Rick Baker

Overview

Known for
Acting
Gender
Other
Birthday
Dec 08, 1950 (74 years old)

Rick Baker

Known For

Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist
1h 1m
Movie 2024

Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist

A intimate reflection at the making of and cultural phenomenon of one of the most popular and profitable horror films ever made, The Exorcist (1973).

Old Time Radio: Your Move
0h 13m
Movie 2023

Old Time Radio: Your Move

Riktus Grim and his half-brother, Edward Mise, have once again managed to climb their way out of their graves and make their way up to the ancestral home for a simple game of chess. What could go wrong...?

Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film
1h 26m
Movie 2019

Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film

Fifty years after its release, the special effects makeup team behind Planet of the Apes reflect on making the iconic film.

Keep the Gaslight Burning
0h 18m
Movie 2018

Keep the Gaslight Burning

Mrs Maxwell has killed her abusive husband but he won't stay dead and can only be kept at bay if she keeps the gaslight burning.

King Cohen
1h 50m
Movie 2018

King Cohen

A feature-length documentary focusing on the acclaimed work and eclectic career of maverick filmmaker Larry Cohen, writer-director of "Black Caesar," "It's Alive," "God Told Me To," "Q," "The Stuff," and many more.

The Beast Inside: Creating 'Wolf'
0h 56m
Movie 2017

The Beast Inside: Creating 'Wolf'

Featuring brand new interviews with producer Douglas Wick, screenwriter Wesley Strick, and special effects artist Rick Baker, THE BEAST INSIDE: CREATING »WOLF« examines the making of Mike Nichols’ WOLF (1994) in all its stages from original idea to final appearance.

Cult of Terror
1h 55m
Movie 2017

Cult of Terror

A journey of years through many countries and film festivals; a nostalgic, adrenaline-fueled and rock-spirited immersion into the universe of cinephilia, in search of genre specialists, fans and filmmakers who speak of their shared passion for fantastic cinema; a whole international spiritual community united under the cathartic shadow of horror.

Face Off: Game Face
TV Show 2017

Face Off: Game Face

Former Face Off all-stars go head-to-head each week, with multiple make-up reveals and eliminations throughout each exciting episode. Every week, four artists will race against the clock to complete three challenges, with eliminations after every round, but only one artist will walk away with the $10,000 prize.

Unchained Reaction
1h 0m
TV Show 2012

Unchained Reaction

Unchained Reaction is a science and engineering reality game show that airs on the Discovery Channel. It is judged and executive-produced by Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, best known for hosting the science entertainment series MythBusters. Premiered on March 18, 2012, the series pits two teams of various backgrounds against each other to build an elaborate chain reaction contraption. Teams are provided with identical sets of tools and materials and are given five days to construct a series of mechanisms based on a pre-determined theme. Midway through each week, the teams are provided with a surprise "missing link" item that they must add to the middle of their machines. The winner is selected by Savage, Hyneman, and a guest judge.

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."