Rick Baker

Rick Baker

Personal Info

  • Name:

    Rick Baker

  • Birthday:

    1950-12-08

  • Place of Birth: Binghamton, New York, USA
  • Gender:

    Male

  • Know For:

    Costume & Make-Up

  • Popularity: 0.427
  • Also Known As

    Richard A. Baker

    Richard Baker

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."

Top Movie Cast

Men in Black II
Men in Black IItrue- MIB Passport Control Agent

2002-07-03

6.4
The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster
The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monstertrue- Self

2002-11-01

7.9
She's Alive! Creating 'The Bride of Frankenstein'
She's Alive! Creating 'The Bride of Frankenstein'true- Self

1999-01-01

7.5
It's Alive: The True Story of Frankenstein
It's Alive: The True Story of Frankensteintrue- Self

1994-10-25

8.5
Into the Night
Into the Nighttrue- Drug Dealer

1985-02-22

6.5
Cult of Terror
Cult of Terrortrue- Self - Make-up Designer

2017-10-14

6.3
The Thing with Two Heads
The Thing with Two Headstrue- Gorilla

1972-07-19

4.8
The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth
The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Mythtrue- Self

2010-02-02

7.0
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthedtrue- Self

2000-08-29

7.0
MonsterKids: The Impact of Things That Go Bump In The Night
MonsterKids: The Impact of Things That Go Bump In The Nighttrue- Self

2017-09-01

0.0
The Sci-Fi Boys
The Sci-Fi Boystrue- Self

2006-04-27

7.0
RKO Production 601: The Making of 'Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World'
RKO Production 601: The Making of 'Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World'true

2005-11-22

10.0
Beware the Moon: Remembering 'An American Werewolf in London'
Beware the Moon: Remembering 'An American Werewolf in London'true- Self

2009-09-14

7.2
Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist
Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcisttrue- Self

2024-03-26

0.0
Making Michael Jackson's Thriller
Making Michael Jackson's Thrillertrue- Self

1983-12-15

8.9
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'true- Self

1999-01-01

6.9
Tales Beyond Madness
Tales Beyond Madnesstrue

2019-07-30

3.0
Monsterland
Monsterlandtrue- Self

2009-03-29

6.5
Planet of the Apes
Planet of the Apestrue- Old Ape #2

2001-07-25

5.8
The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz
The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oztrue- Self

2005-10-25

7.0
He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce
He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Piercetrue- Self

2008-07-09

8.4
The Road to 'Dracula'
The Road to 'Dracula'true- Self

1999-12-21

7.5
Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr.
Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr.true- Self

2010-02-02

7.0
The Making of Captain EO
The Making of Captain EOtrue- Self

1986-09-12

6.7
Videodrome: Forging the New Flesh
Videodrome: Forging the New Fleshtrue- Self

2004-08-27

6.5
Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex
Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complextrue- Self

2015-11-18

7.2
The Kentucky Fried Movie
The Kentucky Fried Movietrue- Dino (segment "A.M. Today") (as Richard A. Baker)

1977-08-10

6.2
Charlie Gemora: Uncredited
Charlie Gemora: Uncreditedtrue- Himself

2016-04-15

0.0
Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film
Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Filmtrue- Self

2019-01-30

6.8
King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen
King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohentrue- Self

2018-07-07

6.6
Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors
Fangoria's Weekend of Horrorstrue- Self

1986-01-01

8.2
Metamorphosis of 'Men in Black'
Metamorphosis of 'Men in Black'true- Self

2000-09-05

5.0
King Kong
King Kongtrue- King Kong

1976-09-08

6.2
Michael Jackson's Thriller
Michael Jackson's Thrillertrue- Zombie Opening the Crypt (uncredited)

1983-11-14

8.2
The Beast Inside: Creating 'Wolf'
The Beast Inside: Creating 'Wolf'true- Rick Baker

2017-11-20

7.0
Birth Pains
Birth Painstrue- himself

2015-10-16

0.0
The Incredible Shrinking Woman
The Incredible Shrinking Womantrue- Sidney

1981-01-30

5.3
Keep the Gaslight Burning
Keep the Gaslight Burningtrue- Mr Maxwell

2018-10-31

0.0
Men in Black 3
Men in Black 3true- Brain Alien

2012-05-23

6.5
The Making of David Cronenberg's Videodrome
The Making of David Cronenberg's Videodrometrue- Interviewee

1982-12-31

7.3
A Tribute to the Wizard of Oz
A Tribute to the Wizard of Oztrue- Himself

1999-01-01

4.0
House of Wax: Unlike Anything You've Seen Before!
House of Wax: Unlike Anything You've Seen Before!true- Self

2013-10-01

0.0
Ed Wood: Making Bela
Ed Wood: Making Belatrue- Self

2004-10-19

7.5
Rick Baker: Alien Maker
Rick Baker: Alien Makertrue- Self

2002-11-26

0.0
The Making of Men in Black
The Making of Men in Blacktrue- Self

1997-11-04

7.7
AGFA MYSTERY MIXTAPE #1
AGFA MYSTERY MIXTAPE #1true- Self

2020-04-08

0.0
Working with a Master: John Landis
Working with a Master: John Landistrue- Self

2006-06-27

0.0
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmastrue- Puppeteer

2000-11-17

6.8
Dance With Me
Dance With Metrue- Caretaker

Release Date

0.0
The Wolfman
The Wolfmantrue- Gypsy Man / First Killed

2010-02-10

5.9
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effectstrue- Self

1994-05-22

0.0

Top Movie Crew

Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Gremlins 2: The New Batchtrue

Crew

1990-06-15

6.5
An American Werewolf in London
An American Werewolf in Londontrue

Crew

1981-08-21

7.4
Mighty Joe Young
Mighty Joe Youngtrue

Crew

1998-12-25

6.3
It Lives Again
It Lives Againtrue

Crew

1978-05-10

5.4
The Thing with Two Heads
The Thing with Two Headstrue

Crew

1972-07-19

4.8
Click
Clicktrue

Costume & Make-Up

2006-06-23

6.3
Ghosts
Ghoststrue

Crew

1997-09-04

8.0
Cursed
Cursedtrue

Costume & Make-Up

2005-02-25

5.4
Schlock
Schlocktrue

Costume & Make-Up

1973-03-01

5.6
Octaman
Octamantrue

Costume & Make-Up

1971-11-03

3.6
The Howling
The Howlingtrue

Costume & Make-Up

1981-01-21

6.6
Bone
Bonetrue

Costume & Make-Up

1972-07-01

6.0
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Gremlins 2: The New Batchtrue

Visual Effects

1990-06-15

6.5
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Gremlins 2: The New Batchtrue

Visual Effects

1990-06-15

6.5
Planet of the Apes
Planet of the Apestrue

Costume & Make-Up

2001-07-25

5.8
Tanya's Island
Tanya's Islandtrue

Crew

1980-12-05

5.0
The Amazing Panda Adventure
The Amazing Panda Adventuretrue

Crew

1995-08-25

5.6
Max My Love
Max My Lovetrue

Costume & Make-Up

1986-10-22

6.2
The Funhouse
The Funhousetrue

Costume & Make-Up

1981-03-13

5.8
Ed Wood
Ed Woodtrue

Costume & Make-Up

1994-09-28

7.5
Black Caesar
Black Caesartrue

Costume & Make-Up

1973-02-07

5.8
Black Caesar
Black Caesartrue

Crew

1973-02-07

5.8
Enchanted
Enchantedtrue

Costume & Make-Up

2007-11-20

6.8
The Ring
The Ringtrue

Crew

2002-10-18

6.7
Matinee
Matineetrue

Crew

1993-01-29

6.7
Bone
Bonetrue

Crew

1972-07-01

6.0
The Fury
The Furytrue

Crew

1978-03-10

6.3
Schlock
Schlocktrue

Crew

1973-03-01

5.6
Squirm
Squirmtrue

Costume & Make-Up

1976-07-30

4.9
Coming to America
Coming to Americatrue

Crew

1988-06-29

6.9
Track of the Moon Beast
Track of the Moon Beasttrue

Costume & Make-Up

1976-06-01

2.3
Videodrome
Videodrometrue

Costume & Make-Up

1983-02-04

7.3
Silver Bullet
Silver Bullettrue

Visual Effects

1985-10-10

6.6
Maleficent
Maleficenttrue

Costume & Make-Up

2014-05-28

7.1
Altered States
Altered Statestrue

Costume & Make-Up

1980-12-25

6.7
The Wolfman
The Wolfmantrue

Costume & Make-Up

2010-02-10

5.9
Skinned Deep
Skinned Deeptrue

Crew

2004-02-14

4.0
The Wolfman
The Wolfmantrue

Costume & Make-Up

2010-02-10

5.9
Ghost Story
Ghost Storytrue

Costume & Make-Up

1981-12-18

6.0
Norbit
Norbittrue

Costume & Make-Up

2007-02-08

5.7
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmastrue

Costume & Make-Up

2000-11-17

6.8
The Exorcist
The Exorcisttrue

Crew

1973-12-26

7.7
Wild Wild West
Wild Wild Westtrue

Costume & Make-Up

1999-06-30

5.3
Michael Jackson's Thriller
Michael Jackson's Thrillertrue

Costume & Make-Up

1983-11-14

8.2
The Nutty Professor
The Nutty Professortrue

Costume & Make-Up

1996-06-28

5.6
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
Nutty Professor II: The Klumpstrue

Costume & Make-Up

2000-07-27

5.0
Cop Killers
Cop Killerstrue

Costume & Make-Up

1977-01-05

5.6
The Incredible Melting Man
The Incredible Melting Mantrue

Costume & Make-Up

1977-11-10

4.5
Black Caesar
Black Caesartrue

Costume & Make-Up

1973-02-07

5.8
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittmantrue

Costume & Make-Up

1974-01-31

6.4
Zebra Force
Zebra Forcetrue

Costume & Make-Up

1976-04-11

4.6
King Kong
King Kongtrue

Costume & Make-Up

1976-09-08

6.2
Star Wars
Star Warstrue

Costume & Make-Up

1977-05-25

8.2
The Fury
The Furytrue

Costume & Make-Up

1978-03-10

6.3
It Lives Again
It Lives Againtrue

Costume & Make-Up

1978-05-10

5.4
An American Christmas Carol
An American Christmas Caroltrue

Costume & Make-Up

1979-12-16

6.2
The Empire Strikes Back
The Empire Strikes Backtrue

Costume & Make-Up

1980-05-20

8.4
Altered States
Altered Statestrue

Costume & Make-Up

1980-12-25

6.7
The Incredible Shrinking Woman
The Incredible Shrinking Womantrue

Costume & Make-Up

1981-01-30

5.3
An American Werewolf in London
An American Werewolf in Londontrue

Costume & Make-Up

1981-08-21

7.4
Ghost Story
Ghost Storytrue

Costume & Make-Up

1981-12-18

6.0
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apestrue

Costume & Make-Up

1984-03-30

6.3
My Science Project
My Science Projecttrue

Costume & Make-Up

1985-08-09

6.2
Captain EO
Captain EOtrue

Costume & Make-Up

1986-09-12

6.7
Ratboy
Ratboytrue

Costume & Make-Up

1986-10-17

3.4
Harry and the Hendersons
Harry and the Hendersonstrue

Costume & Make-Up

1987-06-05

6.1
Summer School
Summer Schooltrue

Costume & Make-Up

1987-07-22

6.4
Coming to America
Coming to Americatrue

Costume & Make-Up

1988-06-29

6.9
Gorillas in the Mist
Gorillas in the Misttrue

Costume & Make-Up

1988-09-23

7.0
Missing Link
Missing Linktrue

Costume & Make-Up

1988-11-04

6.2
Dark Avenger
Dark Avengertrue

Costume & Make-Up

1990-10-11

4.4
The Rocketeer
The Rocketeertrue

Costume & Make-Up

1991-06-21

6.5
Matinee
Matineetrue

Costume & Make-Up

1993-01-29

6.7
Body Bags
Body Bagstrue

Costume & Make-Up

1993-08-08

6.1
Wolf
Wolftrue

Costume & Make-Up

1994-06-17

6.1
Baby's Day Out
Baby's Day Outtrue

Costume & Make-Up

1994-07-01

6.4
Batman Forever
Batman Forevertrue

Costume & Make-Up

1995-06-16

5.4
The Frighteners
The Frightenerstrue

Costume & Make-Up

1996-07-18

6.9
Escape from L.A.
Escape from L.A.true

Costume & Make-Up

1996-08-09

5.9
Ghosts
Ghoststrue

Costume & Make-Up

1997-09-04

8.0
Men in Black
Men in Blacktrue

Costume & Make-Up

1997-07-02

7.2
Psycho
Psychotrue

Costume & Make-Up

1998-12-04

5.1
Mighty Joe Young
Mighty Joe Youngtrue

Costume & Make-Up

1998-12-25

6.3
Men in Black II
Men in Black IItrue

Costume & Make-Up

2002-07-03

6.4
The Ring
The Ringtrue

Costume & Make-Up

2002-10-18

6.7
TRON: Legacy
TRON: Legacytrue

Costume & Make-Up

2010-12-14

6.5
Men in Black 3
Men in Black 3true

Costume & Make-Up

2012-05-23

6.5
It's Alive
It's Alivetrue

Costume & Make-Up

1974-04-26

6.0
It's Alive
It's Alivetrue

Costume & Make-Up

1974-04-26

6.0
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Gremlins 2: The New Batchtrue

Production

1990-06-15

6.5

Profile Images