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| Mr. Sci-Fi, Forrest J Ackerman, Dies at 92 |
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| Forrest J Ackerman. BELOW: Ackerman (left), Joe Blasco (center) and the late Vincent J-R Kehoe. |
| Courtesy Joe Blasco |
Posted: Monday December 08, 2008
Forrest J Ackerman, whose early fanzine Famous Monsters of Filmland inspired a generation of make-up effects artists, died of heart failure Dec. 4 in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times has reported. He was 92.
Founded in 1958 by Ackerman and publisher James Warren, Famous Monsters of Filmland was devoted to horror and science fiction; it was one of the first magazines to showcase prosthetic movie make-up by pioneers in the field, including Dick Smith.
“Forry Ackerman is responsible for me being the strange man that I am today,” Rick Baker told Make-Up Artist magazine Dec. 8. “It is all his fault. His magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland is where I learned that people actually get paid to make monsters and do make-up. His magazine not only inspired me but so many others of my generation to get into the film business. His presence will be greatly missed.” (continued below)
Ackerman illustrated the magazine with publicity stills and artifacts from his extensive collection of sci-fi books and movie memorabilia, which included posters, masks, costumes, models and props.
“He had one of the largest collections of first-edition books and monster memorabilia,” said effects artist Barry Koper, who recalled Ackerman’s “open Saturday” house tours at what became widely known as the Ackermansion. “He was always so proud to show off all the items he had amassed over the years. His pride and joy was his Bela Lugosi Dracula ring, which he always wore.” Another of Ackerman’s prized possession was the guest book he asked visitors to sign; it became a who’s who directory of film industry insiders.
Besides collecting monster-movie memorabilia, Ackerman also served as a literary agent for science fiction writers including Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury, whose own fanzine, Futuria Fantasia, Ackerman helped launch. A B movie fan, Ackerman made cameo appearances in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video and Return of the Living Dead, Part II. In 2007, Road House Films released the documentary Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman.
According to the Times, Ackerman's wife, Wendayne, died in 1990; he has no surviving family members.
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2010 Primetime Emmy Nominations - Thursday July 08, 2010 |
| On July 8, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced the Creative Arts Emmy nominees. Click the full story to read the nominees in the make-up and hair categories. |
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Make-Up Artist Magazine Features Michael Jackson Retrospective - Monday July 06, 2009 |
| Following the recent death of Michael Jackson, Make-Up Artist magazine’s next issue (#79) will feature a retrospective of the King of Pop,
featuring interviews with a number of make-up artists who worked with
Jackson over the past three decades, as well as some exclusive,
never-before-published photos. |
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Web Exclusive: Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, Young Hellboy - Monday August 04, 2008 |
| From a make-up perspective, the first major character to appear in Hellboy 2 is
a younger version of the hero, seen in a 1955 prologue with Professor
Broom (John Hurt). The Young Hellboy character was created by the
Barcelona-based company DDT Efectos Especiales and played in a
gender-bending twist by the company’s Montse Ribé. |
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Back in the Make-up Groove |
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Make-up Around the World |
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In a World ... |
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Fine Form |
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International Man of Make-up |
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Sultry Summer |
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