Masters of Film Makeup
makeup designers; prosthetic makeup and hair designers; special makeup effects artists etc.
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Although his parents were deaf, Leonidas Chaney became an actor and also owner of a theatre company (together with his brother John). He made his debut at the movies in 1912, and his filmography is vast. Lon Chaney was especially famous for his horror parts in movies like e.g. Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923). Due to his special make-up effects he carried the characterization to be "the man with the thousand faces." He only filmed one movie with sound: The remake of one of his earlier films The Unholy Three (1930). His son, Lon Chaney Jr., became a famous actor of the horror genre.- Make-Up Department
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Stan Winston was born on 7 April 1946 in Richmond, Virginia, USA. He is known for Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Jurassic Park (1993) and Aliens (1986). He was married to Karen Winston. He died on 15 June 2008 in Malibu, California, USA.Terminator- Make-Up Department
- Location Management
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Greg Cannom was born in 1951 in the USA. He is known for Vice (2018), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) and Bicentennial Man (1999).Pirates of the Carebbean- Make-Up Department
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- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Stuart Freeborn was born on 5 September 1914 in Leytonstone, London, England, UK. He is known for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) and Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980). He was married to Kay Freeborn. He died on 5 February 2013 in London, England, UK.Star Wars- Make-Up Department
- Special Effects
- Actor
Rick Baker was born on 8 December 1950 in Binghamton, New York, USA. He is an actor, known for Planet of the Apes (2001), Men in Black (1997) and The Wolfman (2010). He has been married to Silvia Abascal since 8 November 1987. They have two children. He was previously married to Elaine Alexander.An American Werewolf in London- Actor
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Actor/SFX wizard/stuntman/director Tom Savini was born in Pittsburgh. Inspired by the film Man of a Thousand Faces (1957), a young Savini became fascinated with the magic and illusion of film. He spent his youth in his room creating characters by tirelessly practicing make-up. Later, as a combat photographer in Vietnam, Savini saw first-hand the gruesome carnage for which he later gained fame, simulating it on screen.
He has acquired a remarkable cult following among film fans, primarily due to his ground-breaking SFX in the "splatter movie" explosion of the early 1980s. Along with fellow special make-up legends Dick Smith and Rob Bottin, Savini was one of the key SFX people behind the startling make-up & EFX seen in the fantasy/horror genre films of the 1980s-'90s. Savini was heavily influenced by the remarkable silent-era actor Lon Chaney, and he sought to emulate the amazing theatrical make-up effects that were a hallmark of Chaney's career. In Savini's insightful book "Grande Illusions", he speaks of his early attempts at applying prosthetics to his face using "spearmint gum", having misinterpreted that he was meant to actually use "spirit gum"! His first work was in low-budget fare, providing SFX and make-up for independently made horror films such as Deranged (1974) and Martin (1977).
He really caught the attention of horror buffs with his grisly effects in the cult George A. Romero-directed zombie film Dawn of the Dead (1978), and then in the controversial slasher film Friday the 13th (1980), the movie generally identified as the kickstart for the aforementioned "splatter movie" genre. Savini also contributed the incredible EFX & make-up to other splatter thrillers such as Maniac (1980), The Burning (1981), Creepshow (1982) and Romero's third "Dead" film, Day of the Dead (1985) (for which he won a Saturn Award). In 1990, Savini directed his feature film debut Night of the Living Dead (1990), the remake of the original zombie-classic.
Not content with only being behind the lens, however, Savini has appeared in dozens of films, and can be seen demonstrating his capable acting skills as "Morgan, the Black Knight" in Knightriders (1981), as "Blades", one of the biker gang members in Dawn of the Dead (1978) and as "Sex Machine", another leather-clad biker--but this time with a groin-mounted gun--in the wild vampire film From Dusk Till Dawn (1996).Day of the Dead- Make-Up Department
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Dick Smith was born on 26 June 1922 in Larchmont, New York, USA. He is known for The Exorcist (1973), Altered States (1980) and Scanners (1981). He was married to Jocelyn DeRosa. He died on 30 July 2014 in Los Angeles, California, USA.The Exorsist- Make-Up Department
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Rob Bottin was born on 1 April 1959 in El Monte, California, USA. He is known for RoboCop (1987), Total Recall (1990) and Se7en (1995).The Thing- Make-Up Department
- Producer
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Gifted SFX and make-up wizard, who learned his trade under the watchful eye of SFX splatter guru Tom Savini. Nicotero and buddies, Howard Berger and Robert Kurtzman started KNB Efx Group in 1988 and the group has provided eye-popping & jaw dropping special effects for major Hollywood releases including The Green Mile (1999), Vanilla Sky (2001), Sin City (2005) and Land of the Dead (2005).Vanila Sky- Make-Up Department
- Special Effects
- Visual Effects
Kazu Hiro was born on 25 May 1969 in Kyoto, Japan. He is known for Darkest Hour (2017), Bombshell (2019) and Mindhunter (2017).Darkest Hour- Make-Up Department
- Special Effects
- Actor
Daniel Parker was born on 30 December 1960 in Hammersmith, London, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Cloud Atlas (2012), Frankenstein (1994) and In a Better World (2010).- Make-Up Department
- Make-Up Department
- Actor
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As we look back on the cinematic pioneers of the 20th century, no individual is more significant in his field than genius makeup artist Jack Pierce, the legendary monster-maker who worked in the 1930s and 1940s at Universal Studios during its classic horror period. Pierce's story is equal parts triumph and tragedy. After emigrating to the US from Greece at the turn of the century, he attempted to play baseball, unsuccessfully trying out for a semi-professional team in California after achieving some notoriety as a shortstop in Chicago. He next worked in the fledgling motion picture industry in the 1910s and 1920s, trying his hand at a variety of jobs from nickelodeon manager to stuntman to assistant cameraman. At this time Universal was a nascent little studio in the San Fernando Valley, referred to as "Universal City" in 1915, after only three years in business. The brainchild of former haberdasher Carl Laemmle, Universal was the home to many silent shorts in the 1910s, several of which featured the talents of an unknown actor named Lon Chaney, who got work by creating his own unique makeups, transforming his entire face and body in the process.
Pierce eventually drifted into acting, then makeup, working at Vitagraph and the original Fox Studios in the 1920s. By 1928, after Chaney had left to freelance stardom, Universal made Pierce head of the makeup department, where he worked on the last of the silent films made at the studio. His fortune was cemented when Carl Laemmle made his son, Carl Laemmle Jr., head of production as a 21st-birthday present. Called "Junior" by his peers and colleagues, Laemmle Jr. decided to produce film versions of classic horror novels, encouraged by Chaney's huge successes with The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925) at Universal in the mid-'20s. Laemmle's personal tastes couldn't have been any more fortuitous for Pierce: from 1930-1947 Pierce created some of cinema history's most distinguishable screen characters.
In 1930 Dracula (1931) was first produced, and though Bela Lugosi refused to let Pierce apply his makeup (the actor had come from the stage where he always did his own work), Pierce came up with the styling for the vampire character and his many female victims. Immediately following the success of "Dracula", Junior wanted a follow-up, which led to the production of Frankenstein (1931) in 1931. Though many have argued as to whether director James Whale, actor Boris Karloff or Junior himself contributed to the makeup, the driving force behind the look of the character unquestionably belonged to Jack Pierce. Every morning Karloff sat for four uncomfortable hours, suffering the makeup's high levels of toxicity, as Pierce and his assistants applied the head, facial buildup and layers of padding and costume modifications that would make him into the movies' most memorable monster. For the 43-year-old Karloff and 42-year-old Pierce it was a remarkable achievement--their legend would have been guaranteed even if they had stopped their unique artist-performer collaboration right then and there. Furthering their reputation, though, Pierce and Karloff teamed the following year to create The Mummy (1932). Though the actual creature is only seen for a matter of seconds, it was another unforgettable achievement in cinema horror when "In-Ho-Tep" came alive and paraded across an unearthed Egyptian tomb. Karloff spent most of the picture as "Ardath Bey", another Pierce incarnation, the doomed prince looking for his lost bride.
The Laemmles also tried to get new cinematic treatments of "Phantom of the Opera" and "Hunchback" off the ground at this time. Lon Chaney had died in 1930, but many of their efforts stalled. A version of "The Wolf Man" with Karloff was even planned, but this, too, would be derailed due to production problems. If you can't initiate wholly original projects, why not try a sequel? Universal did just that, starting a trend that would result in numerous Dracula, Frankenstein and Mummy spin-offs, which became its trademark.
First on the boards was what would be the final horror film in the Laemmle period, Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Revamping his first version of the monster, Pierce also created the famous makeup and designed the electric hairstyle for Elsa Lanchester's bride. Once again, Pierce created an iconic movie character who only appeared on screen very briefly at the end of the film. Then, in an instance of commerce overwhelming art, the Laemmles sold the studio in 1937, ushering in a series of revolving studio heads at Universal for the next 10 years.
In the many comings and goings of Universal executives in the late 1930s and early 1940s, Pierce did manage to retain his level of high-quality character makeups in several cranked-out sequels and B-movies. For Lugosi, with whom Pierce had locked horns several years earlier on "Dracula", Pierce created "Ygor" in 1939's Son of Frankenstein (1939). Conceived as a man who couldn't be hanged, the bearded, gnarled-toothed wretch became Lugosi's most original character in years and put him back on the map. Two years later Pierce pulled out all the stops for The Wolf Man (1941) with Lon Chaney Jr. in the title role. Though the two reportedly did not get along--Chaney did not like wearing the makeup or undergoing the lengthy application and removal period--Pierce excelled again with his werewolf concept, utilizing a design he had created for Karloff a decade earlier. Originally intended as a B-movie, The Wolf Man (1941) was a true horror classic, and Pierce's version of the character has been the model for the numerous werewolves that have since come to the screen.
The final, original Pierce makeup arrived in 1943 with Phantom of the Opera (1943). Starring Claude Rains (it would be the only Jack Pierce monster movie shot in color). Though his treatment of Claude Rains' makeup--revealed only at the end of the film--was cut down at the request of the producers (Pierce's original concept was considered too hideous!), it stands as another horror movie landmark.
Jack Pierce's reign at Universal ended shortly after WWII when the studio merged with International Pictures and replaced many of its department heads. He had been a makeup supervisor for 19 years and worked at the studio for 30 years, but Pierce ended his career working in low-budget independent films and television projects during the final 20 years of his life. His last project was working as makeup department head for the TV show Mister Ed (1961) from 1961-1964. Unthinkably, he died in virtual obscurity in 1968. However, today's artists still view Pierce's work as a relevant force in the annals of cinema crafts, and Pierce has been honored with a tribute DVD, a lifetime achievement award by the makeup union, and a proposed forthcoming star on Hollywood Boulevard.- Make-Up Department
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Ken Diaz is known for Black Panther (2018), Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) and Training Day (2001).- Make-Up Department
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- Writer
Academy Award-winner JOEL HARLOW is one of the most innovative makeup and special makeup artists and designers in American motion pictures. He has proven himself to be one of a very few number of artists who is able to span the world of makeup effects design and creation to the world of on set makeup application. Re-establishing the old studio system of an "in house" makeup and prosthetics department, Harlow and his team have successfully accommodated last minute needs and changes on a variety of major productions.
In 1986, Harlow left his home town of Grand Forks, ND for the faster paced lifestyle of New York. Attending the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan afforded him the opportunity to develop his craft, initially as an animation major. It was makeup and prosthetics that were his true passion however, and he eventually found work on an array of low budget genre pictures, creating characters on shoestring budgets. It was the idea of creating characters that was his focus (be that as an animator or makeup artist), the characters were what was important.
Los Angeles was the next logical destination for a makeup effects artist in the late 80s, early 90s, and Harlow soon found himself there. After a decade long career working for the various makeup effects studios in the San Fernando Valley, he eventually joined the union. This now allowed him the opportunity to, not only create and build makeups but also apply them on set. taking a character full circle from design to completion would prove his specialty.
Anxious to now apply his skills on set, Harlow began working steadily on such high profile films as "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "A.I. Artificial Intelligence," "Planet of the Apes," "Constantine" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," creating a long-standing relationship with Johnny Depp, director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Harlow would be the key makeup artist, makeup effects supervisor, and prosthetic makeup designer on "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest", and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," again directed by Verbinski. Being well versed in the aesthetic of the "Pirate" films, he would go on to be makeup designer and department head on "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," directed by Rob Marshall. Finally having his hand in all five Pirate films as Department Head of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) additional photography.
In 2009 Harlow had ventured from the crusty old world of Captain Jack to the futuristic polished world of Captain Kirk, where he was tasked with creating looks for the Romulans and reintroducing the Vulcans for JJ Abrams' "Star Trek", ultimately winning an Academy Award for his work in 2010. Previously, Harlow had already won a Critic's Choice award for his work on "Alice in Wonderland," as well as Primetime Emmy Awards for the television miniseries versions of Stephen King's "The Stand" and "The Shining," and receiving nominations for "Mad Men," "Carnivale" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
For the past 8 years Harlow has worked as Johnny Depp's makeup artist on "Alice in Wonderland", "Alice Through the Looking Glass", "The Tourist", "Transcendence", "Mortdecai", "Tusk" and "Into The Woods", as well as makeup designer on "The Rum Diary," "Dark Shadows", "Black Mass" and "The Lone Ranger", for which he was nominated for a second Academy Award. In addition Harlow was key makeup artist on Ron Howard's "Angels & Demons," key prosthetic makeup artist for Christopher Nolan's "Inception", key prosthetic makeup artist on "Green Lantern" and makeup department head on "Battle: Los Angeles."
Anxious for the opportunities that Justin Lin's "Star Trek Beyond" offered in the world of character creation, Harlow enlisted some of the industries best artists to help bring a staggering 56 different alien races to the screen. Never before had there been so many different and elaborate practical makeup creations offered up in a single film, a fact that Harlow and crew take immense pride in.
Currently, Harlow's company, Morphology FX Inc. continues to create a full range of state-of-the- art makeup, special makeup effects and prosthetics. Seeing characters through, from lab to set, continues to be the artistic passion of everyone on the team.- Make-Up Department
- Actress
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Ve Neill was born on 12 May 1951 in Riverside, California, USA. She is an actress, known for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Edward Scissorhands (1990) and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993).