Rick Baker

Rick Baker stands alone in cinema history as the most decorated makeup artist, holding the record for seven Academy Awards in the Best Makeup category. His achievement began with the very first award given in the category's existence in 1981, setting a benchmark that no one else has ever matched. Beyond the Oscars, his contributions have been recognized with a Hugo Award, multiple Saturn Awards, and induction into the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Hall of Fame.In 2026, the Locarno Film Festival honored him with the prestigious Honorary Leopard Award, cementing his status as a global icon of visual storytelling. His legacy is defined not just by the number of awards he has won, but by how he elevated the entire profession of special effects makeup to an art form worthy of the highest honors.