Richard Alan Baker(born December 8, 1950), known professionally asRick Baker,is an American retiredspecial make-up effectscreator and actor.[1]He is mostly known for his creature designs and effects. Baker has won theAcademy Award for Best Makeupa record seven times from a record eleven nominations, beginning when he won the inaugural award for the 1981horror comedyfilmAn American Werewolf in London.[2]
Rick Baker | |
|---|---|
 Baker in 2015 | |
| Born | Richard Alan Baker December 8, 1950 Binghamton, New York,U.S. |
| Alma mater | Academy of Art University(BA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1967–2018 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
editBaker was born on December 8, 1950, inBinghamton, New York,to Doris (néeHamlin), a bank teller, and Ralph B. Baker, a professional artist. He and his family moved toCovina, Californiawhen he was less than one year old.[1][3]
Career
editAs a teenager, Baker began creating artificial body parts in his own kitchen.[citation needed]He also appeared briefly in the fan productionThe Night Turkey,a one-hour, black-and-white video parody ofThe Night Stalker(1972), directed byWilliam Malone.[citation needed]Baker's first professional job was as an assistant toprosthetic makeupeffects veteranDick Smithon the 1973 filmThe Exorcist.[2][4]While working onThe Exorcist,Baker was hired by directorLarry Cohento design and create amutantinfant for Cohen's 1974 filmIt's Alive.[5]
At the54th Academy Awards,Baker received the inauguralAcademy Award for Best Makeupfor his work onAn American Werewolf in London(1981).[6]Subsequently, he has been nominated for Best Makeup ten more times, winning on seven occasions, both records in his field.[2]Baker also created thewerecatcreatureMichael Jacksontransforms into in the music videoThriller(1983).[7]
In 2008, he was awarded aDoctorate of Humane Lettersfrom theAcademy of Art UniversityinSan Francisco.[8]Baker also contributes commentaries to theweb seriesTrailers from Hellfortrailersabout horror and science fiction films.[9]Baker claims that his work onHarry and the Hendersons(1987) is one of his proudest achievements, for which he won his second Oscar.[10]On October 3, 2009, he received theJack PierceLifetime Achievement Award at the Chiller-Eyegore Awards.[11]
On November 30, 2012, Baker received the 2485th star of theHollywood Walk of Fame.The star is located in front of the Guinness World Records Museum.[12]
On May 28, 2015, Baker announced his retirement, saying: "First of all, theCGstuff definitely took away the animatronics part of what I do. It's also starting to take away the makeup part. The time is right, I am 64 years old, and the business is crazy right now. I like to do things right, and they wanted cheap and fast. That is not what I want to do, so I just decided it is basically time to get out. I would consider designing and consulting on something, but I don't think I will have a huge working studio anymore. "[13][14][15]
In 2018, Baker was approached byDC Comics,due to his daughter Veronica working for them at the time, if he would be interested in creating a collectible display bust for them. He agreed with the following terms that he would be left alone with total creative freedom and DC accepted them. Baker, with the aide of his long-time mold maker Rob Freitas, created a bust ofThe Joker.[16]
Acting roles
editBaker played thetitle rolein the1976 remake ofKing Kong.He had initially only been hired to create an ape suit that would fill in for scenes where it was not practical to use a life-sized mechanical version of Kong that had been designed byCarlo Rambaldi,but problems with Rambaldi's creation resulted in Baker playing Kong on-screen for almost all of the film.[17]In the2005 remake,he had a cameo as the pilot and gunner (with directorPeter Jackson) who shot down Kong. He has also made cameo appearances in:Michael Jackson's music videoThriller(1983) as "Zombie Opening the Crypt";Into the Night(1985) as a drug dealer with a business card;Men in Black II(2002) as "MIB Passport Control Agent", an MIB agent helping provide aliens with disguises;Men in Black 3(2012) as "Brain Alien";The Wolfman(2010) as "Gypsy Man / First Killed";The Strainas a convenience store customer (2014, Episode 8, uncredited) andRings(2017) as a flea market vendor.[18]
Personal life
editBaker is married; he was previously married to Elaine Melba Parkyn for ten years. He met his second wife, hairstylist Silvia Abascal, while they were both working onInto the Night(1985).[3]Baker and Abascal had their first daughter, Veronica in 1989 and their second, Rebecca, in 1993.[19]
Selected filmography
edit- Octaman(1971) (Octaman costume; co-created with Doug Beswick)[20]
- The Thing with Two Heads(1972) (special effects - uncredited)
- Schlock(1973) (makeup artist / actor)
- The Exorcist(1973) (special effects assistant - uncredited)
- It's Alive(1974) (makeup artist / special makeup effects artist - uncredited)
- The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman(1974) (makeup creator:Miss Tyson)
- King Kong(1976) (makeup effects - uncredited / special contributions:Kong/ actor)
- Track of the Moon Beast(1976) (makeup artist)
- Squirm(1976) (makeup designer)
- The Incredible Melting Man(1977) (special makeup effects / actor)
- Star Wars(1977) (makeup: second unit)
- The Fury(1978) (special makeup effects)
- The Empire Strikes Back(1980) (makeup artist - uncredited)
- An American Werewolf in London(1981) (special makeup effects designer and creator)
- The Howling(1981) (special makeup effects consultant)
- The Funhouse(1981) (special makeup design)
- The Incredible Shrinking Woman(1981) (creator and designer: Sidney / makeup effects / actor)
- Videodrome(1983) (special makeup effects designer)
- Thriller(1983) (special makeup effects designer and creator / actor)
- Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes(1984) (special makeup effects)
- Starman(1984) (Starman transformation)
- Into the Night(1985) (actor)
- My Science Project(1985) (special makeup effects artist - uncredited)
- Captain EO(1986) (special makeup effects)
- Ratboy(1986) (designer: Ratboy)
- Harry and the Hendersons(1987) (creature designer: Harry / puppeteer / makeup artist)
- Beauty and the Beast(1987–89) (designer and creator)
- Werewolf(1987–88) (werewolf characters designer)
- 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 and 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 / creature designer and producer: Mighty Joe Young)
- Psycho(1998) (special makeup effects artist)
- Life(1999) (special makeup effects)
- Wild Wild West(1999) (special makeup effects)
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas(2000) (special makeup effects / actor)
- Nutty Professor II: The Klumps(2000) (special makeup effects)
- Planet of the Apes(2001) (makeup artist / special makeup effects designer and creator / actor)
- Men in Black II(2002) (alien makeup effects / special makeup effects artist - uncredited / actor)
- The Ring(2002) (special makeup effects artist)
- The Haunted Mansion(2003) (special makeup effects designer and creator)
- Hellboy(2004) (makeup consultant: Hellboy / special effects director)
- The Ring Two(2005) (special makeup effects artist)
- King Kong(2005) (actor)
- Cursed(2005) (special makeup effects artist / special makeup effects creator / special makeup effects designer)
- X-Men: The Last Stand(2006) (special makeup effects consultant)
- Click(2006) (special age makeup artist - uncredited / special makeup effects)
- 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 / actor)
- Tron: Legacy(2010) (special makeup effects artist)
- Men in Black 3(2012) (alien makeup effects / actor)
- Maleficent(2014) (makeup designer:Maleficent)
- Rings(2017) (actor)
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | An American Werewolf in London | Best Makeup | Won |
| 1985 | Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes | Nominated | |
| 1988 | Harry and the Hendersons | Won | |
| 1989 | Coming to America | Nominated | |
| 1995 | Ed Wood | Won | |
| 1997 | The Nutty Professor | Won | |
| 1998 | Men in Black | Won | |
| 2000 | Life | Nominated | |
| 2001 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Won | |
| 2008 | Norbit | Nominated | |
| 2011 | The Wolfman | Won |
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes | Best Make Up/Hair | Won |
| 1996 | Ed Wood | Nominated | |
| 1997 | The Nutty Professor | Won | |
| 1998 | Men in Black | Best Special Effects | Nominated |
| 2001 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Best Make Up/Hair | Won |
| 2002 | Planet of the Apes | Nominated |
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Star Wars | Best Make-up | Won |
| 1979 | The Fury | Won | |
| 1981 | The Howling | Nominated | |
| 1982 | An American Werewolf in London | Won | |
| 1988 | Harry and the Hendersons | Nominated | |
| 1991 | Gremlins 2: The New Batch | Best Special Effects | Nominated |
| 1995 | Ed Wood | Best Make-up | Won |
| Wolf | Nominated | ||
| 1996 | Batman Forever | Nominated | |
| 1997 | The Nutty Professor | Won | |
| The Frighteners | Nominated | ||
| 1998 | Men in Black | Best Special Effects | Nominated |
| Best Make-up | Nominated | ||
| 1999 | Mighty Joe Young | Best Special Effects | Nominated |
| 2001 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Best Make-up | Won |
| Nutty Professor II: The Klumps | Nominated | ||
| 2002 | Planet of the Apes | Nominated | |
| 2003 | The Ring | Nominated | |
| 2004 | The Haunted Mansion | Nominated | |
| 2011 | The Wolfman | Won |
Other awards
edit- 2485th star on theHollywood Walk of Fame[12]
- Time Machine Award at the 2015Sitges Film Festival
- Doctorate of Humane Lettersfrom theAcademy of Art University
- Jack PierceLifetime Achievement Award at the Chiller-Eyegore Awards
- Inducted in the Monster Kid Hall of Fame at the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in MakeupforThe Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman(1974)[21]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abc"Rick Baker Biography (1950-)".Film Reference.
- ^abc"Rick Baker".Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.RetrievedApril 24,2018.
- ^ab"The Legendary Rick Baker!".YouTube.September 24, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on December 14, 2021.
- ^Nelson, Valerie J. (July 31, 2014)."Dick Smith dies at 92; 'Exorcist' makeup man won Oscar for 'Amadeus'".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedFebruary 8,2020.
- ^Martin, R. H. (August 1984). "Rick Baker: The Wonder Years Part Three".Fangoria.No. 37.Starlog Group, Inc.pp. 31–32.ISSN0164-2111.
- ^Barnes, Mike (August 4, 2009)."Makeup artist Howard J. Smit dies".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedAugust 12,2009.
- ^Navarro, Meagan (October 29, 2018)."[It Came From the '80s] The Enduring Legacy of John Landis, Rick Baker, and Michael Jackson's" Thriller "".Bloody Disgusting.RetrievedOctober 29,2018.
- ^"Academy of Art University to Preview NOVA's" Becoming Human "— Students Modeled Recreations of Neanderthal Physiology".academyart.edu.Academy of Art University.October 25, 2009.RetrievedOctober 25,2009.
- ^"Rick Baker".Trailers from Hell.RetrievedDecember 21,2016.
- ^Murray, Rebecca (July 18, 2006)."Rick Baker on CGI, Changes in the Industry".About.com.Archived fromthe originalon June 4, 2008.RetrievedSeptember 8,2007.
- ^Barton, Steve (October 3, 2009)."Dread Central at the 2009 Chiller-Eyegore Awards and Halloween Horror Nights".Dread Central.RetrievedOctober 3,2009.
- ^abBaguio, Lindsey (November 14, 2012)."Rick Baker to Receive Walk of Fame Star".Hollywood Patch.RetrievedNovember 27,2012.
- ^Dornbush, Jonathan (May 28, 2015)."Rick Baker, special effects and make-up designer for 'Thriller,' to retire and auction off his collection".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedMay 28,2015.
- ^Chitwood, Adam (May 28, 2015)."Make-Up Legend Rick Baker Is Retiring; Cites Studios Wanting" Cheap and Fast "Over Quality".Collider.RetrievedMay 28,2015.
- ^Fischer, Russ (May 28, 2015)."Visual Effects Legend Rick Baker Is Retiring From Filmmaking"./Film.RetrievedMay 28,2015.
- ^Morrison, Matt (October 23, 2018)."Exclusive: How Rick Baker's the Joker Bust Was Crafted [Time-Lapse Video]".Screen Rant.RetrievedJuly 3,2022.
- ^Lambie, Ryan (March 10, 2017)."The Struggles of King Kong '76".Den of Geek.RetrievedMarch 10,2017.
- ^""Rick Baker - Actor Filmography"".IMDb.RetrievedMay 3,2017.
- ^Quinton, Angela (October 31, 2018)."Rick Baker's daughters Rebecca and Veronica become a new American Werewolf & her victim for Halloween".Werewolf News.RetrievedOctober 31,2018.
- ^Scheib, Richard (May 4, 2008)."Octaman(1971) ".Moria Reviews.
- ^"Outstanding Achievement in Makeup - 1974".Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.RetrievedJune 11,2022.
External links
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