Rick Baker Biography (1950-)

Full name, Richard A. Baker; born December 8, 1950, in Binghamton, NY; son ofRalph B. (a professional artist) and Doris (maiden name, Hamlin) Baker; married Elaine Parkyn, 1974 (divorced, 1984); married Silvia Abascal (a hair stylist), November 10, 1987; children: (second marriage) Rebecca Yvonne, VeronicaPaige. Addresses: Office: International Alliance of Theatrical StageEmployees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the U.S. and Canada Local 706, 11519 Chandler Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601-2618.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Special effects makeup artist, actor, puppeteer, producer
Birth Details
December 8, 1950
Binghamton, New York, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Special Effects Makeup Artist
  • Octaman (also known as Octoman), Filmers Guild, 1971
  • (And special effects) The Thing with Two Heads (also known as The Beast with Two Heads and The Man with Two Heads), American International Pictures, 1972
  • Piranha, Piranha (also known as Caribe), 1972
  • (Uncredited; and special effects) Housewife (also known as Bone, Dial Rat for Terror, and Beverly Hills Nightmare), New World, 1972
  • Flesh Gordon, Image Entertainment, 1972
  • The Exorcist, Warner Bros., 1973
  • (And special effects) Schlock (also known as The Banana Monster), Jack Harris, 1973
  • (Uncredited; and special effects) Live and Let Die (also known asIan Fleming's Live and Let Die), United Artists, 1973
  • Hell Up in Harlem, American International Pictures, 1973
  • (And special effects designer) It's Alive, Warner Bros., 1974
  • Death Race 2000, New World, 1975
  • (And special effects) Black Caesar (also known as The Godfatherof Harlem), American International Pictures, 1975
  • King Kong, Paramount, 1976
  • Squirm, American International Pictures, 1976
  • (And special effects) The Food of the Gods (also known as H.G.Wells' Food of the Gods), American International Pictures, 1976
  • Track of the Moonbeast, Cinema Shares, 1976
  • Zebra Force, Media Home Entertainment, 1976
  • Kentucky Fried Movie, United Film, 1977
  • Star Wars (also known as Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1977
  • The Incredible Melting Man, American International Pictures, 1978
  • It's Alive 2 (also known as It Lives Again), Warner Bros.,1978
  • The Fury, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1978
  • (And special effects) Tanya's Island, International Film Exchange,1980
  • The Funhouse: Carnival of Terror, Universal, 1980
  • The Howling, Avco Embassy, 1980
  • (And creator and designer of Sidney) The Incredible Shrinking Woman, Universal, 1981
  • An American Werewolf in London, Universal, 1981
  • Videodrome, Universal, 1983
  • Making Michael Jackson's Thriller: Parts 1 and 2 (documentary), 1983
  • (And primate costume designer) Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, Warner Bros., 1984
  • Starman (also known as John Carpenter's Starman), Columbia,1984
  • Into the Night, Universal, 1985
  • My Science Project, Buena Vista, 1985
  • Cocoon, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1985
  • Ratboy, Warner Bros., 1986
  • Max, mon amour (also known as Max, My Love), Ingram Entertainment, 1986
  • Captain Eo, Walt Disney, 1986
  • (And puppeteer) Harry and the Hendersons (also known as Bigfootand the Hendersons), Universal, 1987
  • Summer School, Paramount, 1987
  • It's Alive III: Island of the Alive, Warner Home Video, 1987
  • Coming to America (also known as Prince in New York), Paramount, 1988
  • Gorillas in the Mist (also known as Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey), Universal, 1988
  • Moonwalker, Ultimate Productions, 1988
  • Missing Link, Universal Studios Home Video, 1989
  • (And coproducer) Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Warner Bros., 1990
  • The Rocketeer, Buena Vista, 1991
  • Lorenzo's Oil, Universal, 1992
  • Rex, 1993
  • Wolf, Columbia, 1994
  • (And creator) Baby's Day Out, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1994
  • Ed Wood, Buena Vista, 1994
  • (And head sculptor) Batman Forever (also known as Forever),Warner Bros., 1995
  • Just Cause, Warner Bros., 1995
  • The Amazing Panda Adventure, Warner Bros., 1995
  • The Nutty Professor, Universal, 1996
  • The Frighteners (also known as Robert Zemeckis Presents: The Frighteners), Universal, 1996
  • John Carpenter's Escape from L.A., Paramount, 1996
  • A Thousand Acres, Buena Vista, 1997
  • (And creature effects) Men in Black (also known as MIB), Columbia, 1997
  • (And demons creator and designer) The Devil's Advocate, Warner Bros., 1997
  • Ghosts (also known as Michael Jackson's Ghosts), 1997
  • Critical Care, 1997
  • (And creature designer and producer) Mighty Joe Young (also knownas Mighty Joe), Buena Vista, 1998
  • Psycho, Universal, 1998
  • Modern Vampires, 1998
  • (And creator) Wild Wild West, 1999
  • Life, Universal, 1999
  • Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (also known as The Klumps),Universal, 2000
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas (also known as The Grinch and Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas), MCA/Universal, 2000
  • Planet of the Apes, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2001
  • Men in Black II (also known as MIB 2 and MIIB), Columbia, 2002
  • The Ring, DreamWorks, 2002
  • The Hulk, Universal, 2003
  • The Cat in the Hat (also known as Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat), Universal, 2003
  • Haunted Mansion (also known as Disney's The Haunted Mansion), Buena Vista, 2003
  • Cursed, 2003
  • Film Appearances
  • Gorilla, The Thing with Two Heads (also known as The Beast withTwo Heads and The Man with Two Heads), American International Pictures, 1972
  • (Uncredited) Title role, King Kong, Paramount, 1976
  • (As Richard A. Baker) Dino the ape, Kentucky Fried Movie, United Film, 1977
  • (Uncredited) Hem Dazon and cantina musician, Star Wars (also knownas Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1977
  • (As Richard A. Baker) Sidney the gorilla, The Incredible Shrinking Woman, Universal, 1981
  • (Uncredited) Zombie opening crypt door, Thriller (also known as Michael Jackson's Thriller), 1983
  • Michael Jackson: Making Michael Jackson's `Thriller', 1983
  • Drug dealer, Into the Night, Universal, 1985
  • Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors, 1986
  • The Road to Dracula, Universal Studios Home Video, 1999
  • She's Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein, 1999
  • Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed, Universal Studios Home Video, 1999
  • Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of `The Wolf Man', 1999
  • The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster, Universal, 1999
  • Metamorphosis of Men in Black, 2000
  • Puppeteer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (also known as The Grinch and Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas), MCA/Universal, 2000
  • Old ape #2, Planet of the Apes, 2001
  • MIB customs agent, Men In Black II (also known as MIB 2 andMIIB), Twentieth Century-Fox, 2002
  • Rick Baker: Alien Maker, Columbia TriStar, 2002
  • Creature Featurettes, Columbia TriStar, 2002
  • Also appeared in Madhouse.
  • Television Work
  • Series
  • Werewolf designer, Werewolf, Fox, 1987-1988
  • Creator and designer of "The Beast," Beauty and the Beast, CBS, 1987-1990
  • Movies
  • Makeup for Cicely Tyson, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, CBS, 1974
  • Special make-up consultant, An American Christmas Carol, ABC, 1979
  • Visual effects designer, Dark Avenger (also known as I Accuse, The Phantom, and Hanging Judge), CBS, 1990
  • Coroner's makeup, John Carpenter Presents Body Bags, Showtime, 1993
  • Coproducer, Betrayed by Love (also known as The Susan Daniels Smith Murder), ABC, 1994
  • Miniseries
  • Creature designer and creator and monster creator and makeup artist, Something Is Out There, NBC, 1988
  • Television Appearances
  • Specials
  • King Kong: The Living Legend, syndicated, 1986
  • Member of Horror Hall of Fame board of directors, The Horror Hall of Fame II, 1991
  • The Secrets of Dick Smith, 1991
  • Heartstoppers: Horror at the Movies, 1992
  • It's Alive: The True Story of Frankenstein, 1994
  • A Night of Movie Magic, syndicated, 1995
  • Interviewee, Masters of Fantasy: Rick Baker, Sci-Fi Channel, 1998
  • Interviewee, Gorillas: Primal Contact (documentary), Arts and Entertainment, 2002
  • RECORDINGS
  • Video Games
  • Himself, The Interactive History of Frankenstein, 1995
  • Music Videos
  • Appeared in and created special effects makeup for Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books
    • International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 4: Writers and Production Artists, St. James Press, 1996
    Periodicals
    • Boys' Life, September, 1991, p. 24
    • Entertainment Weekly, July 18, 1997, p. 30
    • Hollywood Reporter, March 10, 1956, p. S6
    • Life, May, 1986, p. 32
    • Time, July 31, 2000