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."
Known For
Men in Black II
2002
Planet of the Apes
2001
Men in Black 3
2012
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2000
Face Off
2011
The Wolfman
2010
King Kong
1976
V/H/S/Halloween
2025
Michael Jackson's Thriller
1983
DC Daily
2018
Into the Night
1985
The Kentucky Fried Movie
1977
Filmography
Men in Black II
as MIB Passport Control Agent · 2002
Planet of the Apes
as Old Ape #2 · 2001
Men in Black 3
as Brain Alien · 2012
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
as Puppeteer · 2000
Face Off
as Guest Judge · 2011
The Wolfman
as Gypsy Man / First Killed · 2010
King Kong
as King Kong · 1976
V/H/S/Halloween
as Rich (segment "Home Haunt") · 2025
Michael Jackson's Thriller
as Zombie Opening the Crypt (uncredited) · 1983
DC Daily
as Self · 2018
Into the Night
as Drug Dealer · 1985
The Kentucky Fried Movie
as Dino (segment "A.M. Today") (as Richard A. Baker) · 1977
The Incredible Shrinking Woman
as Sidney · 1981
Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex
as Self · 2015
Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection
as Self · 2005
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
as (archive footage) · 2020
Unchained Reaction
· 2012
Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film
as Self · 2019
RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World”
as Self · 2008
The Thing with Two Heads
as Gorilla · 1972
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects
as Self · 1994
Face Off: Game Face
as Self - Judge · 2017
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'
as Self · 1999
Beware the Moon: Remembering 'An American Werewolf in London'
as Self · 2009
Ed Wood: Making Bela
as Self · 2004
King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen
as Self · 2018
The Perfect Scary Movie
as Self · 2005
The Making of Captain EO
as Self · 1986
Keep the Gaslight Burning
as Mr Maxwell · 2018
The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz
as Self · 2005
Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist
as Self · 2024
Videodrome: Forging the New Flesh
as Self · 2004
The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster
as Self · 1999
Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Fantasy
as Self · 1991
The Making of Men in Black
as Self · 1997
House of Wax: Unlike Anything You've Seen Before!
as Self · 2013
The Road to 'Dracula'
as Self · 1999
Metamorphosis of 'Men in Black'
as Self · 2000
Making Michael Jackson's Thriller
as Self · 1983
The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth
as Self · 2010
She's Alive! Creating 'The Bride of Frankenstein'
as Self · 1999
AGFA Mystery Mixtape #1
as Self · 2020
Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors
as Self · 1986
A Tribute to the Wizard of Oz
as Himself · 1999
Working with a Master: John Landis
as Self · 2006
Cult of Terror
as Self - Make-up Designer · 2017
Monsterland
as Self · 2009
It's Alive: The True Story of Frankenstein
as Self · 1994
Birth Pains
as himself · 2015
Dark Reel
as First Mate · 2008
The Sci-Fi Boys
as Self · 2006
The Creeper: Rondo Hatton at Universal
as Self · 2020
He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce
as Self · 2008
Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr.
as Self · 2010
Men in Black II: Creature Featurettes
as Self · 2002
King Kong! The Living Legend
as Self / King Kong · 1986
Gremlins, an american nightmare!
as Himself · 2026
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed
as Self · 2000
The Scanners Way: Creating the Special Effects in 'Scanners'
as Himself · 2014
MonsterKids: The Impact of Things That Go Bump In The Night
as Self · 2017
Old Time Radio: Dance With Me
as Caretaker
Old Time Radio: The Specter of Christmas
as The Caretaker · 2025
The Night Turkey
as Little Kathy's Date · 1973
Teddy Scares
as Hester Golem (voice) · 2006
The Making of David Cronenberg's Videodrome
as Interviewee · 1982
Old Time Radio: Your Move
as The Caretaker · 2023
I Walked with a Werewolf
as Himself · 2009
The Beast Inside: Creating 'Wolf'
as Rick Baker · 2017
Rick Baker: Alien Maker
as Self · 2002
Making an American Werewolf in London
· 1981
Charlie Gemora: Uncredited
as Himself · 2016
Tales Beyond Madness
· 2019
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Monsters ... But Were Afraid!
as self · 1981