Gregory Nicotero (born March 15, 1963) is an American special make-up effects creator, television producer, and director. His first major job in special effects makeup was on the George A. Romero film Day of the Dead (1985), under the tutelage of Romero and make-up effects veteran Tom Savini.
He served as an executive producer, special make-up effects supervisor, and primary director on the AMC TV series The Walking Dead[4] and Fear the Walking Dead.[5] Nicotero has directed 37 episodes of The Walking Dead and is the creator of the webseriesThe Walking Dead: Webisodes.[6]
Life and career
Nicotero in October 2012.
Nicotero claims he began taking an interest in special effects after viewing the film Jaws. He explains: "I kept thinking 'How the hell did they do that?! How'd they build a big giant shark that could eat people?!' So, between that movie, The Exorcist, Planet of the Apes, and of course all of the Universal horror movies [...] I think Jaws and then later Dawn of the Dead were pretty much the two movies that did it for me."[7] Nicotero began his career working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, learning the trade of special make-up effects, also known as prosthetic makeup, from Tom Savini, an award-winning special effects and makeup artist,[8] and helping on films by director George A. Romero.
He later worked as FX artist on the 2010 film Predators[11] and created a classic predator figure for the film.[12]
Nicotero worked as special make-up effects supervisor, co-executive producer and occasional director for the TV series The Walking Dead, as well as acting in a few uncredited cameos.[13] He was at San Diego Comic-Con for the show.[14] He was a guest on Talking Dead on March 24, 2013,[15] October 12, 2014, February 8, 2015, and February 14, 2016. He also supervises the make-up effects for Fear the Walking Dead.[16]
In 2011, Nicotero was interviewed for the 2012 zombie special effects book "Blood Splatter: A Guide to Cinematic Zombie Violence, Gore and Special Effects" by author Craig W. Chenery.[17]
He was a guest on the MythBusters Zombie Special on October 17, 2013.[18]
He designed a Leatherface skin for the 2023 game, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. It dawns his name being called, "Nicotero Leatherface" and was released October 24th, 2023.
