A Conversation with Leif Tilden (Donatello, Dinosaurs, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls)

About this episode

Leif Tilden shares his experiences and insights from his career in puppetry and performance, including his work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Dinosaurs.

I sit down with Leif Tilden, the man behind Donatello in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films. From the legendary Jim Henson Creature Shop to the prehistoric set of Dinosaurs, Leif shares incredible stories from a career spent bringing beloved characters to life through physical performance and puppetry. In this episode, Leif discusses his roots in experimental theater at NYU and how that unique training prepared him for the intense demands of suit performance. You will hear firsthand accounts of what it was really like working with director Steve Barron, navigating the complex animatronics of the turtle suits, and the genuine brotherhood formed between the four actors under the shells. Leif takes me behind the scenes of the hit show Dinosaurs where he played Robbie Sinclair and operated the arms for the formidable BP Richfield. He also opens up about the evolution of his career into directing and location managing, offering a rare look at the logistics of filming in Los Angeles. Plus, some wild stories from his time as a gorilla performer. Whether you are a TMNT super-fan or a lover of practical effects and puppetry, this conversation is packed with nostalgia and…

People in this episode

Host: Canned Air

Guest: Leif Tilden

Topics covered

• puppetry
• suit performance
• behind the scenes
• TMNT
• Dinosaurs
• experimental theater

Keywords

• Leif Tilden
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Dinosaurs
• puppetry
• suit performance
• experimental theater
• behind the scenes
• Steve Barron
• Jim Henson

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NYU Tisch School of the Arts

Books & works: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dinosaurs, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

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