn Award | Best Special Effects (John Knoll, Mohen Leo, Hal T. Hickel, Neil Corbould) | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story |
| 2016 | Nevada Film Critics Society | Winner NFCS Award | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Mohen Leo, Hal T. Hickel, Neil Corbould) | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story |
| 2013 | Hollywood Film Awards | Winner Hollywood Film Award | Visual Effects of the Year (John Knoll) | Pacific Rim |
| 2007 | Academy Awards, USA | Winner Oscar | Best Achievement in Visual Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, Allen Hall) | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest |
| 2007 | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Winner Saturn Award | Best Special Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, Allen Hall) | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest |
| 2007 | BAFTA Awards | Winner BAFTA Film Award | Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, Allen Hall) | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest |
| 2007 | Gold Derby Awards | Winner Gold Derby Award | Visual Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, Allen Hall) | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest |
| 2007 | Visual Effects Society Awards | Winner VES Award | Outstanding Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Motion Picture (John Knoll, Jill Brooks, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson) | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest |
| 2007 | Visual Effects Society Awards | Winner VES Award | Best Single Visual Effect of the Year (John Knoll, Ned Gorman, Jakub Pistecky, Tom Fejes) | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest |
| 2006 | Hollywood Film Awards | Winner Hollywood Film Award | Visual Effects of the Year (John Knoll) | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest |
| 2006 | Satellite Awards | Winner Satellite Award | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel) | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest |
| 2005 | Satellite Awards | Winner Satellite Award | Outstanding Visual Effects (John Knoll, Roger Guyett, Rob Coleman, Brian Gernand) | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith |
| 2003 | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Winner Saturn Award | Best Special Effects (Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll, Ben Snow) | Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones |
| 2000 | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Winner Saturn Award | Best Special Effects (Rob Coleman, John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires) | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace |
| Year | Category | Subcategory | Info | Movie/Tv Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Visual Effects Society Awards | Nominee VES Award | Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode (Paul V. Molles, John Knoll, Jhon Alvarado, Jeff Capogreco) | Star Wars: Skeleton Crew |
| 2021 | Visual Effects Society Awards | Nominee VES Award | Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project (John Knoll, John Goodson, Dan Patrascu, Rene Garcia) | The Mandalorian |
| 2017 | Academy Awards, USA | Nominee Oscar | Best Achievement in Visual Effects (John Knoll, Mohen Leo, Hal T. Hickel, Neil Corbould) | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story |
| 2017 | BAFTA Awards | Nominee BAFTA Film Award | Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects (Neil Corbould, Hal T. Hickel, Mohen Leo, John Knoll, Nigel Sumner) | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story |
| 2017 | Dragon Awards | Nominee Dragon Award | Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie (Gareth Edwards, Chris Weitz, Tony Gilroy, John Knoll, Gary Whitta) | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story |
| 2017 | Gold Derby Awards | Nominee Gold Derby Award | Visual Effects (John Knoll, Mohen Leo, Hal T. Hickel, Neil Corbould) | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story |
| 2017 | International Online Cinema Awards (INOCA) | Nominee INOCA | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Mohen Leo, Hal T. Hickel, Neil Corbould) | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story |
| 2017 | Online Film & Television Association | Nominee OFTA Film Award | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Mohen Leo, Hal T. Hickel, Neil Corbould) | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story |
| 2017 | Visual Effects Society Awards | Nominee VES Award | Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature (John Knoll, Erin D. O'Connor, Hal T. Hickel, Nigel Sumner, Neil Corbould) | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story |
| 2016 | Awards Circuit Community Awards | Nominee ACCA | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Mohen Leo, Hal T. Hickel, Neil Corbould) | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story |
| 2014 | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Nominee Saturn Award | Best Special Effects (John Knoll, James E. Price, Clay Pinney, Rocco Larizza) | Pacific Rim |
| 2014 | BAFTA Awards | Nominee BAFTA Film Award | Best Special Visual Effects (Hal T. Hickel, John Knoll, Lindy DeQuattro, Nigel Sumner) | Pacific Rim |
| 2014 | CinEuphoria Awards | Nominee CinEuphoria | Best Special Effects (Sound or Visual) - International Competition (John Knoll) | Pacific Rim |
| 2014 | Gold Derby Awards | Nominee Gold Derby Award | Visual Effects (Hal T. Hickel, John Knoll, Lindy DeQuattro, Nigel Sumner) | Pacific Rim |
| 2014 | International Online Cinema Awards (INOCA) | Nominee INOCA | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Lindy DeQuattro, Nigel Sumner) | Pacific Rim |
| 2014 | Italian Online Movie Awards (IOMA) | Nominee IOMA | Best Special Effects (Migliori effetti speciali) (John Knoll, James E. Price, Clay Pinney, Rocco Larizza) | Pacific Rim |
| 2014 | Online Film & Television Association | Nominee OFTA Film Award | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Susan Greenhow, Christopher Raimo, Hal T. Hickel) | Pacific Rim |
| 2014 | Seattle Film Critics Awards | Nominee Seattle Film Critics Award | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, James E. Price, Lindy DeQuattro, Hal T. Hickel) | Pacific Rim |
| 2014 | Visual Effects Society Awards | Nominee VES Award | Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture (John Knoll, Susan Greenhow, Christopher Raimo, Hal T. Hickel) | Pacific Rim |
| 2013 | St. Louis Film Critics Association, US | Nominee SLFCA Award | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Susan Greenhow, Christopher Raimo, Hal T. Hickel) | Pacific Rim |
| 2010 | Visual Effects Society Awards | Nominee VES Award | Best Single Visual Effect of the Year (Jill Brooks, John Knoll, Frank Losasso Petterson, Tory Mercer) | Avatar |
| 2009 | International Online Film Critics' Poll | Nominee IOFCP Award | Best Visual Effects (John Frazier, John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson) | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End |
| 2008 | Academy Awards, USA | Nominee Oscar | Best Achievement in Visual Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, John Frazier) | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End |
| 2008 | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Nominee Saturn Award | Best Special Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, John Frazier) | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End |
| 2008 | BAFTA Awards | Nominee BAFTA Film Award | Best Special Visual Effects (John Knoll, Charles Gibson, Hal T. Hickel, John Frazier) | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End |
| 2008 | Gold Derby Awards | Nominee Gold Derby Award | Visual Effects (John Frazier, Charles Gibson, Hal T. Hickel, John Knoll) | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End |
| 2008 | Online Film & Television Association | Nominee OFTA Film Award | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, John Frazier) | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End |
| 2008 | Visual Effects Society Awards | Nominee VES Award | Outstanding Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Motion Picture (John Knoll, Jill Brooks, Hal T. Hickel, Charlie Gibson) | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End |
| 2008 | Visual Effects Society Awards | Nominee VES Award | Best Single Visual Effect of the Year (John Knoll, Jill Brooks, François Lambert, Philippe Rebours) | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End |
| 2007 | Online Film & Television Association | Nominee OFTA Film Award | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, Allen Hall) | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest |
| 2006 | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Nominee Saturn Award | Best Special Effects (John Knoll, Roger Guyett, Rob Coleman, Brian Gernand) | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith |
| 2006 | Gold Derby Awards | Nominee Gold Derby Award | Visual Effects (John Knoll, Roger Guyett, Rob Coleman, Brian Gernand) | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith |
| 2006 | Online Film & Television Association | Nominee OFTA Film Award | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Roger Guyett, Rob Coleman, Brian Gernand) | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith |
| 2006 | Visual Effects Society Awards | Nominee VES Award | Outstanding Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Motion Picture (John Knoll, Roger Guyett, Rob Coleman, Denise Ream) | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith |
| 2006 | Visual Effects Society Awards | Nominee VES Award | Best Single Visual Effect of the Year (John Knoll, Jill Brooks, David Weitzberg, Jeff Sutherland) | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith |
| 2004 | Academy Awards, USA | Nominee Oscar | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, Terry D. Frazee) | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl |
| 2004 | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Nominee Saturn Award | Best Special Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Terry D. Frazee, Charles Gibson) | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl |
| 2004 | BAFTA Awards | Nominee BAFTA Film Award | Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Terry D. Frazee, Charles Gibson) | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl |
| 2004 | Gold Derby Awards | Nominee Gold Derby Award | Visual Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, Terry D. Frazee) | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl |
| 2004 | International Online Cinema Awards (INOCA) | Nominee INOCA | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, Terry D. Frazee) | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl |
| 2004 | Online Film & Television Association | Nominee OFTA Film Award | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, Terry D. Frazee) | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl |
| 2004 | Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards | Nominee PFCS Award | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, Terry D. Frazee) | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl |
| 2004 | Satellite Awards | Nominee Golden Satellite Award | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll) | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl |
| 2004 | Visual Effects Society Awards | Nominee VES Award | Outstanding Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Motion Picture (John Knoll, Patrick T. Myers, Hal T. Hickel, Jill Brooks) | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl |
| 2003 | Academy Awards, USA | Nominee Oscar | Best Visual Effects (Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll, Ben Snow) | Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones |
| 2003 | International Online Cinema Awards (INOCA) | Nominee INOCA | Best Visual Effects (Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll, Ben Snow) | Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones |
| 2003 | Online Film & Television Association | Nominee OFTA Film Award | Best Visual Effects (Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll, Ben Snow) | Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones |
| 2003 | Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards | Nominee PFCS Award | Best Visual Effects (Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll, Ben Snow) | Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones |
| 2003 | Visual Effects Society Awards | Nominee VES Award | Best Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Motion Picture (John Knoll, Ben Snow, Pablo Helman, Rob Coleman) | Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones |
| 2001 | DVD Exclusive Awards | Nominee Video Premiere Award | Best Audio Commentary (George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires) | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace |
| 2000 | Academy Awards, USA | Nominee Oscar | Best Effects, Visual Effects (John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires, Rob Coleman) | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace |
| 2000 | BAFTA Awards | Nominee BAFTA Film Award | Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects (John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires, Rob Coleman) | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace |
| 2000 | Online Film & Television Association | Nominee OFTA Film Award | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires, Rob Coleman) | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace |
| 1997 | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Nominee Saturn Award | Best Special Effects (John Knoll, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)) | Star Trek: First Contact |
| 1997 | Online Film & Television Association | Nominee OFTA Film Award | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Adam Howard, George Murphy, Scott Rader) | Star Trek: First Contact |
| 1997 | Satellite Awards | Nominee Golden Satellite Award | Best Visual Effects (John Knoll) | Star Trek: First Contact |
John Knoll is known for...
John Knoll profile photos
