Greg Nicotero | |
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Born | Gregory Nicotero March 15, 1963 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1985–present [1] |
Known for | The Walking Dead |
Relatives | Frank 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]
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. It dawns his name being called, "Nicotero Leatherface" and was released October 24th, 2023.
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 |
Day of the Dead is a 1985 American post-apocalyptic zombie horror film written and directed by George A. Romero, and produced by Richard P. Rubinstein. The third film in Romero's Night of the Living Dead series, it stars Lori Cardille, Terry Alexander, Joseph Pilato, Jarlath Conroy and Richard Liberty as members of a group of survivors of a zombie apocalypse sheltering in an underground bunker in Florida, where they must determine the outcome of humanity's conflict with the undead horde. Romero described the film as a "tragedy about how a lack of human communication causes chaos and collapse even in this small little pie slice of society".
Dawn of the Dead is a 1978 zombie horror film written, directed, and edited by George A. Romero, and produced by Richard P. Rubinstein. An American-Italian international co-production, it is the second film in Romero's series of zombie films, and though it contains no characters or settings from the preceding film Night of the Living Dead (1968), it shows the larger-scale effects of a zombie apocalypse on society. In the film, a phenomenon of unidentified origin has caused the reanimation of the dead, who prey on human flesh. David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger, and Gaylen Ross star as survivors of the outbreak who barricade themselves inside a suburban shopping mall amid mass hysteria.
Dawn of the Dead is a 2004 action horror film directed by Zack Snyder in his feature directorial debut, with a screenplay by James Gunn. A remake of George A. Romero's 1978 film of the same name, it stars an ensemble cast that includes Sarah Polley, Jake Weber, Ving Rhames, and Mekhi Phifer, with Scott Reiniger, Tom Savini, and Ken Foree from the original film appearing in cameos. Set in Milwaukee, the film follows a group of survivors who try to survive a zombie apocalypse holed up in a suburban shopping mall.
Thomas Vincent Savini is an American prosthetic makeup artist, actor, stunt performer and film director. He is known for his makeup and special effects work on many films directed by George A. Romero, including Martin, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Creepshow, and Monkey Shines; he also created the special effects and makeup for many cult classics like Friday the 13th, Maniac, The Burning, The Prowler, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.
Bride of Re-Animator is a 1990 American comedy horror film produced and directed by Brian Yuzna and written by Yuzna, Rick Fry, and Woody Keith. It is a sequel to the 1985 film Re-Animator and the second entry in the Re-Animator film series. Like its predecessor, it is loosely based on the serialized story "Herbert West–Reanimator" (1921-1922) by H. P. Lovecraft. Unlike its predecessor, it was released direct-to-video.
Kevin VanHook is an American comic book writer, comic book artist, visual effects supervisor, and filmmaker.
Robert Kurtzman is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and special effects makeup artist. During his time at KNB EFX Group, which he co-founded, it would win a 2001 Emmy Award. He would then start his own production company Precinct 13 Entertainment in 2003.
The Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic horror drama television series developed by Frank Darabont, based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. Together, the show and the comic book series form the core of The Walking Dead franchise. The series features a large ensemble cast as survivors of a zombie apocalypse trying to stay alive under near-constant threat of attacks from zombies known as "walkers". With the collapse of modern civilization, these survivors must confront other human survivors who have formed groups and communities with their own sets of laws and morals, sometimes leading to open conflict between them. The series is the first television series within The Walking Dead franchise.
The first season of The Walking Dead, an American post-apocalyptic horror television series on AMC, premiered on October 31, 2010, and concluded on December 5, 2010, consisting of 6 episodes. Developed for television by Frank Darabont, who wrote or co-wrote four of the season's six episodes and directed the pilot episode, "Days Gone Bye", the series is based on the eponymous series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. It was executive produced by Darabont, Kirkman, David Alpert, Charles H. Eglee, and Gale Anne Hurd, with Darabont assuming the role of showrunner.
The second season of The Walking Dead, an American post-apocalyptic horror television series on AMC, premiered on October 16, 2011, and concluded on March 18, 2012, consisting of 13 episodes. Developed for television by Frank Darabont, the series is based on the eponymous series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. It was executive produced by Darabont, Kirkman, Glen Mazzara, David Alpert, and Gale Anne Hurd, with Mazzara assuming the role of showrunner after Darabont's departure from the series.
"Days Gone Bye" is the pilot episode of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on October 31, 2010. The episode's teleplay was written and directed by Frank Darabont, the series creator.
The third season of The Walking Dead, an American post-apocalyptic horror television series on AMC, premiered on October 14, 2012, and concluded on March 31, 2013, consisting of 16 episodes. Developed for television by Frank Darabont, the series is based on the eponymous series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. It was executive produced by Kirkman, Glen Mazzara, David Alpert, and Gale Anne Hurd, with Mazzara as showrunner for his second and final season. The third season was very well received by critics. It was nominated for multiple awards and won two, including Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series, at the 39th Saturn Awards.
"Cherokee Rose" is the fourth episode of the second season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, and the 10th overall episode of the series. Written by Evan Reilly and directed by Billy Gierhart, this episode, named after the Georgia state flower and a legendary symbol of the Trail of Tears, aired on AMC in the United States on November 6, 2011. The survivors are given a temporary sanctuary at the farm of Hershel Greene While the group contemplates what to do, Daryl Dixon continues to search for Sophia Peletier.
Howard Berger is a special make-up effects creator who is best known for his work on The Chronicles of Narnia films. He has over 200 films to his credit since 1977.
"No Sanctuary" is the fifth season premiere of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on October 12, 2014. It was written by showrunner Scott M. Gimple and directed by Greg Nicotero. In the episode, Rick Grimes' group struggles to figure out a way to escape Terminus, whose inhabitants have resorted to cannibalism to survive. Concurrently, Carol Peletier devises a plan to rescue Rick's group after learning they are in danger.
"Mercy" is the eighth season premiere of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on October 22, 2017. The episode was written by Scott M. Gimple and directed by Greg Nicotero, and serves as the 100th episode overall of the series.
KNB EFX Group is an American special effects company that specializes in prosthetic makeup, animatronics, and other practical effects. It was founded in 1988 by Robert Kurtzman, Greg Nicotero, and Howard Berger, though Kurtzman left in 2003. After establishing a reputation for gory effects in horror films throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, they broadened to performing animatronics and makeup effects for mainstream comedy and drama films. Their work on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Walking Dead have netted them multiple awards and nominations.
Nightmare Factory is a 2011 documentary film directed by Donna Davies about KNB EFX Group, a special effects company.
Creepshow is an American horror anthology television series that was released on Shudder in 2019. The series serves as a continuation of the 1982 film of the same name and features twenty five episodes with two horror stories per episode. The series premiered on September 26, 2019.
Night Angel is a 1990 American horror thriller film directed by Dominique Othenin-Girard and written by Joe Augustyn and Walter Josten. The film stars Isa Andersen as Lilith, a female demon who seduces men before killing them and consuming their souls.