Richard A. “Rick” Baker (born December 8, 1950 in Binghamton, New York) is an American special makeup effects artist known for his creature effects.
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 (Scared to Death; House on Haunted Hill; Fear.com). Baker’s first notable professional job was as an assistant to Dick Smith on the film The Exorcist. He received the inaugural Academy Award for Best Makeup for his work on An American Werewolf in London. He also created the “werecat” creature Michael Jackson transforms into in the music video Thriller.
Baker claims his work on Harry and the Hendersons is one of his proudest achievements. On October 3, 2009, he received the Jack Pierce – Lifetime Achievement Award title of the Chiller-Eyegore Awards. He also contributes commentaries to the web series Trailers From Hell for trailers about horror and science fiction films.
Selected Filmography:
Octaman (1971) (Octaman costume; with Doug Beswick)
The Thing with Two Heads (1972) (special effects)
Schlock (1973) (makeup artist)
The Exorcist (1973) (special effects assistant)
It’s Alive (1974) (makeup artist)
King Kong (1976) (makeup effects, actor)
Track of the Moon Beast (1976) (makeup artist)
Squirm (1976) (makeup designer)
The Incredible Melting Man (1977) (special makeup effects)
The Fury (1978) (special makeup effects)
An American Werewolf in London (1981) (special makeup effects)
The Howling (1981) (special makeup effects consultant)
The Funhouse (1981) (special makeup design)
Videodrome (1983) (special makeup effects designer)
Thriller (1983) (special makeup effects creator, special makeup effects design)
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984) (special makeup effects)
Harry and the Hendersons (1987) (makeup artist, creature designer: Harry)
Beauty and the Beast (1987–89) (creature designer: Beast)
Werewolf (1987–88) (special makeup effects artist)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) (special effects supervisor, co-producer)
Wolf (1994) (special makeup effects)
Ed Wood (1994) (makeup creator: Bela Lugosi, makeup designer: Bela Lugosi)
Batman Forever (1995) (special makeup designer/creator)
The Frighteners (1996) (special makeup artist: The Judge)
Escape from L.A. (1996) (special makeup effects)
Ghosts (1997) (special makeup effects artist)
Men in Black (1997) (alien makeup effects, special makeup effects artist)
Mighty Joe Young (1998) (special makeup effects)
Planet of the Apes (2001) (makeup artist, special makeup effects designer/creator)
Men in Black II (2002) (alien makeup effects, special makeup effects artist)
The Ring (2002) (special makeup effects artist)
The Haunted Mansion (2003) (special makeup effects artist)
Hellboy (2004) (special effects director, special makeup effects artist)
The Ring Two (2005) (special makeup effects artist)
King Kong (2005) (actor)
Cursed (2005) (special makeup effects artist, special makeup effects designer/creator)
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) (special makeup effects consultant, visual effects consultant)
The Wolfman (2010) (special makeup effects)
Tron: Legacy (2010) (special makeup effects artist)
Men in Black 3 (2012) (alien makeup effects, special makeup effects artist)
Maleficent (2014) (special makeup effects artist)
