Hollywood Forever
Remembering The Dear Departed
All too often legends of the motion picture industry are taken away from us fans by the inescapable spectre known as death. Some enjoy long and fruitful careers, while others unfortunately leave us far too soon. In early August, the Godfather of Makeup, Mr. Dick Smith passed away at the age of 92.
Winning his honorary
Oscar just a few years
earlier for a lifetime
achievement for his
contribution to
cinema. Of course,
whenever his name is
brought up, it conjurs
images from that
unforgettable film,
The Exorcist.
Dick Smith 1922-2014
However, you may be surprised to know, Dick Smith has worked on many films and created makups for actors you might not ever have guessed. Marlon Brando on The Godfather, Dustin Hoffman for Little Big Man, William Hurt, Alterted States, F. Murray Abraham, as the wicked Salieri in Amadeus, Robert DeNiro, Taxi Driver, and interestingly enough, some recycled foam rubber breasts for Katherine Ross in The Stepford Wives. (Originally intended for Karen Black in Carnal Knowlege. She was replaced by Ann Margaret, who's girls were natural enough for the part..or parts shall we say.) To say he was an inspiration would be an understatement, for if there had not been a Dick Smith, there would not have been a Rick Baker. It was Baker who broke the news to the world in a Tweet: "The Master is Gone. My friend and mentor is gone. The world will never be the same." Truer words were never spoken.
Marilyn Burns, one of the original scream queens from Tobe Hooper's 1974 cult classic, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacare" passed away at the age of 65, on August 5th. She was Born May 7, 1949, Burns was from Erie, PA, but raised in Huston, Texas. Known mostly for her iconic role as Sally Hardesty in TCSM, Oddly enough, her first film.
Marilyn Burns in Texas Chainsaw Massacare
She returned in 1976 with her one-two-punch role in the television mini-series, "Helter Skelter" where she played the part of real life Manson family member, Linda Kasabian. When asked about her role in "Helter Skelter", she remarked, It was a great experience, but no one wanted to touch it (due to the circumstances). Her film credits while minimal are still enjoyed by horror fans to this day. However, Chainsaw wasn't always as good to Burns as one might think. She stated in previous interviews, "It hurt my career early on, I would get called for parts and they would complain about Chainsaw." Like so many other actors who gain fame through an iconic film, Burns herself admitted, "Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think we'd be talking about it forty years later."
Marilyn Burns 1949-2014