Rick Baker

For other people named Rick Baker, see Rick Baker (disambiguation).

Rick Baker
Baker in 2015
Born	Richard Alan Baker (1950-12-08) December 8, 1950 (age 74) Binghamton, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	Academy of Art University (BA)
Occupations	Special make-up effects artist actor
Years active	1967–2018
Spouses	Elaine Baker ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1984)​ Silvia Abascal ​ (m. 1987)​ [1]
Children	2

Richard Alan Baker (born December 8, 1950), known professionally as Rick Baker, is a retired American special make-up effects creator and actor.^[1] He is mostly known for his creature designs and effects. Baker has won the Academy Award for Best Makeup a record seven times from a record eleven nominations, beginning when he won the inaugural award for the 1981 horror comedy film An American Werewolf in London.^[2]

Early life

Baker was born on December 8, 1950, in Binghamton, New York, to Doris (née Hamlin), a bank teller, and Ralph B. Baker, a professional artist. He and his family moved to Covina, California when he was less than one year old.^[1][3]

Career

As a teenager, Baker began creating artificial body parts in his own kitchen.^{[citation needed]} He also appeared briefly in the fan production The Night Turkey, a one-hour, black-and-white video parody of The Night Stalker (1972), directed by William Malone.^{[citation needed]} Among Baker's first professional jobs was assisting prosthetic makeup effects veteran Dick Smith on the 1973 film The Exorcist.^[2][4] While working on The Exorcist, Baker was hired by director Larry Cohen to design and create a mutant infant for Cohen's 1974 film It's Alive.^[5]

At the 54th Academy Awards, Baker received the inaugural Academy Award for Best Makeup for his work on An 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 the werecat creature Michael Jackson transforms into in the music video Thriller (1983).^[7]

Baker at the 37th Saturn Awards in 2011

In 2008, he was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.^[8] Baker also contributes commentaries to the web series Trailers from Hell for trailers about horror and science fiction films.^[9] Baker claims that his work on Harry and the Hendersons (1987) is one of his proudest achievements, for which he won his second Oscar.^[10] On October 3, 2009, he received the Jack Pierce Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chiller-Eyegore Awards.^[11]

On November 30, 2012, Baker received the 2485th star of the Hollywood 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, the CG stuff 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 by DC 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 of The Joker.^[16]

Acting roles

Baker played the title role in the 1976 remake of King 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 by Carlo Rambaldi, but problems with Rambaldi's creation resulted in Baker playing Kong on-screen for almost all of the film.^[17] In the 2005 remake, he had a cameo as the pilot and gunner (with director Peter Jackson) who shot down Kong. He has also made cameo appearances in: Michael Jackson's music video Thriller (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 Strain as a convenience store customer (2014, Episode 8, uncredited) and Rings (2017) as a flea market vendor.^[18]

Personal life

Baker 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 on Into the Night (1985).^[3] Baker and Abascal had their first daughter, Veronica in 1989 and their second, Rebecca, in 1993. ^[19]

Selected filmography

• Octaman (1971) (Octaman costume; co-created with Doug Beswick)^[20]
• The Thing with Two Heads (1972) (special effects - uncredited)
• Schlock (1973) (makeup artist / actor)
• Live and Let Die (1973) (makeup artist - inflated Kananga, dummy Samedi, Mr Big - uncredited)
• 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

Academy Awards

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

BAFTA Awards

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

Saturn Awards

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

• 2485th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame^[12]
• Time Machine Award at the 2015 Sitges Film Festival
• Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Academy of Art University
• Jack Pierce Lifetime 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 Makeup for The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974)^[21]

See also

• Prosthetic makeup
• Special effect

References

1. "Rick Baker Biography (1950-)". Film Reference.
2. "Rick Baker". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
3. "The Legendary Rick Baker!". YouTube. September 24, 2019. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021.
4. Nelson, Valerie J. (July 31, 2014). "Dick Smith dies at 92; 'Exorcist' makeup man won Oscar for 'Amadeus'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
5. Martin, R. H. (August 1984). "Rick Baker: The Wonder Years Part Three". Fangoria. No. 37. Starlog Group, Inc. pp. 31–32. ISSN 0164-2111.
6. Barnes, Mike (August 4, 2009). "Makeup artist Howard J. Smit dies". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
7. 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. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
8. "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. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
9. "Rick Baker". Trailers from Hell. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
10. Murray, Rebecca (July 18, 2006). "Rick Baker on CGI, Changes in the Industry". About.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2007.
11. Barton, Steve (October 3, 2009). "Dread Central at the 2009 Chiller-Eyegore Awards and Halloween Horror Nights". Dread Central. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
12. Baguio, Lindsey (November 14, 2012). "Rick Baker to Receive Walk of Fame Star". Hollywood Patch. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
13. Dornbush, Jonathan (May 28, 2015). "Rick Baker, special effects and make-up designer for 'Thriller,' to retire and auction off his collection". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
14. Chitwood, Adam (May 28, 2015). "Make-Up Legend Rick Baker Is Retiring; Cites Studios Wanting "Cheap and Fast" Over Quality". Collider. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
15. Fischer, Russ (May 28, 2015). "Visual Effects Legend Rick Baker Is Retiring From Filmmaking". /Film. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
16. Morrison, Matt (October 23, 2018). "Exclusive: How Rick Baker's the Joker Bust Was Crafted [Time-Lapse Video]". Screen Rant. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
17. Lambie, Ryan (March 10, 2017). "The Struggles of King Kong '76". Den of Geek. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
18. ""Rick Baker - Actor Filmography"". IMDb. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
19. Quinton, Angela (October 31, 2018). "Rick Baker's daughters Rebecca and Veronica become a new American Werewolf & her victim for Halloween". Werewolf News. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
20. Scheib, Richard (May 4, 2008). "Octaman (1971)". Moria Reviews.
21. "Outstanding Achievement in Makeup - 1974". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved June 11, 2022.

External links

• Rick Baker at IMDb
• Rick Baker at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television