Muppets and The Shining: Unlikely Encounters on the Movie Lot

In the late 1970s, two iconic productions from the 1980s—The Shining and The Muppet Show—shared the same movie lot at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, England. This unexpected overlap led to some intriguing encounters between the casts and crews of these vastly different projects.

Puppeteer Richard Hunt, who performed characters like Scooter, Beaker, and Sweetums on The Muppet Show, frequently wandered the lot and befriended the cast and crew of The Shining, which was filming from May 1978 to October 1979. One of the notable connections was with young actor Danny Lloyd, who played Danny Torrance in the classic horror film. Lloyd was able to visit the Muppet Studio and receive a tour from the friendly Hunt.

Another Shining cast member who found solace with the Muppets was Shelley Duvall, who portrayed the tormented Wendy Torrance. According to puppeteer Louise Gold, the intense filming process was taking a toll on Duvall, and Hunt helped bring her to the Muppet set, where she was able to find some respite. Gold even recalled Duvall sneaking a puppet into the background of a shot on a separate project, the Spike Milligan show.

These unexpected connections between the two productions showcase the power of creativity and camaraderie, even in the most unlikely of circumstances.