Terry Notary's journey in gymnastics began at the tender age of eight, and by the time he graduated high school, he was already a highly sought-after talent, with athletic scholarships to Berkeley, West Point, Stanford, and UCLA. At UCLA, Notary excelled as a four-time NCAA All American and captain of the gymnastics team, showcasing his impressive skills.
After graduating with a degree in theater, Notary was recruited by the prestigious Cirque du Soleil, where he was part of a troupe of 11 performers from around the world who worked together to create the show "Mystere". Notary performed in this acclaimed production for four years, taking on various roles as a lead character, acrobat, and musician.
Notary's talents soon took him to the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where he was cast in eight different productions and had the opportunity to work alongside renowned talents such as Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. Simultaneously, he founded his own circus production company, serving as the creative director.
Terry and his wife later moved to Los Angeles, where he was approached by Ron Howard to help create the world of Whoville for the film "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". Howard then requested Notary to teach the actors movement, marking the beginning of his career in the film industry.
Throughout his 17-year career, Notary has worn many hats, including actor, director, creature performer, animal movement specialist, movement choreographer, and stunt coordinator. He has worked with some of the industry's most renowned directors, including Ron Howard, James Cameron, Peter Jackson, and Steven Spielberg.
As a movement choreographer, Notary is known for his ability to work closely with actors to design and develop their characters' unique movements. He has worked extensively in the field of performance capture, appearing in and choreographing films such as "Avatar", "The Hobbit" trilogy, "The Incredible Hulk", "Rise of the Silver Surfer", "The Adventures of Tintin", "The BFG", "Warcraft", and "Suicide Squad".
Notary's recent credits include playing the iconic character of Kong in "Kong: Skull Island" and portraying the alpha chimp Rocket in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes", "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes", and the upcoming "War for the Planet of the Apes", where he also served as the stunt coordinator and movement choreographer for the ape-playing cast.
In addition to his work in film, Notary is also a sought-after teacher, leading master class movement workshops around the world.
