Rick Baker
Costume & Make-Up·b. 1950·Binghamton, New York, USA
51 horror credits
Richard A. Baker (born December 8, 1950) is a retired American special make-up effects creator and actor, mostly known for his creature effects and designs. Baker 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 film An American Werewolf in London.
As a teen, Baker began creating artificial body parts in his own kitchen. He also appeared briefly 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 prosthetic makeup effects veteran Dick Smith on the 1973 film The Exorcist. 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.
Baker received the inaugural Academy Award for Best Makeup for his work on An American Werewolf in London. He also created the werewolf creature Michael Jackson transforms into in the music video Thriller. Subsequently, Baker has been nominated for the Best Makeup Oscar ten more times, winning on seven occasions, both records in his field.
Producer1 film
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Co-Producer
Makeup & FX13 films
The Wolfman
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Cursed
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Ed Wood
Makeup Designer
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Special Effects
Silver Bullet
Visual Effects
Ghost Story
Special Effects Makeup Artist
The Funhouse
Special Effects Makeup Artist
The Howling
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Altered States
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Squirm
Makeup Designer
It's Alive
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Schlock
Special Effects
The Thing with Two Heads
Special Effects
Actor23 films
V/H/S/Halloween
Rich (segment "Home Haunt")
Old Time Radio: The Specter of Christmas
The Caretaker
Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist
Self
Old Time Radio: Your Move
The Caretaker
AGFA Mystery Mixtape #1
Self
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
(archive footage)
Tales Beyond Madness
Keep the Gaslight Burning
Mr Maxwell
Cult of Terror
Self - Make-up Designer
The Wolfman
Gypsy Man / First Killed
Beware the Moon: Remembering 'An American Werewolf in London'
Self
Teddy Scares
Hester Golem (voice)
Working with a Master: John Landis
Self
The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster
Self
Planet of the Apes
Old Ape #2
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed
Self
The Road to 'Dracula'
Self
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'
Self
She's Alive! Creating 'The Bride of Frankenstein'
Self
Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors
Self
Michael Jackson's Thriller
Zombie Opening the Crypt (uncredited)
King Kong
King Kong
The Thing with Two Heads
Gorilla
Other Crew26 films
The Wolfman
Makeup Effects Designer
The Ring
Makeup Effects / Makeup Artist
Planet of the Apes
Makeup Effects Designer
Psycho
Makeup Artist
Ghosts
Makeup Effects / Makeup Artist
Escape from L.A.
Makeup Artist
The Frighteners
Makeup Artist
Batman Forever
Makeup Artist
Wolf
Makeup Artist
Body Bags
Makeup Artist
Matinee
Makeup Effects / Makeup Artist
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Special Effects Supervisor / Creature Design
Michael Jackson's Thriller
Makeup Effects Designer
Videodrome
Makeup Effects Designer
Ghost Story
Makeup Artist
An American Werewolf in London
Makeup Effects / Makeup Artist
Altered States
Makeup Artist
It Lives Again
Makeup Effects / Makeup Artist
The Fury
Makeup Effects / Makeup Artist
The Incredible Melting Man
Makeup Artist
King Kong
Makeup Artist
Track of the Moon Beast
Makeup Artist
It's Alive
Makeup Artist
The Exorcist
Special Effects Assistant
Schlock
Makeup Artist
Octaman
Costume Design