Paul Engelen died on November 3 at his home in West Sussex, England. He was a famous makeup artist who made players into unforgettable characters in movies and TV shows. Daniel Lawson Johnston, a fellow makeup artist and his son-in-law, said he was 75 years old and had been fighting cancer.
Over more than 50 years, Engelen had an amazing career in which he worked on some of the most famous movies ever made. For his work as a makeup artist, he won two Emmys and was nominated for two Academy Awards, solidifying his reputation as a master.
Engelen got his start in the business as an assistant makeup artist on Carol Reed’s “Oliver!” in 1968. He quickly became a major creative force in the field. Along with six James Bond movies, he worked on Steven Spielberg’s “Empire of the Sun” and “Munich,” as well as the first three seasons of HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”
Some of Engelen’s most famous work was making villains look like famous people. He made the third nipple for Christopher Lee’s Scaramanga in “The Man with the Golden Gun,” as well as Darth Maul’s striking red and black makeup in “Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace.” His work on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was especially hard because he had to carefully put on and take off makeup for hours on end.
Johnston said, “He was a real master of his trade.” “Paul’s work was renowned for its artistry and attention to detail, and he leaves behind an extraordinary legacy that will continue to inspire makeup artists for generations.”
Engelen worked on many great movies, such as Batman, The Hours (where he made Nicole Kidman’s famous artificial nose), Cold Mountain, and Phantom Thread. Many great directors, like Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, and Roman Polanski, worked with him.
Engelen was humble about his work, even though he had done many great things. He was given Oscars for “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes” in 1984 and “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” in 1994, but he did not win either time.
The movie and TV industries have lost a true artist whose creative makeup designs brought to life some of the most famous characters in movie history. Paul Engelen’s work will continue to inspire directors and makeup artists in the future.
