Robert A. Mattey

{{Infobox person

|image =

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| name = Robert A. Mattey

| birth_name =

| other_names = Rob Mattey
Robert Mattey
Bob Mattey

| birth_date = {{birth date|1910|6|27}}

| birth_place = New Jersey, U.S.

| death_date ={{death date and age|1993|1|14|1910|6|27}}

| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| occupation = Visual effects artist

| years_active = 1946-1993

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}}

Robert A. Mattey (June 27, 1910 – January 14, 1993) was an American special effects artist who was nominated at the 34th Academy Awards for the film The Absent-Minded Professor. His nomination was shared with Eustace Lycett.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1962 |title=The 34th Academy Awards (1962) Nominees and Winners |accessdate=March 29, 2014|work=oscars.org}} He joined Walt Disney Imagineering when Disneyland was first being created as head of the Mechanical Effects Department.{{cite web|title=Bob Mattey|url=https://d23.com/bob-mattey-master-of-mechanical-magic/ |website=D23 |date=8 November 2016 |access-date=January 26, 2022}}

Mattey is most famously known for his creation of the three animatronic sharks used in the production of Jaws (1975),{{cite web |url=https://www.thebeardedtrio.com/2017/03/video-behind-scenes-jaws-bruce-shark.html |title=Behind the Scenes Jaws Bruce the Shark and Bob Mattey |last1=Welshlider |first1=Welshslider |date=March 12, 2017 |work=Behind the Scenes |access-date=January 26, 2022}} with a production cost of around $150,000 each.{{cite web|title=The Robot Shark Technology of Jaws|url=https://www.wecanfigurethisout.org/ENERGY/Web_notes/Exotics/Exotics_Supporting_Files/The%20Robot%20Shark%20Technology%20of%20Jaws%20-%20Tested.pdf |website=We Can Figure This Out |access-date=January 26, 2022}} The mechanical shark was nicknamed "Bruce" because Steven Spielberg’s divorce lawyer’s name was Bruce Raiman. This is also what inspired the name for the Great white shark, Bruce, in Finding Nemo (2003).{{cite book|last=Shaffer|first=Joshua C|title=Discovering the Magic Kingdom: An Unofficial Disneyland Vacation Guide - Second Edition|date=July 17, 2017|publisher=Synergy Book Publishing|isbn=978-0-9991664-0-6|page=188}}

He was also one of the designers of the Disneyland animatronic characters on attractions like Jungle Cruise, Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland, Haunted Mansion, and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea walk-through attraction. When Disneyland opened in 1955, Robert Mattey was given a dedication window on Main Street U.S.A. located on the second floor of the Market House. The window states "Bob Mattey - Taxidermist."