The Baron Harkonnen


Click on each image to bring up a large version of it

The Baron's costume, weighing one hundred pounds, was design by Bob Ringwood, made mostly out of thin canvas and strong rubber (colostomy bags). The 'fat-suit' was divided into pockets which were filled with a silicone gel to provide a fleshy movement. It took Kenneth McMillan 90 minutes to get into the suit, and a further 3 hours for the Baron's make-up. Two suits were created, one of which contain a water cooling system developed by NASA.

McMillan models his fat suit.

McMillan models his fat suit for director Lynch. Conceived by costume designer Bob Ringwood, the canvas and rubber suit was filled with silicone gel to impart an authentic sense of fleshiness.

John Stirber steadies McMillan.

Flying unit supervisor John Stirber lends a steadying hand as his aerial wire rig lifts McMillan off the floor.

McMillan in an elaborate tumbling mechanism.

Although the majority of the flying scenes were rigged and photographed on the Giedi Prime sets, the finale required an elaborate tumbling mechanism and was photographed against a blue screen.

The Baron flying

The Baron, laughing manically, flies through the air, thanks to an elaborate overhead tracking system.

The Baron, nude!

Kenneth McMillan, in his floating harness, with wire expert John Stirber.

The Baron's Room

The Baron slowly rises to the ceiling during a conversation with his 'doctor'.

The Baron having zits put on

Kenneth McMillan begins the long and painful makeup transformation that will turn him into the repulsive Baron. Makeup chief Gianetto De Rossi, right, will add layers of flab and boils.