The Godfather: Dick Smith and Al Pacino (top); Smith, Marlon Brando, and Phil Rhodes (bottom)
"A Tribute to Dick Smith: The Godfather of Special Makeup Effects" will be presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scienceson Wednesday, June 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
Six-time Oscar-winning makeup artist Rick Baker will host the evening, which will be attended by Dick Smith himself and will feature a panel discussion including writer-director Guillermo del Toro, actor Hal Holbrook, and makeup artists Greg Cannom, Kazuhiro Tsuji and Andrew Clement, among others.
The evening will highlight Smith's long career, which began in 1945 when he became NBC's first makeup man. Among Smith's credits are The World of Henry Orient, Little Big Man (in which Dustin Hoffman ends up playing a 100-year-old man), The Godfather, The Exorcist, The Godfather Part II, The Stepford Wives, Taxi Driver, The Hunger, and Dad. Additionally, Smith shared an Oscar with Paul LeBlanc (below) for their work in Amadeus (1984). (There was no annual best makeup category at the Oscars until 1982.)
Tickets for "A Tribute to Dick Smith" are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. They may be purchased beginning May 26 online at www.oscars.org, in person at the Academy box office or by mail. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. All seating is unreserved. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, call (310) 247-3600. For the latest updates on panelists and program details, visit www.oscars.org.
Photos: Courtesy of the Margaret Herrick Library