Rick Baker (makeup artist)
| Rick Baker | |
|---|---|
 Baker at the 2011 Saturn Awards |
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| Born | December 8, 1950 Binghamton, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Academy of Art University |
| Occupation | Special makeup effects artist |
| Years active | 1971–present |
Richard A. "Rick" Baker (born December 8, 1950)[1] is an American special makeup effects artist known for his creature effects.
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Personal life [edit]
Baker was born in Binghamton, New York to Doris (née Hamlin) and Ralph B. Baker, a professional artist.[1]
Career [edit]
As a teen, Baker began creating artificial body parts in his own kitchen.[citation needed] He also appeared briefly[citation needed] in the fan production "The Night Turkey" a one-hour, black-and-white video parody of "The Night Stalker" directed by William Malone. Baker's first professional job was as an assistant to Dick Smith on the film The Exorcist.[2] He received the inaugural Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for his work on An American Werewolf in London.[3] He also created the "werecat" creature Michael Jackson transforms into in the music video Thriller.[citation needed] Subsequently, Baker has been nominated for the Best Makeup Oscar ten more times, winning on seven occasions, both records in his field.[4]
Baker claims his work on Harry and the Hendersons is one of his proudest achievements.[5] On October 3, 2009, he received the Jack Pierce – Lifetime Achievement Award title of the Chiller-Eyegore Awards.[6]
He was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Academy of Art University San Francisco in 2008.[7] He also contributes commentaries to the web series Trailers From Hell[8] for trailers about horror and science fiction films.[citation needed]
Baker received the 2485th star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 30, 2012. The star is located in front of the Guinness World Records Museum.[9]
Acting roles [edit]
Baker played the title role in the 1976 remake of King Kong. In the 2005 remake, he had a cameo as the pilot and gunner (with director Peter Jackson) who shot down Kong. He also made cameo appearances in: the John Landis film Into the Night as a drug dealer with a business card; in Men in Black II as an MiB agent helping provide aliens with disguises; in Michael Jackson's music video for Thriller as one of the zombies; in The Haunted Mansion as multiple graveyard ghosts; and in The Wolfman as the Wolfman's first kill.[citation needed]
Filmography [edit]
- Octaman (1971) (Octaman costume; with Doug Beswick)[10]
- The Thing with Two Heads (1972) (special effects)
- Schlock (1973) (makeup artist)
- The Exorcist (1973) (special effects assistant)
- It's Alive (1974) (makeup artist)
- The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974) (makeup artist)
- King Kong (1976) (makeup effects, actor)
- Track of the Moon Beast (1976) (makeup artist)
- Squirm (1976) (makeup designer)
- The Incredible Melting Man (1977) (special makeup effects)
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) (makeup artist: second unit)
- The Fury (1978) (special makeup effects)
- An American Werewolf in London (1981) (special makeup effects)
- The Howling (1981) (special makeup effects consultant)
- The Funhouse (1981) (special makeup design)
- The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981) (makeup effects)
- Videodrome (1983) (special makeup effects designer)
- Thriller (1983) (special makeup effects creator, special makeup effects design)
- Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984) (special makeup effects)
- Into the Night (1985) (actor)
- My Science Project (1985) (special makeup effects artist)
- Captain EO (1986) (special makeup effects)
- Ratboy (1986) (designer: Ratboy)
- Harry and the Hendersons (1987) (makeup artist, creature designer: Harry)
- Beauty and the Beast (1987–89) (creature designer: Beast)
- Werewolf (1987–88) (special makeup effects artist)
- Coming to America (1988) (special makeup effects)
- Gorillas in the Mist (1988) (special makeup effects, associate producer)
- Missing Link (1988) (special makeup effects)
- Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) (special effects supervisor, co-producer)
- The Rocketeer (1991) (makeup creator: Lothar)
- Wolf (1994) (special makeup effects)
- Ed Wood (1994) (makeup creator: Bela Lugosi, makeup designer: Bela Lugosi)
- Batman Forever (1995) (special makeup designer/creator)
- The Nutty Professor (1996) (special makeup effects)
- The Frighteners (1996) (special makeup artist: The Judge)
- Escape from L.A. (1996) (special makeup effects)
- Ghosts (1997) (special makeup effects artist)
- Men in Black (1997) (alien makeup effects, special makeup effects artist)
- Critical Care (1997) (special makeup effects: Mr. Brooks)
- Mighty Joe Young (1998) (special makeup effects)
- Life (1999) (special makeup effects)
- Wild Wild West (1999) (special effects makeup)
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) (special makeup effects)
- Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) (special makeup effects)
- Planet of the Apes (2001) (makeup artist, special makeup effects designer/creator)
- Men in Black II (2002) (alien makeup effects, special makeup effects artist)
- The Ring (2002) (special makeup effects artist)
- The Haunted Mansion (2003) (special makeup effects artist)
- Hellboy (2004) (special effects director, special makeup effects artist)
- The Ring Two (2005) (special makeup effects artist)
- King Kong (2005) (actor)
- Cursed (2005) (special makeup effects artist, special makeup effects designer/creator)
- X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) (special makeup effects consultant, visual effects consultant)
- Click (2006) (special age makeup artist, special makeup effects artist)
- Enchanted (2007) (special makeup effects artist)
- Norbit (2007) (special makeup effects artist)
- Tropic Thunder (2008) (makeup designer: Mr. Downey, Jr.)
- The Wolfman (2010) (special makeup effects)
- Men in Black 3 (2012) (alien makeup effects, special makeup effects artist)
- Maleficent (2014) (special makeup effects artist)
Awards [edit]
- Inducted to the Monster Kid Hall of Fame at the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards
- Jack Pierce – Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chiller-Eyegore Awards
- 2485th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Academy Award, Best Makeup and Hairstyling
- An American Werewolf in London, 1982 (First year of the award)
- Harry and the Hendersons, 1988
- Ed Wood, 1995
- The Nutty Professor, 1997
- Men in Black, 1998
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 2001
- The Wolfman, 2011
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b Rick Baker profile at FilmReference.com
- ^ S W A D - Baker profile
- ^ Barnes, Mike (2009-08-04). "Makeup artist Howard J. Smit dies". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2009-08-12. Abstract only; full article requires subscription.
- ^ Rick Baker @ Everything2.com
- ^ Rick Baker Interview - Rick Baker on CGI, Changes in the Industry
- ^ "Dread Central at the 2009 Chiller-Eyegore Awards and Halloween Horror Nights".
- ^ http://newsfeed.academyart.edu/2009/10/oct-30-academy-to-preview-nova’s-“becoming-human”-—-students-modeled-recreations-of-neanderthal-physiology/
- ^ http://www.trailersfromhell.com/gurus/20
- ^ Baguio, Lindsey (14 November 2012). "Rick Baker to Receive Walk of Fame Star". hollywood.patch.com. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
- ^ Scheib, Richard (Undated). "Octaman". Moria.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rick Baker |
- Rick Baker at the Internet Movie Database
- "Rick Baker: Makeup Artist". Archive of American Television. February 24, 2003. Archived from the original on May 14, 2012.
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