Dick Smith (make-up artist)

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Dick Smith (born Richard Emerson Smith, June 26, 1922 in Larchmont, New York) is a make-up artist known for his work on such films as The Godfather, The Exorcist, Taxi Driver, and Little Big Man. He won an Academy Award for Makeup for his work on Amadeus. He has been married to Jocelyn De Rosa since 1944, with whom he has two children.

Smith attended the Wooster School and Yale University, the latter where he studied pre-med, with the intention of entering dentistry. After reading a book on Hollywood make-up techniques, he began administering make-up for the Yale drama group, and entered the field full-time after graduation. He served as NBC's make-up director for fourteen years, pioneering in the development of latex and plastics used in quick-change applications.^[1]

Though many of his make-up effects were so well conceived as to go undetected, Smith's expertise gained prominence and acclaim through the variety and ingenuity of his many effects for The Exorcist. Some of his proteges have gone on to prominent success (e.g., Rick Baker), and Smith is generally considered to be the godfather of modern-day special make-up effects.

He has also published an instructional book, entitled Dick Smith's Do-It-Yourself Monster Make-up Handbook.