Rick Baker

Photo of Mr. Baker by Steve Granitz WireImage.com

Rick Baker (born Richard A. Baker) was born on December 8, 1950 in Binghamton, New York, US.  As a child Rich was fascinated with horror movies and gorillas.  At the age of 10 is when Baker decided he wanted to make monsters.  His first inspiration was Forrest Ackerman's "Famous Monsters of Filmland".  Baker says, "When I was in Famous Monsters as 'Rick Baker, Monster Maker,' I'd made it, that was the most famous I ever felt."  Baker began making homemade prosthetics in his early teens by baking them in the family oven. 

Rick started out professionally as a lab assistant (what he calls a "flunky") for Dick Smith (another legend in the field) on the movie The Exorcist.  

He is possibly the most famous special effects Make-Up artists known today.  

 

 

Film Actor

The Sci-Fi Boys~2006 - Himself

The Secret Life of Superfans~2006 - Himself

Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection~2005 (V) - Himself

Making Bela~2004 (V) - Himself

Videodrome: Forging the New Flesh~2004 (V) - Himself

Creature Featurettes~2002 (V)  - Himself

Rick Baker: Alien Maker~2002 (V) -  Himself

Men in Black II~2002  - MIB Customs Agent
Planet of the Apes~2001  - Old Ape #2

How the Grinch Stole Christmas~2000 - Puppeteer
Metamorphosis of Men in Black~2000 (V)  -Himself
Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster, The~1999 (V) - Himself

Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'~1999 (V)  -Himself

Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed~1999 (V)  -Himself

She's Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein~1999  -Himself

Road to Dracula, The~1999 - Himself

Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors~1986 (V)  -Himself

Teen Wolf~1985 - Referee

Into the Night~1985 - Drug Dealer

Michael Jackson: Making Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'~1983 (V) - Himself

Thriller~1983 (V) (uncredited)-  Zombie opening crypt door (arm falling off)
There Was a Little Girl~1981 - Sacha

Incredible Shrinking Woman, The~1981 (as Richard A. Baker) - Sidney
Kentucky Fried Movie, The~1977 (as Richard A. Baker) - Dino

Star Wars~1977 (uncredited) - Figrin D'an (Cantina Band member - Kloo Horn)/ Hem Dazon - Cantina Patron
King Kong~1976 (uncredited) - King Kong

Thing with Two Heads, The~1972 - Gorilla

Zorgon: The H-Bomb Beast From Hell~1972 - cast member (9 minute short film)

 

Film Effects

The Amazing Panda Adventure~1995 - ?

Make-Up

Click~2006 (special makeup effects artist)

Enchanted~2006 (special makeup effects artist)

Hellboy~2004 (special makeup effects artist)

Cursed~2004 (special makeup effects artist)

Haunted Mansion, The~2003 (special makeup effects artist)
Cat in the Hat, The~2003 (special makeup effects artist)
Hulk, The~2003 (key makeup artist)

Ring, The~2002 (special makeup effects artist)

Men in Black II~2002 (alien makeup effects) (special makeup effects artist)
Planet of the Apes~2001 (makeup artist) (makeup designer)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas~2000 (special makeup effects)
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps~2000 (special makeup effects)
Life~1999 (special makeup effects)

Mighty Joe Young~1998 (special makeup effects)
Critical Care~1997 (special makeup effects: Mr. Brooks)

Men in Black~1997 (alien makeup effects) (special makeup effects artist) (uncredited)
Ghosts~1997 (special makeup effects artist)
Escape from L.A.~1996 (special makeup effects)
Frighteners, The~1996 (special makeup artist: The Judge)
Nutty Professor, The~1996 (special makeup effects)

Batman Forever~1995 (special makeup effects designer)
Ed Wood~1994 (makeup designer: Bela Lugosi)

Wolf~1994 (special makeup effects)

Rocketeer, The~1991 (makeup creator: Lothar)
Missing Link~1988 (special makeup effects)

Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey~1988 (special makeup effects)
Coming to America~1988 (special makeup effects)
Harry and the Hendersons~1987 (makeup artist)
Ratboy~1986 - makeup designer: Ratboy)

Captain Eo~1986 (special makeup effects)

Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes~1984 (special makeup effects)

Thriller~1983 (V) (makeup effects)
Videodrome~1983 (special makeup effects designer)

American Werewolf in London, An~1981 (special makeup effects)
Funhouse, The~1981 (special makeup design)
Incredible Shrinking Woman, The~1981 (makeup effects)

Howling, The~1981 (special makeup effects consultant)
It Lives Again~1978 (special makeup)
Fury, The~1978 (special makeup effects)

Incredible Melting Man, The~1977 (special makeup effects)

Star Wars~1977 (makeup artist: second unit)
Squirm~1976 (makeup designer)

Track of the Moon Beast~1976 (makeup artist)

King Kong~1976 (makeup effects)

Zebra Force~1976 (special makeup effects)

It's Alive!~1974 (makeup artist)

Schlock~1973 (makeup artist)

 Special Effects

Cursed~2005 - (special makeup effects)

Hellboy~2004 - (special effects director)

Wild Wild West~1999 - (special effects makeup)

Gremlins 2: The New Batch~1990 - (special effects supervisor)
Tanya's Island~1980 - (special effects)
Food of the Gods, The~1976 - (special effects)
Live and Let Die~1973 - (special effects) (uncredited)
Schlock~1973 - (special effects)
Black Caesar~1973 - (special effects)
Bone~1972  -(special effects) (uncredited)
Thing with Two Heads, The~1972 - (special effects)

 Creature Design/Creation

Mighty Joe Young~1998 (creature designer and producer: Mighty Joe Young)
Psycho~1998 (designer: Mrs. Bates)

Devil's Advocate, The~1997 (demons creator) (demons designer)

Batman & Robin~1997 (nora fries and principal copsicles)

It's Alive III: Island of the Alive~1987 (original creature designer)
Max, mon amour~1986 (chimp's sequence advisor)
Cocoon~1985 (special creature consultant)

Starman~1984 (starman transformation)
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes~1984 (primate costume designer and creator)

Incredible Shrinking Woman, The~1981 (creator and designer: Sidney)
Flesh Gordon~1974 (effects technician) (special properties)

Incredible 2-Headed Transplant, The~1971 (gorilla suit)
Octaman~1971 (octaman costume)

 Thanks

Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster, The~1999 (V) (special thanks)

Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'~1999 (V) (special thanks)

Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed~1999 (V) (special thanks)

She's Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein~1999 (special thanks)

Hollywood Goes Ape!~1994 (special thanks)

Matinee~1993 (thanks)

 

Producer

Gremlins 2: The New Batch~1990 (co-producer)
Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Diane Fossey~1988 (associate producer)

 

TV

HBO First Look~ - Himself in: 

    The Ring Two 3/9/05 

    Planet of the Apes 2001

Movie Magic~ - Himself in: 

    Rick Baker: The Transformer (#5.3) 1997 

    Animatronic Animals: Fooling Mother Nature (#2.9) 1994 

    Creature Makeup: Masks and MIrrors (#1.1) 1994

 

TV Effects

Body Bags~1993 (coroner's makeup)

Something Is Out There~1988 (makeup artist)

Beauty and the Beast~1987 (creature designer: "Beast")

Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, The~1974 (makeup artist)

 

TV Producer

Betrayed by Love~1994 (co-producer)

 

Books 

Monsters~2006 - wrote a short essay within the book

The Essential Guide to Hong Kong Movies (with Toby Russell and John Woo)

 

Video Games

Interactive History of Frankenstein, The~1995  - Himself

 

Awards, Honors and Nominations

Academy Awards:

Nom 2001 Make-Up for Planet Of the Apes

Rec'd 2001 Make-Up for The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

Rec'd 1999 Make-Up for Life

Rec'd 1998 Visual Effects for Mighty Joe Young

Nom 1997 Visual Effects for  Men In Black 

Rec'd 1997 Make-Up for Men In Black

Rec'd 1996 Make-Up for The Nutty Professor

Nom 1995 Make-Up for Batman Forever

Rec'd 1994 Make-Up for Ed Wood

Rec'd 1988 Make-Up for Coming To America

Rec'd 1987 Make-Up for Harry and the Hendersons

Rec'd 1984 Make-Up for Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord Of the Apes

Rec'd 1981 Make-Up (very first recipient) for American Werewolf in London

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films:

Nom 2004 Saturn Award Best Make up for The Haunted Mansion (shared)

Nom 2003 Saturn Award Best Make-Up for The Ring

Nom 2002 Saturn Award Best Make-Up for Planet of the Apes

Rec'd 2001 Saturn Award Best Make-Up for  The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

Nom 2001 Saturn Award Best Make-Up for The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps

Nom 1999  Saturn Award Best Make-Up for Mighty Joe Young

Rec'd 1997 Saturn Award Best Make-Up for The Nutty Professor

Rec'd 1995 Saturn Award Best Make-Up for  Interview With A Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles

Nom 1982 Saturn Award Best Make-Up for American Werewolf In London

Rec'd 1979 Saturn Award Best Make-Up for The Fury

Rec'd 1978 Saturn Award Best Make-Up for Star Wars

BAFTA Awards:

Nom 2002 BAFTA Film Award for Best Make-Up/Hair for Planet of the Apes

Rec'd 2001 BAFTA Film Award for Best Make-Up/Hair for How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Nom 1998 BAFTA Film Award for Best Special Effects for Men In Black

Rec'd 1997 BAFTA Film Award for Best Make-Up/Hair for  The Nutty Professor

Nom 1996 BAFTA Film Award for Best Make-Up/Hair for Ed Wood

Rec'd 1985 BAFTA Film Award for Best Make-Up/Hair for  Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan

Emmy Awards:

Rec'd 1974 for Make-Up (shared with Stan Winston) for The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman

Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards

Rec'd 2002 Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Award Best Special Makeup Effects - Feature  for Planet of the Apes

Rec'd 2001 Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Award Best Special Makeup Effects - Feature  How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards:

Rec'd 2002 Special Achievement Award For the make-up design.

Satellite Awards:

Rec'd 1998 Make-Up for Men In Black

 

Miscellany

Was the man IN the suit playing King Kong in 1976's remake.

 

Formed Cinovation Studios in 1981

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