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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Klaus Badelt to Christophe Beck
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
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CREDITS
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Film Special Effects Makeup Artist
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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
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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
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Flesh Gordon, Image Entertainment, 1972
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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
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Hell Up in Harlem, American International Pictures, 1973
- (And special effects designer) It's Alive, Warner Bros., 1974
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Death Race 2000, New World, 1975
- (And special effects) Black Caesar (also known as The Godfatherof Harlem), American International Pictures, 1975
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King Kong, Paramount, 1976
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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
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Track of the Moonbeast, Cinema Shares, 1976
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Zebra Force, Media Home Entertainment, 1976
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Kentucky Fried Movie, United Film, 1977
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Star Wars (also known as Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1977
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The Incredible Melting Man, American International Pictures, 1978
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It's Alive 2 (also known as It Lives Again), Warner Bros.,1978
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The Fury, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1978
- (And special effects) Tanya's Island, International Film Exchange,1980
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The Funhouse: Carnival of Terror, Universal, 1980
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The Howling, Avco Embassy, 1980
- (And creator and designer of Sidney) The Incredible Shrinking Woman, Universal, 1981
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An American Werewolf in London, Universal, 1981
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Videodrome, Universal, 1983
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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
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Starman (also known as John Carpenter's Starman), Columbia,1984
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Into the Night, Universal, 1985
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My Science Project, Buena Vista, 1985
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Cocoon, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1985
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Ratboy, Warner Bros., 1986
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Max, mon amour (also known as Max, My Love), Ingram Entertainment, 1986
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Captain Eo, Walt Disney, 1986
- (And puppeteer) Harry and the Hendersons (also known as Bigfootand the Hendersons), Universal, 1987
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Summer School, Paramount, 1987
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It's Alive III: Island of the Alive, Warner Home Video, 1987
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Coming to America (also known as Prince in New York), Paramount, 1988
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Gorillas in the Mist (also known as Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey), Universal, 1988
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Moonwalker, Ultimate Productions, 1988
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Missing Link, Universal Studios Home Video, 1989
- (And coproducer) Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Warner Bros., 1990
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The Rocketeer, Buena Vista, 1991
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Lorenzo's Oil, Universal, 1992
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Rex, 1993
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Wolf, Columbia, 1994
- (And creator) Baby's Day Out, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1994
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Ed Wood, Buena Vista, 1994
- (And head sculptor) Batman Forever (also known as Forever),Warner Bros., 1995
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Just Cause, Warner Bros., 1995
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The Amazing Panda Adventure, Warner Bros., 1995
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The Nutty Professor, Universal, 1996
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The Frighteners (also known as Robert Zemeckis Presents: The Frighteners), Universal, 1996
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John Carpenter's Escape from L.A., Paramount, 1996
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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
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Ghosts (also known as Michael Jackson's Ghosts), 1997
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Critical Care, 1997
- (And creature designer and producer) Mighty Joe Young (also knownas Mighty Joe), Buena Vista, 1998
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Psycho, Universal, 1998
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Modern Vampires, 1998
- (And creator) Wild Wild West, 1999
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Life, Universal, 1999
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Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (also known as The Klumps),Universal, 2000
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas (also known as The Grinch and Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas), MCA/Universal, 2000
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Planet of the Apes, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2001
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Men in Black II (also known as MIB 2 and MIIB), Columbia, 2002
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The Ring, DreamWorks, 2002
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The Hulk, Universal, 2003
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The Cat in the Hat (also known as Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat), Universal, 2003
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Haunted Mansion (also known as Disney's The Haunted Mansion), Buena Vista, 2003
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Cursed, 2003
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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
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Michael Jackson: Making Michael Jackson's `Thriller', 1983
- Drug dealer, Into the Night, Universal, 1985
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Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors, 1986
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The Road to Dracula, Universal Studios Home Video, 1999
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She's Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein, 1999
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Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed, Universal Studios Home Video, 1999
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Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of `The Wolf Man', 1999
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The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster, Universal, 1999
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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
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Rick Baker: Alien Maker, Columbia TriStar, 2002
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Creature Featurettes, Columbia TriStar, 2002
- Also appeared in Madhouse.
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Television Work
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Series
- Werewolf designer, Werewolf, Fox, 1987-1988
- Creator and designer of "The Beast," Beauty and the Beast, CBS, 1987-1990
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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
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Miniseries
- Creature designer and creator and monster creator and makeup artist, Something Is Out There, NBC, 1988
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Television Appearances
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Specials
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King Kong: The Living Legend, syndicated, 1986
- Member of Horror Hall of Fame board of directors, The Horror Hall of Fame II, 1991
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The Secrets of Dick Smith, 1991
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Heartstoppers: Horror at the Movies, 1992
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It's Alive: The True Story of Frankenstein, 1994
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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
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RECORDINGS
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Video Games
- Himself, The Interactive History of Frankenstein, 1995
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Music Videos
- Appeared in and created special effects makeup for Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
Books
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International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 4: Writers and Production Artists, St. James Press, 1996
Periodicals
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Boys' Life, September, 1991, p. 24
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Entertainment Weekly, July 18, 1997, p. 30
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Hollywood Reporter, March 10, 1956, p. S6
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Life, May, 1986, p. 32
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Time, July 31, 2000
name is jodie marie hernandez and i'm 11 yrs old and when i grow up
i want to a special effects make-up artist ever since i have seen amercian
werewolf in london and i hope that one of these days i can be one just like
you are right now
PS:i hope i get to see you one day