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Greg Nicotero

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Greg Nicotero
Nicotero in 2023
Born
Gregory Nicotero

(1963-03-15) March 15, 1963 (age 61)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupations
  • Director
  • SFX Artist
  • Producer
Years active1985–present[1]
Known forThe Walking Dead
RelativesFrank Nicotero (cousin)

Gregory Nicotero (born March 15, 1963) is an American special make-up effects creator, television producer, and director. His first major job in special effects makeup was on the George A. Romero film Day of the Dead (1985), under the tutelage of Romero and make-up effects veteran Tom Savini.

In 1988, along with Robert Kurtzman and Howard Berger, he formed KNB EFX Group, a special make-up effects studio which has gone on to work on over 400 film and television projects. KNB has won numerous awards, including an Emmy Award in 2001 for their work on the 2000 Sci Fi Channel miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune[2] and an Academy Award in 2006 for achievement in makeup for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.[3]

He served as an executive producer, special make-up effects supervisor, and primary director on the AMC TV series The Walking Dead[4] and Fear the Walking Dead.[5] Nicotero has directed 37 episodes of The Walking Dead and is the creator of the webseries The Walking Dead: Webisodes.[6]

Life and career

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Nicotero in October 2012.

Nicotero claims he began taking an interest in special effects after viewing the film Jaws. He explains: "I kept thinking 'How the hell did they do that?! How'd they build a big giant shark that could eat people?!' So, between that movie, The Exorcist, Planet of the Apes, and of course all of the Universal horror movies [...] I think Jaws and then later Dawn of the Dead were pretty much the two movies that did it for me."[7] Nicotero began his career working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, learning the trade of special make-up effects, also known as prosthetic makeup, from Tom Savini, an award-winning special effects and makeup artist,[8] and helping on films by director George A. Romero.

While working on the 1985 Romero film Day of the Dead, he met Howard Berger, who would become one of his partners at KNB EFX Group. Nicotero relocated to Hollywood[9] and moved in with Berger and Robert Kurtzman.[10]

He later worked as FX artist on the 2010 film Predators[11] and created a classic predator figure for the film.[12]

Nicotero worked as special make-up effects supervisor, co-executive producer and occasional director for the TV series The Walking Dead, as well as acting in a few uncredited cameos.[13] He was at San Diego Comic-Con for the show.[14] He was a guest on Talking Dead on March 24, 2013,[15] October 12, 2014, February 8, 2015, and February 14, 2016. He also supervises the make-up effects for Fear the Walking Dead.[16]

In 2011, Nicotero was interviewed for the 2012 zombie special effects book "Blood Splatter: A Guide to Cinematic Zombie Violence, Gore and Special Effects" by author Craig W. Chenery.[17]

He was a guest on the MythBusters Zombie Special on October 17, 2013.[18]

He designed a Leatherface skin for the 2023 game - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre that bears his name, known as "Nicotero Leatherface". It was released October 24th, 2023.

Filmography

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Film performances
Year Title Notes
1985 Day of the Dead Special makeup effects artist
1985 Invasion U.S.A. Additional special effects makeup
1987 Creepshow 2 Special effects
1987 Predator Creature effects crew (uncredited)
1987 Evil Dead II Special makeup effects unit crew
1988 Phantasm II Special makeup effects constructor and special effects crew
1988 Monkey Shines Special makeup effects artist
1989 The Horror Show Special effects
1989 DeepStar Six Creature supervisor
1989 Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers Special effects supervisor
1990 Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III Makeup artist
1990 Tales from the Darkside: The Movie Special makeup effects supervisor
1990 Bride of Re-Animator Special makeup effects artist
1990 Misery Special makeup effects artist
1990 Dances with Wolves Buffalo effects supervisor
1991 The People Under the Stairs Special makeup effects supervisor
1992 Army of Darkness Special makeup effects
1993 Body Bags (TV film) Special makeup effects
1993 Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday Effects supervisor and special makeup effects artist
1994 Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings Special makeup effects supervisor
1994 Pulp Fiction Special makeup supervisor (uncredited)
1994 Wes Craven's New Nightmare Special makeup effects
1995 Vampire in Brooklyn Special makeup effects: puppeteer
1995 In the Mouth of Madness Special makeup effects
1995 Lord of Illusions Special makeup effects supervisor
1996 Eraser Animatronic crocodiles supervisor
1996 From Dusk till Dawn Makeup effects supervisor
1996 Scream Special makeup effects supervisor
1996 Jingle All the Way Turboman costume and special makeup effects
1996 Black Sheep Puppeteer
1997 Spawn Animatronic creature and special makeup effects
1997 Boogie Nights Special makeup effects supervisor
1997 Wishmaster Special makeup effects
1997 Scream 2 Special makeup effects supervisor
1998 Vampires Special makeup effects
1998 Very Bad Things Supervisor
1998 The Faculty Special makeup and creature effects
1999 The Green Mile Special makeup effects supervisor
1999 The Haunting Special makeup effects supervisor
1999 House on Haunted Hill Special makeup effects
2000 Little Nicky Special makeup and creature effects supervisor
2000 Frank Herbert's Dune (TV miniseries) Lead special effects supervisor
2000 The Cell Prosthetics and special makeup effects supervisor
2000 Unbreakable Special makeup effects supervisor
2001 Spy Kids Makeup effects supervisor and creature effects
2001 The Animal Special makeup effects artist
2001 Mulholland Drive Special makeup effects artist
2001 Ghosts of Mars Special makeup effects artist
2001 Thirteen Ghosts Special makeup effects artist and supervisor
2001 Vanilla Sky Special makeup effects supervisor
2001 Evolution Supervisor
2002 The Time Machine Supervisor
2002 Minority Report Special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
2002 Austin Powers in Goldmember Character prosthetics supervisor
Special makeup effects artist
2002 Vampires: Los Muertos Special makeup effects supervisor
2002 The Rules of Attraction Special makeup effects artist
2002 Murder by Numbers Supervisor
2002 Bubba Ho-tep Special effects makeup supervisor
2003 Cabin Fever Special makeup effects supervisor
2003 Hulk Animatronics effects supervisor/puppeteer
2003 Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over Special effects makeup
2003 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Special effects makeup
2003 Identity Special makeup effects supervisor
2003 Once Upon a Time in Mexico Special makeup effects supervisor
2003 Kill Bill: Volume 1 Special effects makeup supervisor
2004 Kill Bill: Volume 2 Special makeup supervisor
2004 Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed Special makeup effects
2004 Riding the Bullet Special makeup effects supervisor
2004 Ray Special makeup effects supervisor
2004 Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Special effects supervisor
2005 Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist Special makeup effects designer
2005–2007 Masters of Horror (TV series) Special makeup effects artist
2005 Cursed Additional special makeup effects supervisor
Additional werewolf effects creator
2005 Sin City Special makeup effects supervisor
2005 The Amityville Horror Special makeup effects artist, designer and creator
2005 The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D Special makeup effects artist
2005 Land of the Dead Special makeup effects supervisor
2005 The Island Project supervisor
2005 Serenity Special effects makeup supervisor
2005 Hostel Special makeup effects designer and creator
2005 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Special makeup and creatures
2006 The Hills Have Eyes Special makeup effects designer
2006 Poseidon Makeup effects supervisor
2006 Desperation (TV film) Special makeup effects supervisor
2006 Casino Royale Effects supervisor
2006 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning Special makeup supervisor
2006 The Return Special effects makeup
2006 Comedy Hell Special makeup designer
2006 Dead and Deader Additional special makeup effects
2007 Death Proof Special makeup effects
2007 The Hills Have Eyes 2 Special makeup effects designer
2007 Hostel: Part II Special makeup effects designer and creator
2007 The Reaping Supervisor: K.N.B. EFX Group, Inc.
2007 Spider-Man 3 Special effects makeup
2007 Disturbia Special makeup effects supervisor
2007 Grindhouse Special makeup effects artist
2007 Transformers Animatronics supervisor/puppeteer
2007 Underdog Supervisor
2007 Diary of the Dead Special effects makeup producer
2007 The Mist Creature effects
2008 Fear Itself Special makeup effects artist
2008 Mirrors Special makeup effects designer
2010 The Book of Eli Special makeup effects
2010 Edge of Darkness Special makeup effects
2010 Predators Special makeup and creature effects
2010 The Pacific (TV miniseries) Key special makeup effects supervisor (6 episodes)
2010–2022 The Walking Dead (TV series) Special makeup effects
2010 Piranha 3D Key special makeup effects supervisor
2010 The Ward Makeup effects
2010 The United Monster Talent Agency (short film) Special makeup effects
2011 The Boy Who Cried Werewolf (TV film) Special makeup and creature effects
2011 Paul Special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
2011 I Am Number Four Special makeup creator/designer
2011 Water for Elephants Key special makeup effects supervisor (uncredited)
2011–2012 Breaking Bad (TV series) Special makeup effects (2 episodes)
2011 A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas Key special makeup effects supervisor
2012 The Grey Special makeup effects
2012 The Odd Life of Timothy Green Key special makeup effects supervisor
2012 Seven Psychopaths Special make-up effects
2012 The Man with the Iron Fists Special make-up effects
2013 Oz the Great and Powerful Special make-up effects
2013 The Green Inferno Special makeup effects artist
2013 Lone Survivor Special make-up effects
2014 Transformers: Age of Extinction Special effects makeup supervisor
2015 Fear The Walking Dead Special make-up effects
2015 The Hateful Eight Special make-up effects
2016 Suicide Squad Special make-up effects
2019 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Makeup effects designer and supervisor

Actor

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Director

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References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greg Nicotero.
  1. ^ Jeffries, Stuart (2016-02-29). "God of gore: the effects legend behind Reservoir Dogs and The Walking Dead spills his secrets". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  2. ^ "Quentin Tarantino Presents Eli Roth's Hostel" (PDF). Lion's Gate Films. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  3. ^ "Oscar Wins". Oscars.org. Archived from the original on 2007-08-09. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  4. ^ Cline, Elizabeth (July 30, 2012). "Dispatches From the Set - Special FX Makeup Artist and Co-Executive Producer Greg Nicotero". AMC. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  5. ^ "Fear The Walking Dead: Special FX Makeup Artist and Co-Executive Producer Greg Nicotero". BD. July 30, 2012. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  6. ^ "THE WALKING DEAD, entitled "Counter" and directed by series MVP Greg Nicotero". Fangoria. July 30, 2012. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  7. ^ "Greg Nicotero Interview". iconsoffright.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
  8. ^ "Awards". imdb.com. Archived from the original on 2006-05-03. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  9. ^ "John Carpenter: Bios: KNB EFX Group". theofficialjohncarpenter.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
  10. ^ "More on The Walking Dead: First Production Photo and Zombie School Video". DreadCentral. October 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-10-15.
  11. ^ "Classic Predator Featured in Special KNB Q+A in Louisville". BloodyDisgusting. 17 May 2010. Archived from the original on 2012-10-06.
  12. ^ "Classic Predator to Return in Predators? Hell Yes!". DreadCentral. 17 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-10-13.
  13. ^ "Greg Nicotero Talks The Walking Dead". DreadCentral. 8 October 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-10-15.
  14. ^ "SD Comic-Con '10: Get Zombified and Catch a Sneak Peek of The Walking Dead". DreadCentral. Archived from the original on 2010-07-13.
  15. ^ Season 3, Episode 15 Talking Dead Archived 2013-03-28 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "Fear the Walking Dead". BD. 26 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02.
  17. ^ "craigwchenery". craigwchenery. Archived from the original on 24 April 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  18. ^ ""MythBusters" Zombie Special (TV Episode 2013)". Archived from the original on 24 April 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018 – via www.imdb.com.
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