686. Dick Smith Collection Warren Crowleys (Al Waxman) Animatronic Taipan-Bitten Deformed Head Skin

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Stock #313785

Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction: Los Angeles Summer 2026

686. Dick Smith Collection: Warren Crowley's (Al Waxman) Animatronic Taipan-Bitten Deformed Head Skin

Our expert's notes

Warren Crowley's (Al Waxman) taipan-bitten deformed head skin from William Fruet's Spasms. Ex-CIA agent Crowley's head swelled nastily when he was karmically poisoned to death by the same taipan he stole from Jason Kincaid (Oliver Reed) on behalf of the Satanic cult that worshipped the snake.
Crowley's grotesquely deformed head, as well as other graphic snake bite effects, were designed by legendary special makeup effects and the film's "illusions" artist Dick Smith. Smith crafted this skin for a mechanical version of Crowley's head designed to feed chemical solvent through tubing to pre-cut sections of the head painted blood red, creating the illusion of the head bursting open as it swelled. Spasms ultimately received a nomination for the Grand Prize at the prestigious Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival and is today considered a cult classic of the 1980s.
This detailed cast foam mask originates from the collection of Smith. It is hand-painted in flesh tones, textured in several places to appear punctured by snake fangs, and hand-punched with scraggly synthetic hair on the sides. The mask shows visible evidence of wear consistent with age and exposure to the solvent, including stiffness, brittleness, and some missing pieces throughout the foam.
Size

Item size: 16" × 12" × 9" (40.64cm × 30.48cm × 22.86cm)

This item is located in London.