Visual effects artist and author who created a new form of stop-motion model animation called "Dynamation." He was known for such movies as "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" from 1958 and "Jason and the Argonauts from 1963.
He was inspired to pursue his film career after seeing "King Kong" in 1933. He created animated short films during the World War II era that detailed the development and use of military equipment.
He served as assistant animator on the 1949 film, "Mighty Joe Young," working alongside his mentor, the famed Willis O'Brien; the film won the Academy Award for special effects.
He was of German ancestry, born to Martha L. and Frederick W. Harryhausen. He was married to Diana Livingstone Bruce from 1963 until his death in 2013.
His final film was "Clash of the Titans" from 1981, starring Laurence Olivier.