
Rick Baker
Costume & make-up · b. 1950 · Binghamton, New York, USA
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."
Movies23
Movie6.4ActionComedyKay and Jay reunite to provide our best, last and only line of defense against a sinister seductress who levels the toughest challenge yet to the MIB's untarnished mission statement – protecting Earth from the scum of the universe. It's been four years since the alien-seeking agents averted an intergalactic disaster of epic proportions. Now it's a race against the clock as Jay must convince Kay – who not only has absolutely no memory of his time spent with the MIB, but is also the only living person left with the expertise to save the galaxy – to reunite with the MIB before the earth submits to ultimate destruction.
Men in Black II
2002 · 10K votes
Movie6.5ActionComedyAgents J and K are back...in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K's life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him - secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind.
Men in Black 3
2012 · 11K votes
Movie6.8FamilyComedyThe Grinch decides to rob Whoville of Christmas - but a dash of kindness from little Cindy Lou Who and her family may be enough to melt his heart...
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2000 · 8.5K votes
Movie5.8ThrillerScience FictionAfter a spectacular crash-landing on an uncharted planet, brash astronaut Leo Davidson finds himself trapped in a savage world where talking apes dominate the human race. Desperate to find a way home, Leo must evade the invincible gorilla army led by Ruthless General Thade.
Planet of the Apes
2001 · 4.5K votes
Movie5.9HorrorLawrence Talbot, an American man on a visit to Victorian London to make amends with his estranged father, gets bitten by a werewolf and, after a moonlight transformation, leaves him with a savage hunger for flesh.
The Wolfman
2010 · 2.2K votes
Movie6.3AdventureHorrorAn oil company expedition disturbs the peace of a giant ape and brings him back to New York to exploit him.
King Kong
1976 · 950 votes
Movie6.5ThrillerComedyEd Okin used to have a boring life. He used to have trouble getting to sleep. Then one night, he met Diana. Now, Ed's having trouble staying alive.
Into the Night
1985 · 341 votes
Movie8.3HorrorMusicA night at the movies turns terrifying when Michael and his date are attacked by zombies. Released at the height of Thriller’s success, the short film redefined the music video, broke racial barriers, and became the first inducted into the U.S. National Film Registry.
Michael Jackson's Thriller
1983 · 800 votes
Movie6.3HorrorThrillerA collection of Halloween-themed videotapes unleashes a series of twisted, blood-soaked tales, turning trick-or-treat into a struggle for survival.
V/H/S/Halloween
2025 · 242 votes
Movie5.4ComedyFamilyAfter being exposed to a bizarre mixture of household chemicals, Pat Kramer begins to shrink. This baffles scientists, makes parenting difficult, warms the hearts of Americans, and captures the attention of a group of people who want to take over the world. This evil group plots to kidnap Pat and perform experiments on her so that they can eventually shrink everyone.
The Incredible Shrinking Woman
1981 · 124 votes
Movie6.2ComedyA series of loosely connected skits that spoof news programs, commercials, porno films, kung-fu films, disaster films, blaxploitation films, spy films, mafia films, and the fear that somebody is watching you on the other side of the TV.
The Kentucky Fried Movie
1977 · 371 votes
Movie7.0DocumentaryLegendary all-stars of cinema bring to life the evolution of science-fiction and special effects films from the wild and funny days of B-movies to blockbusters that have captured the world's imagination. This is the story of the Sci-Fi Boys, who started out as kids making amateur movies inspired by Forrest J Ackerman's FAMOUS MONSTERS magazine and grew up to take Hollywood by storm, inventing the art and technology for filming anything the mind can dream.
The Sci-Fi Boys
2006 · 12 votes
Movie7.7DocumentaryA documentary looking at the various conventions and scare techniques of the horror genre.
The Perfect Scary Movie
2005 · 3 votes
Movie9.0DocumentaryTV MovieDocumentary focused on the creation of movie and television special effects, hosted by Roy Scheider and Jonathan Brandis, featuring behind the scenes look at how the visual effects were created for popular films of the era.
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects
1994 · 1 votes
Movie3.6HorrorMysteryMurder, mystery and mayhem as B movie fan, Adam Waltz, wins Walk on Role in a film Featuring Scream Queen, Cassie Blue. Thinking his luck had changed for the better he steps into chaos with a killer loose and no one on the production safe.
Dark Reel
2008 · 25 votes
Movie6.4DocumentaryA 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.
King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen
2018 · 20 votes
Movie5.0ComedyScience FictionA rich but racist man is dying and hatches an elaborate scheme for transplanting his head onto another man's body. His health deteriorates rapidly, and doctors are forced to transplant his head onto the only available candidate: a black man from death row.
The Thing with Two Heads
1972 · 48 votes
Movie7.2DocumentaryThe Frankenstein Complex takes a historical as well as a creative perspective, with a mix of fascinating scenes behind the camera, film clips, and dozens of interviews with all the big names in the industry. In addition to the many wonderful anecdotes, the film also offers a wealth of beautiful test material, while along the way showing how the art of filmmaking has changed over the years. An affectionate ode to monster makers throughout history.
Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex
2015 · 30 votes
Movie8.6DocumentaryMusicFeaturing interviews with director John Landis, make-up artist Rick Baker, and the King of Pop himself, Making Michael Jackson's Thriller takes you on a behind-the-scenes journey from pre-production to shooting on the ghoulish graveyard set of Michael Jackson's legendary music video and short film.
Making Michael Jackson's Thriller
1983 · 28 votes
Movie8.0DocumentaryHistoryThe astonishing story of the genesis, production, worldwide success, and legacy of King Kong (1933), directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, a landmark of cinema, one of the most influential motion pictures in history.
Movie8.0DocumentaryFor over a half century, Ray Harryhausen has amazed and inspired countless filmmakers and fans around the world with his breathtaking motion picture effects and stop-motion animation. Presented here for the first time ever is the authorized collection of his earliest work, along with hours of supplemental features.
Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection
2005 · 3 votes
Movie7.3DocumentaryDocumentary of the making of Michael Jackson's Captain EO film for the Disney theme parks.
The Making of Captain EO
1986 · 8 votes
Movie6.7DocumentaryHorrorHost Paul Davis takes a trip through some of the iconic backdrops of John Landis' 1981 werewolf classic An American Werewolf In London. The original cast and crew tell the story of how the film was made over a quarter of a century ago featuring rare footage and never before seen photos.
Series4
TV7.1RealityIn this competition/elimination series, special effects make-up artists participate in elaborate challenges for a grand prize and the honor of being Hollywood's next great effects artist.
Face Off
2011 · 88 votes
TV6.0Talk ShowDiscover everything the DC Universe has to offer. DC Daily brings you the latest news, special guests, and insights from every corner of the multiverse.
DC Daily
2018 · 6 votes
TV7.0RealityUnchained 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.
Unchained Reaction
2012 · 3 votes
TV6.8RealityFormer 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.
Face Off: Game Face
2017 · 6 votes