‘Star Trek: Discovery’ actor Doug Jones hangs up sweaty, smelly Saru alien mask: ‘Silicone doesn’t breathe’
he suited up as its red-winged school mascot, Charlie Cardinal, before landing a gig as Mac Tonight, a singing, piano-playing “moon man” in numerous McDonald’s commercials.But even after decades of transforming into zombies, aliens, demons, sea creatures and vampires in movies like “Hocus Pocus” and “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” — not to mention a string of freaky films by writer/director Guillermo del Toro including “Hellboy,” “Pan’s Labyrinth” and 2018 Best Picture Oscar winner “The Shape of Water” — Jones seems especially connected to his “Trek” creation.“I’ve gotten to know this character better than anyone else I’ve ever played over my entire 38-year career,” he said of fan-beloved Saru. “I’ve spent the most time with him, the most time peeling back his layers … It’s been quite a journey.” Not that it’s always been an easy galaxy-hopping trip.He would spend two hours daily squeezing into an extensive costume that included a four-piece, all-encompassing rubber alien head — plus large, aquamarine contact lenses that required revitalizing eye drops every 20 minutes.And then would marinate in his sweat for hours more.