Rick Baker
Costume & Make-UpAbout Rick Baker
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."
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Rick Baker reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Documentary
The majority of Rick Baker's filmography leans towards the Documentary genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 60% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Rick Baker remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Making Michael Jackson's Thriller, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Rick Baker Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Rick Baker's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Rick Baker.
Rick Baker - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Rick Baker?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Rick Baker is "Making Michael Jackson's Thriller" with a rating of 8.9/10.
How many movies has Rick Baker acted in?
Rick Baker has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Rick Baker?
Other notable films include "It's Alive: The True Story of Frankenstein", "He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce", and "The Making of Men in Black".