Rest in Peace: Legendary Make-Up Artist Dick Smith
Steve Barton
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There are few names in the make-up field as well known and respected as Dick Smith, a true pioneer who will go down in history as one of the all-time greats. We’re very sad to report today that Smith has passed away, leaving behind a body of work that will endure until the end of time.
The sad news was broken earlier today by Smith’s former apprentice Rick Baker, who confirmed that the “Godfather of Make-Up” lost a long battle with an unrevealed illness yesterday at the age of 92.
Dick Smith’s impressive resume includes films like The Godfather, Taxi Driver, Scanners, and The Deer Hunter, and he’s perhaps most known to horror fans thanks to his incredible work on The Exorcist.
It was the Oscar-winning Smith who not only turned a young Linda Blair into a horrifying demon but also Max von Sydow into the aged Father Merrin. So amazing was Smith’s old age make-up on Sydow that many fans still to this day have never even realized that the actor was just 47 years old at the time the movie was filmed with Smith’s seamless make-up making him look decades older.
There are some people in the movie-making business who come along and forever change it, their work and legacy impacting the lives of so many. Dick Smith was without question one of those people, and all of us here at Dread Central are incredibly sad to see him go.
Thank you, Dick Smith. Thank you for all that you did. And may you rest in peace.
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