Dick Smith
Biography
Filmography
Notes
Not to be confused with the 1920s Hollywood screenwriter, the 50s sound man, the 70s actor, or the 80s documentary producer.
Biography
A legendary Hollywood makeup artist of film and TV since the 1940s, Smith is considered a pioneer in the design of aging makeup and an innovator in the field of special makeup effects. He utilized layers of latex called "old age stipple" to age Dustin Hoffman for "Little Big Man" (1970), Marlon Brando for "The Godfather" (1972), David Bowie for "The Hunger" (1983) and F Murray Abraham for "Amadeus" (1984). The latter won Smith a long overdue Oscar. He transformed Hal Holbrook into Mark Twain and Abraham Lincoln for TV and reached new heights in on-screen goo with his work on Linda Blair in "The Exorcist" (1973). Smith also pushed the limits of the young art of special makeup effects with his work on the de-evolving form of William Hurt in Ken Russell's "Altered States" (1980).
Smith has stated that he was the very first makeup artist hired by NBC in 1945. Back then when radio ruled the airwaves, his office space was the bottom drawer of an assistant director's desk. By 1950 TV had arrived and Smith had advanced to department head with 20 full-time makeup artists working under his direction. He has told colorful tales of the rigors of aging actors for live TV dramas on the likes of "Philco TV Playhouse" and "Goodyear TV Playhouse" where every second counted. Smith continued to work in TV periodically through the 80s, garnering several Emmy nominations and winning one for "Mark Twain Tonight!" (CBS, 1967).
His subsequent films include "The World of Henry Orient" (1964), "Midnight Cowboy" (1969), "Taxi Driver" (1976), and "The Deer Hunter" (1978). The veteran makeup designer proved that he still had it with Robert Zemeckis' "Death Becomes Her" (1992), a darkly comic tale of dangerous beauty secrets.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Visual Effects (Feature Film)
Sound (Feature Film)
Make-Up (Feature Film)
Art Department (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Make-Up (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1945
Was reputedly the first makeup artist hired by NBC
1948
Early feature credit, did makeup for "Call Northside 777", a semi-documentary film noir starring James Stewart
1950
Headed NBC's makeup department; supervised 20 full-time makeup artists
1959
Left NBC
1962
Provided makeup for "Requiem for a Heavyweight", the film version of Rod Serling's celebrated 1956 TV play
1970
Aged Dustin Hoffman for the satirical Western, "Little Big Man"
1972
Aged Marlon Brando in "The Godfather"
1973
Acclaimed for landmark makeup effects in "The Exorcist"
1977
Received his first credit for special makeup on "The Sentinel"
1980
First credit as special makeup consultant for David Cronenberg's "Scanners"
1983
Aged David Bowie for "The Hunger"
1984
Aged F. Murray Abraham to play the old Salieri in "Amadeus"
1989
Designed old age makeup for Jack Lemmon in "Dad"
Videos
Trailer
Bibliography
Notes
Not to be confused with the 1920s Hollywood screenwriter, the 50s sound man, the 70s actor, or the 80s documentary producer.
