{{Short description|British musician, record and film producer}} {{Use British English|date=April 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Ray Santilli | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_size = <!-- DISCOURAGED per WP:IMGSIZE. Use image_upright. --> | alt = | caption = | native_name = Raymond Santilli | native_name_lang = | pronunciation = | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name above --> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|9|30|df=y}} | birth_place = Marylebone, London, England | baptised = <!-- will not display if birth_date is entered --> | disappeared_date = <!-- {{disappeared date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (disappeared date then birth date) --> | disappeared_place = | disappeared_status = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = | death_cause = | body_discovered = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} --> | burial_place = <!-- may be used instead of resting_place and resting_place_coordinates (displays "Burial place" as label) --> | burial_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} --> | monuments = | other_names = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = Television producer, Musician, Film producer, and Record producer | years_active = 1982 – Present | era = | employer = | organization = | agent = <!-- Discouraged in most cases, specifically when promotional, and requiring a reliable source --> | known_for = Founder of Orbital Media | notable_works = <!-- produces label "Notable work"; may be overridden by |credits=, which produces label "Notable credit(s)"; or by |works=, which produces label "Works" --> | style = | height = <!-- "X cm", "X m" or "X ft Y in" plus optional reference (conversions are automatic) --> | television = | title = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | movement = | opponents = | boards = | criminal_charge = <!-- Criminality parameters should be supported with citations from reliable sources --> | criminal_penalty = | criminal_status = | spouse = <!-- Use article title or common name --> | partner = <!-- (unmarried long-term partner) --> | children = | parents = <!-- overrides mother and father parameters --> | mother = <!-- may be used (optionally with father parameter) in place of parents parameter (displays "Parent(s)" as label) --> | father = <!-- may be used (optionally with mother parameter) in place of parents parameter (displays "Parent(s)" as label) --> | relatives = | family = | callsign = | awards = | website = {{URL|www.orbitalmedia.net}} | module = | module2 = | module3 = | module4 = | module5 = | module6 = | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | footnotes = }}
'''Ray Santilli''' (born 30 September 1958) is a British musician, record and film producer. He is best known for his exploitation in 1995 of the controversial "alien autopsy" footage and subject of the Warner Bros. film ''Alien Autopsy''.<ref>{{cite magazine | last =Nathalie | first =Lagerfeld | title =How an Alien Autopsy Hoax Captured the World's Imagination for a Decade | magazine = Time| date =24 June 2016 | url =https://time.com/4376871/alien-autopsy-hoax-history/ | access-date =19 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Dan | first =Gunderman | title =As we remember the 'Great Moon Hoax,' the Daily News examines the most notorious hoaxes in history | newspaper = nydailynews.com| date =25 August 2016 | url =http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/great-moon-hoax-notorious-pranks-history-article-1.2765649 | accessdate =19 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Philip | first =Mantle | title =Alien Autopsy End Game | publisher = openminds.tv| date =23 December 2009 | url =http://www.openminds.tv/alien-autopsy-end-game-answering-the-final-question-concerning-the-alien-autopsy-movie/1337 | accessdate =19 April 2017}}</ref>
==Early life== Born in London, Santilli was the son of Italian immigrants. He spent his childhood in Islington London.
==Career== Ray Santilli started his professional career in 1974 as a session musician, record producer and music distributor.<ref name="IMDB">{{cite web | title =Ray Santilli Biography | website = imdb.com| url =https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1904513/bio| accessdate =19 April 2017}}</ref> In 1982, Santilli founded AMP Entertainment, where he produced and promoted acts of the day.<ref name="IMDB"/><ref>{{cite news | title =Telefishion and the ATV broadcasts that made history for all the wrong reasons | publisher = scmp.com| url =https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1920404/telefishion-and-atv-broadcasts-made-history-all-wrong-reasons| accessdate =19 April 2017}}</ref>
In 1981, Santilli produced The Tweets album which featured "The Birdy Song".{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} In 1985 he founded Music Broadcasting Services Ltd, an independent record label which handled the exclusive rights to the Walt Disney Audio Soundtrack Catalogue in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news | title =MBS Records | publisher = discogs.com| url =https://www.discogs.com/label/299883-MBS-Records-3| accessdate =19 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title =Roswell and the world's other great conspiracy theories | newspaper = telegraph.co.uk| url =https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/10/13/the-worlds-greatest-conspiracy-theories/| accessdate =19 April 2017}}</ref>
In 1987 Santilli produced the charity record "The Wishing Well" featuring Boy George, Dollar and Grace Kennedy for Great Ormond Street Hospital. In 1991, Santilli founded the Merlin Group. The company specialised in the re-recording of hits with original artists. Merlin also produced and marketed a number of television specials.<ref>{{cite news | title =Alien Autopsy Part I: The Shroud of Ufology | publisher = openminds.tv| url =http://www.openminds.tv/the-shroud-of-ufology-part-1/646| accessdate =19 April 2017}}</ref> In 1994 Santilli formed Orbital Media Ltd where he produced a succession of TV documentaries and films for television.<ref name="IMDB"/>
Santilli is best known for his claim to have discovered footage which depicted the autopsy of an alien creature.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zapped review – a comedy, although you'd be hard-pressed to find evidence of it |work=theguardian.com |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/oct/14/zapped-review-a-comedy-although-youd-be-hard-pressed-to-find-evidence-of-it |accessdate=19 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=History's Greatest Hoaxes |publisher=whatsontv.co.uk |url=http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/events/historys-greatest-hoaxes/ |accessdate=19 April 2017}}</ref> The "alien autopsy" footage, supposedly of extraterrestrial corpses from the so-called Roswell UFO incident, was broadcast to a worldwide audience on 28 August 1995.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jason |first=McClellan |title='Legitimate' film allegedly shows Roswell alien at Area 51 |publisher=openminds.tv |date=2 February 2015 |url=http://www.openminds.tv/legitimate-film-allegedly-shows-roswell-alien-at-area-51/31960 |accessdate=19 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Santill's Controversial Autopsy Movie |publisher=v-j-enterprises.com |url=http://www.v-j-enterprises.com/kjeff396.html |accessdate=19 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Garden fairies to Adolf Hitler's diaries: 5 biggest hoaxes of all time after 'Gollum' fake |publisher=mirror.co.uk |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/garden-fairies-adolf-hitlers-diaries-3769753 |accessdate=19 April 2017}}</ref> The film and those who took part in the making of it have all admitted it is a hoax, although Santilli still maintains it is real despite him changing his story numerous times. He also claims Kodak have analysed the film and confirmed its date, but when asked to resubmit the film with the images, Santilli has always refused.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Garland, Piers (director) |date=2020 |title=Alien Autopsy: The Search for Answers |medium=Television production |location=United Kingdom |publisher=EM Productions UK}}</ref>
In 2006 the story of the autopsy film was the subject of a Warner Bros. feature film ''Alien Autopsy'', starring the British double act Ant & Dec.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ken Drinkwater |first=Neil Dagnall |title=Here's How Scientists Explain Peoples' Obsession With UFOs and 'alien Abductions' |publisher=sciencealert.com |url=http://www.sciencealert.com/how-science-can-explain-ufo-sightings-and-alien-abductions |accessdate=19 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Definitive Ranking of Netflix's Alien Documentaries |publisher=inverse.com |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/28285-best-alien-documentaries-on-netflix |accessdate=19 April 2017}}</ref> Dec plays Santilli, with Ant as Santilli's real life business partner and friend Gary Shoefield.<ref>{{cite news |title=Looking back at Ant & Dec's Alien Autopsy |publisher=denofgeek.com |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/looking-back-at-ant-decs-alien-autopsy/ |access-date=19 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Georgia |first=Aspinall |title=Ant & Dec: Everything you need to know about the comedy duo |publisher=lifestyle.one |date=13 December 2016 |url=http://lifestyle.one/heat/celebrity/news/ant-dec-everything-ever-need-know-comedy-duo/ |accessdate=19 April 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Film, TV and animation |work=bbc.co.uk |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2006/04/07/070406_alien_interview_feature.shtml |accessdate=19 April 2017}}</ref> In the same year, Santilli claimed that sections of the autopsy footage had been "restored".<ref>{{cite news |last=Mark |first=Olsen |title=A fresh stab at 'Alien Autopsy' |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=10 November 2006 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-nov-10-et-alien10-story.html |access-date=19 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Nick |first=Redfern |title=The "Other" Alien Autopsy Films |publisher=mysteriousuniverse.org |date=13 March 2013 |url=http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2013/03/the-other-alien-autopsy-films/ |accessdate=19 April 2017}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- !scope="col" | Year !scope="col" class="unsortable" | Title !scope="col" class="unsortable" | Role !scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- !scope="row" | 1994 | ''The Beatles, The Long and Winding Road: The Life and Times'' | Co-producer | TV movie documentary |- !scope="row" | 1994 | ''The Life of Bruce Lee'' | Executive producer | TV movie documentary |- !scope="row" | 1994 | ''Batmad'' | Producer, writer | TV movie |- !scope="row" | 1995 | ''Alan Shearer: Sheer Magic'' | Producer | Video documentary |- !scope="row" | 1995 | ''Alien Autopsy: (Fact or Fiction?)'' | Producer-uncredited, Actor | TV movie documentary |- !scope="row" | 1995 | ''The Doctors, 30 Years of Time Travel and Beyond'' | Executive producer | Video documentary |- !scope="row" | 1999 | ''Bruce Lee: The Legend Lives On'' | Producer, writer, Director | TV movie |- !scope="row" | 2001 | ''Elvis: The Missing Years'' | Producer, director | Video documentary |- !scope="row" | 2001 | ''The Beatles... Off the Record: Newsreel Footage 1964-1966'' | Producer, writer, Director | TV movie documentary) |- !scope="row" | 2002 | ''John Lennon: The Messenger'' | Producer, writer, Director | TV movie documentary) |- !scope="row" | 2002 | ''Beckham Mania: The Kick Off'' | Producer | TV movie documentary) |- !scope="row" | 2002 | ''George Harrison: The Quiet One'' | Producer, writer, Director | Video documentary) |- !scope="row" | 2002 | ''Irish Tenor Trio: A Classic Irish Christmas'' | Producer, writer | TV movie |- !scope="row" | 2003 | ''Alien Signs: Undeniable Evidence - The Message'' | Executive producer | TV movie documentary |- !scope="row" | 2003 | ''Elvis: The Journey'' | Co-producer, Writer, Director | TV movie |- !scope="row" | 2004 | ''Bob Marley: Spiritual Journey'' | Co-executive producer, Writer, Director, Editor | TV movie |- !scope="row" | 2004 | ''Benny Goodman: Legends in Concert - The Last Performance'' | Producer, director | TV movie |- !scope="row" | 2004 | ''Jimi Hendrix: The Last 24 Hours '' | Executive producer, Writer | TV movie documentary |- !scope="row" | 2005 | ''Elvis: The Last 24 Hours'' | Producer | TV movie |- !scope="row" | 2005 | ''Nat King Cole: For Sentimental Reasons'' | Co-producer, Writer, Director | TV movie |- !scope="row" | 2005 | ''Viva Joe Strummer: The Clash and Beyond'' | Producer, writer | Video documentary |- !scope="row" | 2005 | ''Marc Bolan: Ride On'' | Producer | Video documentary |- !scope="row" | 2005 | ''Tom Jones: Up Close and Personal'' | Co-producer, Writer, Director | TV movie |- !scope="row" | 2005 | ''Johnny Cash: The Man in Black - His Early Years'' | Executive producer | Video documentary |- !scope="row" | 2005 | ''Frank Sinatra: A Reflection'' | Producer, writer | TV movie documentary |- !scope="row" | 2006 | ''Clash: The Joe Strummer Story'' | Producer | TV movie |- !scope="row" | 2006 | ''Dean Martin: A Reflection'' | Producer, writer | TV movie documentary |- !scope="row" | 2006 | ''Alien Autopsy'' | Executive producer, Cameo as himself | Film |- !scope="row" | 2006 | ''Thin Lizzy: Outlawed - The Real Phil Lynott'' | Executive producer | TV movie documentary |- !scope="row" | 2006 | ''Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash: The Road Show'' | Executive producer | Video documentary |- !scope="row" | 2007 | ''Bob Marley Freedom Road'' | Executive producer | Documentary |- !scope="row" | 2008 | ''Blue Rendezvous'' | Producer, writer, Director | TV movie |- !scope="row" | 2012 | ''One Direction: All for One'' | Executive producer | Documentary |- !scope="row" | 2013 | ''Hendrix on Hendrix'' | Executive producer | Documentary |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=1904513}} *[http://www.outtahear.com/beyond_updates/Introduction/santilli.html Interview with Ray Santilli] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621020313/http://www.outtahear.com/beyond_updates/Introduction/santilli.html |date=21 June 2013 }} *[http://www.v-j-enterprises.com/santstry.html My Story by Ray Santilli]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Santilli, Ray}} Category:1957 births Category:British male guitarists Category:British record producers Category:British film producers Category:Musicians from London Category:English people of Italian descent Category:Living people