About

Known credits:
149
Birthday:
1950-12-08
Place of birth:
Binghamton, New York, USA
Website:
N/A

Rick Baker

Overview

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.

Baker claims that his work on Harry and the Hendersons is one of his proudest achievements.[8] On October 3, 2009, he received the Jack Pierce – Lifetime Achievement Award title of the Chiller-Eyegore Awards.[9]

He was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Academy of Art University San Francisco in 2008. He also contributes commentaries to the web series Trailers from Hell for trailers about horror and science fiction films.

Baker received the 2485th star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 30, 2012. The star is located in front of the Guinness World Records Museum.

Baker announced his retirement on May 28, 2015: "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."

Known for

Acting
2024 Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist Actor Himself N/A
N/A
2023 Old Time Radio: Your Move Actor The Caretaker N/A
N/A
2020 AGFA MYSTERY MIXTAPE #1 Actor Self N/A
N/A
2019 Tales Beyond Madness Actor 59
Average
2019 Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film Actor Self 59
Average
2018 Keep the Gaslight Burning Actor Mr Maxwell N/A
N/A
2018 King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen Actor Self 59
Average
2017 The Beast Inside: Creating 'Wolf' Actor Rick Baker 59
Average
2017 Cult of Terror Actor Self - Make-up Designer 59
Average
2017 MonsterKids: The Impact of Things That Go Bump In The Night Actor Self N/A
N/A
2017 Face Off: Game Face Actor Self - Judge 69
Fair
2016 Charlie Gemora: Uncredited Actor Himself N/A
N/A
2015 Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex Actor Self 59
Average
2015 Birth Pains Actor himself N/A
N/A
2014 The Scanners Way: Creating the Special Effects in 'Scanners' Actor Himself 59
Average
2013 House of Wax: Unlike Anything You've Seen Before! Actor Self N/A
N/A
2012 Men in Black 3 Actor Brain Alien 64
Fair
2012 Unchained Reaction Actor 69
Fair
2010 The Wolfman Actor Gypsy Man / First Killed 58
Average
2010 Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr. Actor Self 59
Average
2010 The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth Actor Self 58
Average
2009 I Walked with a Werewolf Actor Himself N/A
N/A
2009 Beware the Moon: Remembering 'An American Werewolf in London' Actor Self 59
Average
2009 Monsterland Actor Self 59
Average
2008 He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce Actor Self 59
Average
2006 Teddy Scares Actor Hester Golem (voice) N/A
N/A
2006 Working with a Master: John Landis Actor Self N/A
N/A
2006 The Sci-Fi Boys Actor Self 59
Average
2005 RKO Production 601: The Making of 'Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World' Actor N/A
N/A
2005 The Perfect Scary Movie Actor Self 59
Average
2005 The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz Actor Self 58
Average
2004 Ed Wood: Making Bela Actor Self 59
Average
2004 Videodrome: Forging the New Flesh Actor Self 59
Average
2002 Rick Baker: Alien Maker Actor Self N/A
N/A
2002 The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster Actor Self 59
Average
2002 Men in Black II Actor MIB Passport Control Agent 63
Fair
2001 Planet of the Apes Actor Old Ape #2 58
Average
2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas Actor Puppeteer 67
Fair
2000 Metamorphosis of 'Men in Black' Actor Self 59
Average
2000 Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed Actor Self 59
Average
1999 The Road to 'Dracula' Actor Self 59
Average
1999 She's Alive! Creating 'The Bride of Frankenstein' Actor Self 59
Average
1999 Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man' Actor Self 59
Average
1999 A Tribute to the Wizard of Oz Actor Himself 59
Average
1997 The Making of Men in Black Actor Self 59
Average
1994 It's Alive: The True Story of Frankenstein Actor Self 59
Average
1994 Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects Actor Self N/A
N/A
1986 The Making of Captain EO Actor Self 59
Average
1986 King Kong! The Living Legend Actor Self / King Kong N/A
N/A
1986 Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors Actor Self 59
Average
1985 Into the Night Actor Drug Dealer 61
Fair
1983 Making Michael Jackson's Thriller Actor Self 60
Fair
1983 Michael Jackson's Thriller Actor Zombie Opening the Crypt (uncredited) 72
Good
1982 The Making of David Cronenberg's Videodrome Actor Interviewee 59
Average
1981 The Incredible Shrinking Woman Actor Sidney 57
Average
1977 The Kentucky Fried Movie Actor Dino (segment "A.M. Today") (as Richard A. Baker) 60
Fair
1976 King Kong Actor King Kong 60
Fair
1972 The Thing with Two Heads Actor Gorilla 58
Average
Dance With Me Actor Caretaker N/A
N/A

Production
1990 Gremlins 2: The New Batch Production Co-Producer 63
Fair

Costume & Make-Up
2014 Maleficent Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 70
Good
2012 Men in Black 3 Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 64
Fair
2010 TRON: Legacy Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 64
Fair
2010 The Wolfman Costume & Make-Up Makeup Effects Designer 58
Average
2010 The Wolfman Costume & Make-Up Special Effects Makeup Artist 58
Average
2007 Enchanted Costume & Make-Up Special Effects Makeup Artist 67
Fair
2007 Norbit Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 57
Average
2006 Click Costume & Make-Up Special Effects Makeup Artist 62
Fair
2005 Cursed Costume & Make-Up Special Effects Makeup Artist 56
Average
2002 The Ring Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 66
Fair
2002 Men in Black II Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 63
Fair
2001 Planet of the Apes Costume & Make-Up Makeup Effects Designer 58
Average
2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas Costume & Make-Up Makeup Effects Designer 67
Fair
2000 Nutty Professor II: The Klumps Costume & Make-Up Special Effects Makeup Artist 52
Average
1999 Wild Wild West Costume & Make-Up Makeup Effects Designer 53
Average
1998 Mighty Joe Young Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 61
Fair
1998 Psycho Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 53
Average
1997 Ghosts Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 65
Fair
1997 Men in Black Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 71
Good
1996 Escape from L.A. Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 58
Average
1996 The Frighteners Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 66
Fair
1996 The Nutty Professor Costume & Make-Up Makeup Effects Designer 56
Average
1995 Batman Forever Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 54
Average
1994 Ed Wood Costume & Make-Up Makeup Designer 72
Good
1994 Baby's Day Out Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 62
Fair
1994 Wolf Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 60
Fair
1993 Body Bags Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 59
Average
1993 Matinee Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 61
Fair
1991 The Rocketeer Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 62
Fair
1990 Dark Avenger Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 58
Average
1988 Missing Link Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 59
Average
1988 Gorillas in the Mist Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 64
Fair
1988 Coming to America Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 67
Fair
1987 Summer School Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 60
Fair
1987 Harry and the Hendersons Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 60
Fair
1986 Max My Love Costume & Make-Up Makeup Effects Designer 59
Average
1986 Ratboy Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 58
Average
1986 Captain EO Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 60
Fair
1985 My Science Project Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 59
Average
1984 Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 61
Fair
1983 Michael Jackson's Thriller Costume & Make-Up Makeup Effects Designer 72
Good
1983 Videodrome Costume & Make-Up Makeup Effects Designer 70
Good
1981 Ghost Story Costume & Make-Up Special Effects Makeup Artist 59
Average
1981 Ghost Story Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 59
Average
1981 An American Werewolf in London Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 71
Good
1981 The Funhouse Costume & Make-Up Special Effects Makeup Artist 58
Average
1981 The Incredible Shrinking Woman Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 57
Average
1981 The Howling Costume & Make-Up Special Effects Makeup Artist 63
Fair
1980 Altered States Costume & Make-Up Special Effects Makeup Artist 63
Fair
1980 Altered States Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 63
Fair
1980 The Empire Strikes Back Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 83
Very good
1979 An American Christmas Carol Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 58
Average
1978 It Lives Again Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 58
Average
1978 The Fury Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 60
Fair
1977 The Incredible Melting Man Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 56
Average
1977 Star Wars Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 81
Very good
1977 Cop Killers Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 58
Average
1976 King Kong Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 60
Fair
1976 Squirm Costume & Make-Up Makeup Designer 56
Average
1976 Track of the Moon Beast Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 55
Average
1976 Zebra Force Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 58
Average
1974 It's Alive Costume & Make-Up Special Effects Makeup Artist 59
Average
1974 It's Alive Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 59
Average
1974 The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 59
Average
1973 Schlock Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 58
Average
1973 Black Caesar Costume & Make-Up Makeup Artist 58
Average
1973 Black Caesar Costume & Make-Up Makeup Designer 58
Average
1972 Bone Costume & Make-Up Makeup Designer 59
Average
1971 Octaman Costume & Make-Up Costume Design 57
Average

Crew
2004 Skinned Deep Crew Thanks 57
Average
2002 The Ring Crew Makeup Effects 66
Fair
1998 Mighty Joe Young Crew Special Effects 61
Fair
1997 Ghosts Crew Makeup Effects 65
Fair
1995 The Amazing Panda Adventure Crew Special Effects 58
Average
1993 Matinee Crew Makeup Effects 61
Fair
1990 Gremlins 2: The New Batch Crew Special Effects 63
Fair
1988 Coming to America Crew Makeup Effects 67
Fair
1981 An American Werewolf in London Crew Makeup Effects 71
Good
1980 Tanya's Island Crew Special Effects 58
Average
1978 It Lives Again Crew Makeup Effects 58
Average
1978 The Fury Crew Makeup Effects 60
Fair
1973 The Exorcist Crew Special Effects Assistant 76
Good
1973 Schlock Crew Special Effects 58
Average
1973 Black Caesar Crew Special Effects 58
Average
1972 The Thing with Two Heads Crew Special Effects 58
Average
1972 Bone Crew Special Effects 59
Average

Visual Effects
1990 Gremlins 2: The New Batch Visual Effects Special Effects Supervisor 63
Fair
1990 Gremlins 2: The New Batch Visual Effects Creature Design 63
Fair
1985 Silver Bullet Visual Effects Visual Effects 62
Fair