Dick Smith
American prosthetic makeup artist (1922–2014)
Who was Dick Smith?
Dick Smith lived from June 26, 1922 to July 30, 2014. Smith was born in Larchmont, New York, the son of Coral (née Brown) and Richard Roy Smith. He attended the Wooster School in Danbury, Connecticut and Yale University, where he studied pre-med, with the intention of entering dentistry, although he majored in zoology. After reading a book on theatrical make-up techniques titled Paint, powder and make-up ; the art of theater make-up from the amateur and class room viewpoint (Strauss, Ivard), he began applying make-up for the Yale drama group. After graduation, Smith served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Smith entered the field full-time after the war, and was entirely self-taught.
Historical significance
Richard Emerson Smith (June 26, 1922 – July 30, 2014) was an American special make-up effects artist and author, (nicknamed "The Godfather of Make-Up") known for his work on such films as Little Big Man (1970), The Godfather (1972), The Exorcist (1973), Taxi Driver (1976), Scanners (1981) and Death Becomes Her (1992). He won a 1985 Academy Award for Best Makeup for his work on Amadeus and received a 2012 Academy Honorary Award for his career's work.