Dick Smith: The Godfather of Makeup

Widely regarded as the ‘godfather’ of modern makeup effects, Dick Smith’s extensive career covers such cinematic classics as Little Big Man, The Exorcist, Altered States, Taxi Driver, The Godfather, Midnight Cowboy, Starman, Scanners and Ghost Story. As well as an Emmy, a BAFTA and two Saturn Awards, Smith earned an Oscar in 1985 for his stunning aging makeup on F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus, and an Honorary Oscar in 2012. Aside from his own long career, Smith devoted a huge part of his life to mentoring and advising young makeup artists. Contrary to the often secretive nature of his trade, Smith shared information willingly, first with his 1965 Dick Smith’s Do-It Yourself Monster Make-Up Handbook, and later, his Basic and Advanced Professional Makeup Course, the recipients of which include numerous Oscar nominees and winners. Dick Smith: The Godfather of Makeup examines Smith’s life and career, from his early student makeups created as a prankster at Yale, to his tenure as NBC’s first makeup department head during the era of live television, and finally his decades-long freelance career. In addition to extensive first-hand conversations with Smith himself, the book interviews dozens of friends, family, and co-workers, and is accompanied by hundreds of rare images, many from Smith’s own archives. Over a decade in the making, it’s the most comprehensive look at the iconic makeup legend ever published.