Weekly Movie Challenge

Rick Baker

Biography

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."

Actor

Old Time Radio: Your Move

2023

as The Caretaker

Tales Beyond Madness

2019

Keep the Gaslight Burning

2018

as Mr Maxwell

Men in Black 3

2012

as Brain Alien

The Wolfman

2010

as Gypsy Man / First Killed

Teddy Scares

2006

as Hester Golem (voice)

Men in Black II

2002

as MIB Passport Control Agent

Planet of the Apes

2001

as Old Ape #2

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

2000

as Puppeteer

Into the Night

1985

as Drug Dealer

Michael Jackson's Thriller

1983

as Zombie Opening the Crypt (uncredited)

The Incredible Shrinking Woman

1981

as Sidney

The Kentucky Fried Movie

1977

as Dino (segment "A.M. Today") (as Richard A. Baker)

King Kong

1976

as King Kong

The Thing with Two Heads

1972

as Gorilla

Dance With Me

as Caretaker

Documentaries

Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist

2024

as Himself

AGFA MYSTERY MIXTAPE #1

2020

as Self

Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film

2019

as Self

King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen

2018

as Self

The Beast Inside: Creating 'Wolf'

2017

as Rick Baker

Cult of Terror

2017

as Self - Make-up Designer

MonsterKids: The Impact of Things That Go Bump In The Night

2017

as Self

Charlie Gemora: Uncredited

2016

as Himself

Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex

2015

as Self

Birth Pains

2015

as himself

The Scanners Way: Creating the Special Effects in 'Scanners'

2014

as Himself

House of Wax: Unlike Anything You've Seen Before!

2013

as Self

The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth

2010

as Self

Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr.

2010

as Self

I Walked with a Werewolf

2009

as Himself

Beware the Moon: Remembering 'An American Werewolf in London'

2009

as Self

Monsterland

2009

as Self

He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce

2008

as Self

Working with a Master: John Landis

2006

as Self

The Sci-Fi Boys

2006

as Self

RKO Production 601: The Making of 'Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World'

2005

The Perfect Scary Movie

2005

as Self

The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz

2005

as Self

Ed Wood: Making Bela

2004

as Self

Videodrome: Forging the New Flesh

2004

as Self

Rick Baker: Alien Maker

2002

as Self

The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster

2002

as Self

Metamorphosis of 'Men in Black'

2000

as Self

Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed

2000

as Self

The Road to 'Dracula'

1999

as Self

She's Alive! Creating 'The Bride of Frankenstein'

1999

as Self

Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'

1999

as Self

A Tribute to the Wizard of Oz

1999

as Himself

The Making of Men in Black

1997

as Self

It's Alive: The True Story of Frankenstein

1994

as Self

Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects

1994

as Self

The Making of Captain EO

1986

as Self

King Kong! The Living Legend

1986

as Self / King Kong

Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors

1986

as Self

Making Michael Jackson's Thriller

1983

as Self

The Making of David Cronenberg's Videodrome

1982

as Interviewee

Crew

Skinned Deep

2004

Thanks

The Ring

2002

Makeup Effects

Mighty Joe Young

1998

Special Effects

Ghosts

1997

Makeup Effects

The Amazing Panda Adventure

1995

Special Effects

Matinee

1993

Makeup Effects

Gremlins 2: The New Batch

1990

Special Effects

Coming to America

1988

Makeup Effects

An American Werewolf in London

1981

Makeup Effects

Tanya's Island

1980

Special Effects

It Lives Again

1978

Makeup Effects

The Fury

1978

Makeup Effects

The Exorcist

1973

Special Effects Assistant

Schlock

1973

Special Effects

Black Caesar

1973

Special Effects

The Thing with Two Heads

1972

Special Effects

Bone

1972

Special Effects

Rick Baker

Actor

Videos

Documentaries

Visual Effects

Crew