Alien’s tragic star: The cruel fate of 7ft-tall Nigerian student who played monster in 1979 film after chance sighting – as new show airs

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Using a more conversational tone, “Alien’s chilling special effects and truly terrifying sequences made it the movie that said a slime-covered farewell to the 1970s.

The creation of this space mission-themed narrative significantly boosted the fame of director Ridley Scott and actress Sigourney Weaver to the point where they became familiar figures in many homes.

But the central star was someone whose face viewers never saw – and who was not an actor at all. 

Art student from Nigeria, Bolaji Badejo, was the one selected to portray the title character, as Scott’s casting director noticed him at a local tavern.

Due to his towering height of 6 feet 7 inches and lean build, Badejo was an ideal choice to wear the $250,000 latex suit designed by surrealist artist HR Giger.

Even without any prior acting experience on either large or small screens, Badejo managed to convincingly play a part destined for cinematic legend.

Despite the unfortunate circumstances, when the second sequel, Alien 3, was released in 1992, Badejo was gravely unwell due to his lifelong battle with sickle cell anemia.

By the time Alien 3 hit theaters in 1992, Badejo was severely ill because of his longstanding struggle with sickle cell anemia.

He wouldn’t have the chance to witness subsequent movies in the series, nor experience the complete influence of a revitalized franchise following the debut of the television show Alien: Earth.

In simpler terms, the initial movie narrates the tale of an astronaut team aboard the spaceship named Nostromo, who stumble upon a lethal creature while exploring a distant planet away from Earth.

Weaver’s portrayal of the gun-wielding Ripley challenged the idea that a female actor wouldn’t be capable of playing such a role convincingly.

But Badejo, who was plucked from total obscurity, proved that he was up to the task too.   

2008 saw Scott sharing an intriguing story about his decision to cast the Nigerian actor as the Alien character. This choice came unexpectedly when the individual was noticed coincidentally in London.

He mentioned that their initial performer was rather slim, but once donned in the rubber suit, he resembled more like the iconic Michelin Tire Man.

My casting director, Peter Archer, mentioned that he had encountered a man in a pub in Soho, who stands approximately seven feet tall, has a very small head, and an extremely slim physique.

‘So he brought Bolaji Badejo to the office.’

Back in the fall of 1979, just after wrapping up work on Alien, Badejo sat down for a chat with the popular U.S. film publication, Cinefantastique.

The special effects artist Carlo Rambaldi had crafted a mechanics system that breathed life into the suit’s head, and he stated that the entire suit was operated manually, remotely controlled.

There’s room for my head in it, I put it on as a precaution to ensure proper alignment and height relative to other sequences, with regards to both head posture and overall stature.

The substance that emerged from the Alien’s mouth turned out to be none other than K-Y Jelly, a well-known personal lubricant typically linked to intimate activities rather than movie set use.

The gooey stuff squirted by the Alien was actually K-Y Jelly, a product often associated with bedroom activities rather than filmmaking.

Badejo noted that it’s likely they used close to 2,000 tubes of K-Y Jelly to achieve the slimy appearance oozing from his mouth.”

Here’s another option:

“According to Badejo, they probably employed approximately 2,000 tubes of K-Y Jelly to generate the effect of a slime exuding from his mouth.

much of it was distributed across my face, making it hard for me to observe my surroundings, except when I was stationary during filming and had a clearer view.

‘Then there were a few holes I could look through.’ 

To get ready for his crucial part, Balejo enrolled in Tai Chi and mime lessons to move gracefully, adopting an otherworldly style.

Instead, referring to his wife Yinka, she reminisced earlier that despite certain days being lengthy and physically demanding, with early mornings as the norm, Bolaji was always unwilling to voice any complaints.

Veronica Cartwright, the actress playing crew member Lambert, distinctly recalled the instant when Balejo’s Alien assaulted her.

She said in 2013: ‘Believe me, when he comes after me in that scene I didn’t have to do anything. 

As an utterly smitten admirer, upon catching a glimpse of him, I found myself frozen in place as he gracefully unwound. Once fully extended, he remained motionless, leaving me utterly captivated. And in that moment, I couldn’t help but gaze at him, and all I could think was, “oh my goodness, what an astonishing sight!

In a reflexive manner, his actions were truly awe-inspiring. He exuded an extraordinary aura that left everyone in a state of wonder. And it’s often asked, “How did you manage to instill fear in us?

‘I didn’t do anything; I just had to look at him.’ 

In an interview with The Mail back in 2010, Weaver shared that Balejo was kept apart from the main cast to prevent them from growing accustomed or numb to his appearance.

During our breaks, Ridley ensured that he wasn’t hanging out with us, sipping tea, for fear of familiarity. Since he was isolated from us, we rarely interacted beyond work. As a result, when it came to filming scenes together, the electric tension between us was palpable.

‘It didn’t feel that we were acting scared at all.’ 

The star also heaped praise on the film, which she said ‘put me on the map’.

‘I think Alien really was ahead of its time,’ she said.

The study revealed that both women and men are capable of performing the same tasks. In certain aspects, women’s qualities such as patience, resilience, and organizational skills often make them more suited for hazardous jobs compared to men.

Ripley exhibited a warrior-like demeanor, and it’s wonderful that she had an opportunity to don more suitable attire rather than just a mini skirt.

In the past, I didn’t feel a strong need to be glamorous. However, with the rise of female action heroes today, there seems to be a greater emphasis or expectation for them to have a glamorous appearance.

During my initial major work assignment, Ridley repeatedly advised me during my first week, “Avoid looking into the camera.” In response, I would tell him, “I’m making an effort not to look at the camera, but every time, you seem to place it directly in front of me.

At first, I was completely unaware about the subject. However, diving into the world of Alien really helped me get started. With each subsequent sequel, I gained more understanding, self-assurance, and skill.

Balejo went on to have two children, Bibi and Yinka, with his wife and set up his own art gallery.

By the late 1980s, his health started deteriorating significantly. Approximately a few months following his 39th birthday in 1992, the celebrity became sick.

He was taken to St Stephen Hospital in Lagos and died there in December 1992. 

Alien: Earth has been made by director Noah Hawley, the man behind successful TV drama Fargo.

Airing on Disney+, it is set two years before the events of the first film.

The performance portrays the events following a spaceship’s emergency landing on Earth, carrying an extraterrestrial being inside.

In this film titled “Alien: Earth,” Sydney Chandler plays the main character Wendy. Notably, Timothy Olyphant and Alex Lawther are also part of the cast.

According to Mr. Hawley, by bringing the narrative down to our planet, it becomes more about whether humanity as a whole can endure.

Then the query arises, “Well, what defines us as human, and are we truly worthy enough to persist?

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2025-08-13 12:04