Dick Smith, Make-Up Master, Dies at 92

Cosplayers, science fiction and horror fans, and just fans of movies in general, a legend has passed on today. Dick Smith, who many of you may not know, died today, according to Variety.com and his protege and longtime friend Rick Baker.

If you have been inspired by movie make up to get into cosplay or horror (or both), Dick Smith was undoubtedly one of your influences. He is probably best known as the man behind all the special effects make up for The Exorcist. Yes, it was Smith who made teenage Linda Blair look like a scarred monster, and who got her to puke up green pea soup vomit on command.

But his deep and broad resume includes such sci-fi cult classics as Scanners and Altered States, as well as well as main stream movies like Amadeus, The Godfather and Taxi Driver.

I first became aware of Smith in college in the late 1970s, when I first saw the 1970 counter-culture classic retelling of the white man’s expansion west, Little Big Man. In it, using techniques he devised and material only available in the late 1960s, Smith turned a very young Dustin Hoffman into one of the most believable 100+ years old individuals you’ve ever seen on film, pictured above.

You will be missed, Mr. Smith. I would spill a 40 for you, but I think some liquid latex and spirit gum might be more appropriate.