Star Wars: 10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Jabba The Hutt
9. He Was Operated By Seven People
Jabba was one of the most complicated puppets ever put on screen at the time Return of the Jedi was filmed. Phil Tippet was in charge of Star Wars' puppets, and eventually won an Oscar for his work on the movie where Jabba was one of his primary contributions.
The enormous puppet contained three people - two to move the mouth and head, and an arm each, and third little person (he also played an Ewok) to swish Jabba's tail around. Jabba's eyes were moved by another two puppeteers via radio remote control. A sixth crew member lay beneath the puppet using a set of bellows to make Jabba's sides heave in and out as he breathed.
The final, no less essential member of Team Jabba was the crew member responsible for constantly smearing the puppet with glistening ooze to maintain the healthy, oozing sheen essential to any self-respecting Hutt's appearance.