Robert A. Mattey

{{Short description|American special effects artist (1910–1993)}} {{Infobox person |image = |imagesize = | name = Robert A. Mattey | birth_name = | other_names = Rob Mattey <br/>Robert Mattey<br/>Bob Mattey | birth_date = {{birth date|1910|6|27}} | birth_place = New Jersey, U.S. | death_date ={{death date and age|1993|1|14|1910|6|27}} | death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | occupation = Visual effects artist | years_active = 1946-1993 | spouse = | children = }}

'''Robert A. Mattey''' (June 27, 1910 – January 14, 1993) was an American special effects artist who was nominated at the 34th Academy Awards for the film ''The Absent-Minded Professor''. His nomination was shared with Eustace Lycett.<ref name="Oscars1962">{{Cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1962 |title=The 34th Academy Awards (1962) Nominees and Winners |accessdate=March 29, 2014|work=oscars.org}}</ref> He joined Walt Disney Imagineering when Disneyland was first being created as head of the Mechanical Effects Department.<ref name="D23">{{cite web|title=Bob Mattey|url=https://d23.com/bob-mattey-master-of-mechanical-magic/ |website=D23 |date=8 November 2016 |access-date=January 26, 2022}}</ref>

Mattey is most famously known for his creation of the three animatronic sharks used in the production of ''Jaws'' (1975),<ref name="Jaws">{{cite web |url=https://www.thebeardedtrio.com/2017/03/video-behind-scenes-jaws-bruce-shark.html |title=Behind the Scenes Jaws Bruce the Shark and Bob Mattey |last1=Welshlider |first1=Welshslider |date=March 12, 2017 |work=Behind the Scenes |access-date=January 26, 2022}}</ref> with a production cost of around $150,000 each.<ref name="Shark Cost">{{cite web|title=The Robot Shark Technology of Jaws|url=https://www.wecanfigurethisout.org/ENERGY/Web_notes/Exotics/Exotics_Supporting_Files/The%20Robot%20Shark%20Technology%20of%20Jaws%20-%20Tested.pdf |website=We Can Figure This Out |access-date=January 26, 2022}}</ref> The mechanical shark was nicknamed "Bruce" because Steven Spielberg's lawyer's name was Bruce Ramer. This is also what inspired the name for the great white shark, Bruce, in ''Finding Nemo'' (2003).<ref name="Shaffer2017">{{cite book|last=Shaffer|first=Joshua C|title=Discovering the Magic Kingdom: An Unofficial Disneyland Vacation Guide - Second Edition|date=July 17, 2017|publisher=Synergy Book Publishing|isbn=978-0-9991664-0-6|page=188}}</ref>

He was also one of the designers of the Disneyland animatronic characters on attractions like Jungle Cruise, Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland, the Haunted Mansion, and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea walk-through attraction. When Disneyland opened in 1955, Robert Mattey was given a dedication window on Main Street U.S.A. located on the second floor of the ''Market House''. The window states "''Bob Mattey - Taxidermist''."<ref name="D23" />

==Selected filmography== *''20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'' (1954) *''The Absent-Minded Professor'' (1961) *''Babes in Toyland'' (1961) *''Son of Flubber'' (1963) *''Mary Poppins'' (1964) *''The Monkey's Uncle'' (1965) *''Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.'' (1966) *''The Gnome-Mobile'' (1967) *''Blackbeard's Ghost'' (1968) *''The Love Bug'' (1968) *''The Barefoot Executive'' (1971) *''Scandalous John'' (1971) *''Jaws'' (1975) *''Jaws 2'' (1978)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0559871|name=Robert A. Mattey}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mattey, Robert A.}} Category:American special effects people Category:1910 births Category:1993 deaths Category:People from New Jersey Category:Disney imagineers