Nick Kellington is a British actor, creature performer, and musician who has carved out an unusual yet fascinating niche in the entertainment industry. While his name may not be immediately recognizable to casual moviegoers, millions around the world have seen his work on screen. From children’s television classics like In the Night Garden and Teletubbies, to blockbuster franchises such as Star Wars and the 2024 hit Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Kellington has become one of the leading suit and creature performers in modern cinema.
Born in 1975 in the U.K., Nicholas Chee Ping Kellington originally pursued a career in music, performing in the indie band Ella Guru. However, his unique physicality and interest in performance gradually led him into puppeteering and creature acting—a discipline requiring stamina, subtlety, and the ability to bring life to costumes and animatronics. Over the past two decades, he has steadily built a reputation as a highly versatile performer who disappears into his roles, allowing audiences to believe in the fantastical characters he embodies.
Nick Kellington Movies and TV Shows
Early Career in Children’s Television
Kellington first achieved widespread recognition in children’s programming, where his expressive physical acting made him perfect for costumed roles. His most iconic performances include:
- Igglepiggle in In the Night Garden (2007–2009): The blue doll-like creature became a bedtime favorite for children worldwide. Kellington’s body language and movement style were key to making the silent character feel playful and gentle.
- Dipsy in the 2015–2018 Teletubbies reboot: Taking over one of the most famous children’s TV roles, Kellington donned the green suit to continue the franchise’s colorful legacy.
- Tang in ZingZillas: Another children’s show that relied heavily on costume performance, allowing Kellington to demonstrate versatility.
Transition to Feature Films and Fantasy Productions
Kellington’s work in family programming opened the door to larger productions. His film and TV credits now include:
- The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019): Kellington performed the body of skekMal, “The Hunter,” one of the most physically demanding puppet characters in the Netflix fantasy epic.
- Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024): Portraying Bob the Shrinker, a jittery zombie-like assistant to Betelgeuse, Kellington became part of one of the year’s most buzzed-about sequels.
- Star Wars franchise (2016–2025): Multiple alien and creature roles across Rogue One, The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker, and even a part in the upcoming Andor Season 2.
Nick Kellington Bob (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice)
One of Kellington’s most recent and notable characters is Bob, introduced in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024). Bob, sometimes referred to as a “Shrinker,” is Beetlejuice’s nervous assistant from the afterlife realm.
Unlike many CGI-heavy characters in modern film, Bob was created using practical effects and prosthetics, with Kellington physically performing inside the elaborate costume. His performance highlights his specialty: making non-human characters expressive and believable, without stealing focus from the main stars.
Kellington’s role as Bob showcases why filmmakers repeatedly return to him for creature work. His ability to combine humor, vulnerability, and eccentric physicality turned Bob into one of the film’s standout supporting characters.
Is Nick Kellington Still Alive?
Yes, Nick Kellington is very much alive and actively working. He continues to take on major projects, including his performance as Bob in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) and his credited role in the second season of Andor (2025).
Rumors occasionally surface online claiming that he has “passed away.” These appear to be based on confusion, misinformation, or mistaken identity. Reliable industry sources, film credits, and recent appearances confirm he is currently active in the entertainment world.
Did Nick Kellington Pass Away?
To put it clearly: No, Nick Kellington has not passed away. False rumors of his death have circulated online, but they have no basis in fact. His recent and upcoming screen appearances serve as proof of his ongoing career. It’s not unusual for actors in niche professions, especially creature performers who rarely show their faces, to be the subject of inaccurate speculation.
Nick Kellington Star Wars
One of Kellington’s biggest career highlights is his involvement in the Star Wars universe. Over the years, he has played several memorable alien characters:
- Bistan (“Space Monkey”) in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016): Perhaps his most famous role in the franchise, Bistan is a rebel soldier seen in the film’s epic battle sequences. The character quickly became a fan favorite, with Kellington’s physical performance adding depth and believability to the animatronic mask.
- Snook Uccorfay in The Last Jedi (2017): Another alien role, seen in the bustling casino city of Canto Bight.
- Klaud in The Rise of Skywalker (2019): A large slug-like alien who briefly joins the Resistance.
- Senator #4 in Andor Season 2 (2025): An upcoming credited role, showing his continued involvement in the galaxy far, far away.
For Kellington, Star Wars has provided a platform to showcase his specialty to global audiences, cementing his reputation as one of the go-to performers for full-body creature acting.
Nick Kellington Beetlejuice
In Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Nick Kellington joined the cast alongside returning icons like Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder. His portrayal of Bob the Shrinker added comic relief and expanded the bizarre world of the afterlife.
Fans and critics alike noted the effectiveness of his performance, especially given Burton’s preference for practical creature effects over CGI. In many ways, Bob represents a continuation of Kellington’s career-long mission: to make costumes and masks come alive with charm and personality.
Nick Kellington Height
One of the curiosities about Nick Kellington is his height—something frequently searched online, but never officially confirmed by agencies or his official site. Various sources conflict, with some reporting him as 5’4” (163 cm) and others claiming 5’10” (178 cm).
Given the nature of his work, where proportion and costume fit often matter more than exact measurement, his height has not been a widely publicized detail. What’s certain is that his physical agility and proportions have made him highly effective for the range of roles he’s embodied.
Nick Kellington Rogue One
Kellington’s breakout film role was as Bistan in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). Known affectionately by fans as “Space Monkey,” Bistan is a furry alien gunner who fights bravely alongside the Rebel Alliance.
The role was a perfect example of Kellington’s skillset: while the animatronic mask handled facial movements, it was his body performance—gestures, posture, and physical energy—that made Bistan believable. The character was so well-received that Bistan appeared on posters, merchandise, and even action figures.
For many, “Nick Kellington Rogue One” is the search phrase that first introduces them to his body of work.
Legacy of a Creature Performer
Nick Kellington’s career highlights the importance of creature performers in modern entertainment. While CGI has grown dominant in Hollywood, practical effects and suit performances still have a unique texture and realism that audiences respond to. Actors like Kellington, who specialize in bringing costumes and prosthetics to life, ensure that these characters feel physically present on screen.
Whether playing a gentle children’s character like Igglepiggle, a battle-ready alien like Bistan, or a quirky assistant like Bob the Shrinker, Kellington demonstrates the artistry required to embody non-human characters.
Conclusion
Nick Kellington may not be a household name, but his characters have touched millions of viewers. From the comforting world of children’s television to the epic universes of Star Wars and Beetlejuice, he has become one of the most versatile and reliable creature performers of his generation.
For those curious about him, the key facts remain: Nick Kellington is alive and thriving in his career, he has an impressive list of movies and TV shows, and he continues to breathe life into unforgettable creatures on screen.
As fans anticipate his next projects, including his return to the Star Wars universe in Andor Season 2, it’s clear that Kellington’s contributions to cinema and television will continue for years to come.
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