Westmore family
Encyclopedia
The Westmore Family is a prominent family in Hollywood make-up. Led by their patriarch
, George Westmore, the family has had four generations serve Hollywood as make-up artists in various capacities since George's establishment of Hollywood's first make-up department in 1917.
, for whom the Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild's George Westmore Lifetime Achievement Award is named, founded the first (and tiny) film makeup department, at Selig Studio in 1917. He also worked at Triangle but soon was freelancing across the major studios. He understood that cosmetic and hair needs were personal and would make up stars such as Mary Pickford
(whom he relieved of having to curl her famous hair daily by making false ringlets) or The Talmadge Sisters in their homes before they left for work in the morning.
He fathered three legendary and scandalous generations of movie makeup artists, beginning with his six sons—Perc, Ern, Monte, Wally, Bud, and Frank—who soon eclipsed him in Hollywood. By 1926, Monte, Perc, Ern, and Bud had penetrated the industry to become the chief makeup artists at four major studios, and all continued to break ground in new beauty and horror
illusions until the end of their careers. In 1921, after dishwashing at Famous Players-Lasky, Monte became Rudolph Valentino
's sole makeup artist. (The actor had been doing his own.) When Valentino died in 1926, Monte went to Selznick International where, thirteen years later, he worked himself to death with the enormous makeup demands for Gone with the Wind
(1939).
In 1923, Perc established a blazing career at First National
-Warner Bros.
and, over twenty-seven years, initiated beauty trends and disguises including, in 1939, the faces of Charles Laughton
's grotesque Hunchback of Notre Dame
(for RKO) and Bette Davis
's eyebrowless, almost bald, whitefaced look in The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
. In the early 1920s, he blended Stein Pink greasepaint with eye shadow, preceding Factor's Panchromatic. Ern, at RKO from 1929 to 1931 and then at 20th Century Fox
from 1935, was adept at finding the right look for stars of the 1930s. Wally headed Paramount makeup from 1926, where he created, among others, Frederic March's gruesome transformation in Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde
(1931). Frank followed him there. Bud led Universal
's makeup department for twenty-three years, specializing in rubber prosthetics and body suits such as the one used in Creature from the Black Lagoon
(1954).
Together, they built the House of Westmore salon, which served stars and public alike. Later generations have continued the name, including brothers Michael and Marvin who have excelled in special makeup effects, such as in Blade Runner
(1982), Mask
(1985) and Raging Bull (1980).
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
, George Westmore, the family has had four generations serve Hollywood as make-up artists in various capacities since George's establishment of Hollywood's first make-up department in 1917.
Careers
The English wigmaker George WestmoreGeorge Westmore
George Westmore was a hairdresser who emigrated to the United States with his family, several of whom became prominent in Hollywood...
, for whom the Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild's George Westmore Lifetime Achievement Award is named, founded the first (and tiny) film makeup department, at Selig Studio in 1917. He also worked at Triangle but soon was freelancing across the major studios. He understood that cosmetic and hair needs were personal and would make up stars such as Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
(whom he relieved of having to curl her famous hair daily by making false ringlets) or The Talmadge Sisters in their homes before they left for work in the morning.
He fathered three legendary and scandalous generations of movie makeup artists, beginning with his six sons—Perc, Ern, Monte, Wally, Bud, and Frank—who soon eclipsed him in Hollywood. By 1926, Monte, Perc, Ern, and Bud had penetrated the industry to become the chief makeup artists at four major studios, and all continued to break ground in new beauty and horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
illusions until the end of their careers. In 1921, after dishwashing at Famous Players-Lasky, Monte became Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
's sole makeup artist. (The actor had been doing his own.) When Valentino died in 1926, Monte went to Selznick International where, thirteen years later, he worked himself to death with the enormous makeup demands for Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind (film)
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American historical epic film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel of the same name. It was produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming from a screenplay by Sidney Howard...
(1939).
In 1923, Perc established a blazing career at First National
First National
First National was an association of independent theater owners in the United States that expanded from exhibiting movies to distributing them, and eventually to producing them as a movie studio, called First National Pictures, Inc. It later merged with Warner Bros.-Early history:The First National...
-Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
and, over twenty-seven years, initiated beauty trends and disguises including, in 1939, the faces of Charles Laughton
Charles Laughton
Charles Laughton was an English-American stage and film actor, screenwriter, producer and director.-Early life and career:...
's grotesque Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939 film)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1939 American monochrome film starring Charles Laughton as Quasimodo and Maureen O'Hara as Esmeralda. It was directed by William Dieterle and produced by Pandro S. Berman...
(for RKO) and Bette Davis
Bette Davis
Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis was an American actress of film, television and theater. Noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters, she was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional...
's eyebrowless, almost bald, whitefaced look in The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex is a 1939 historical romantic drama film. It is based on the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I, portrayed by Bette Davis, and Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, played by Errol Flynn...
. In the early 1920s, he blended Stein Pink greasepaint with eye shadow, preceding Factor's Panchromatic. Ern, at RKO from 1929 to 1931 and then at 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
from 1935, was adept at finding the right look for stars of the 1930s. Wally headed Paramount makeup from 1926, where he created, among others, Frederic March's gruesome transformation in Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931 film)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a 1932 American Pre-Code horror film directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starring Fredric March. The film is an adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde , the Robert Louis Stevenson tale of a man who takes a potion which turns him from a mild-mannered man of...
(1931). Frank followed him there. Bud led Universal
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
's makeup department for twenty-three years, specializing in rubber prosthetics and body suits such as the one used in Creature from the Black Lagoon
Creature from the Black Lagoon
Creature from the Black Lagoon is a 1954 monster horror film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, and Whit Bissell. The eponymous creature was played by Ben Chapman on land and Ricou Browning in underwater scenes...
(1954).
Together, they built the House of Westmore salon, which served stars and public alike. Later generations have continued the name, including brothers Michael and Marvin who have excelled in special makeup effects, such as in Blade Runner
Blade Runner
Blade Runner is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. The screenplay, written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is loosely based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K...
(1982), Mask
Mask (film)
Mask is a 1985 American biographical drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Cher, Sam Elliott, and Eric Stoltz. Dennis Burkley and Laura Dern are featured in supporting roles. Cher received the 1985 Cannes Film Festival award for Best Actress....
(1985) and Raging Bull (1980).
Prominent family members
- George Henry Westmore (June 27, 1879-July 12, 1931)
- Monte George Westmore (July 22, 1902-March 30, 1940)
- Monty George Westmore Jr. (June 12, 1923-November 13, 2007)
- Michael George Westmore (March 22, 1938)
- McKenzie WestmoreMcKenzie WestmoreMcKenzie Kate Westmore is an American actress and singer most popular for having portrayed the role of Sheridan Crane Lopez-Fitzgerald on the television soap opera Passions from 1999 to 2008. To fans of Passions, Sheridan is well known for her popular pairing with Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald, portrayed...
- McKenzie Westmore
- Marvin George Westmore (December 24, 1934)
- Kandace Westmore
- Kevin WestmoreKevin WestmoreKevin Westmore is a Hollywood make-up artist and part of the fourth generation of the Westmore family. The son of Marvin Westmore, he has worked on a number of productions, including The X-Files and Demolition Man....
- Percival Harry WestmorePerc WestmorePercival Harry Westmore was a prominent member of the Westmore family of Hollywood make-up artists.-Partial filmography:*The Man Who Played God*The Roaring Twenties...
(October 29, 1904-September 30, 1970) - Ernest Henry WestmoreErn WestmoreErn Westmore , born Ernest Henry Westmore, was a Hollywood make-up artist and sometimes actor, the third child in Frank Westmore's famed Westmore family tree...
(October 29, 1904-February 1, 1967) - Walter James WestmoreWally WestmoreWalter 'Wally' James Westmore was a make-up artist for Hollywood films....
(February 13, 1906-July 3, 1973)-
- Pamela WestmorePamela WestmorePamela Westmore is a Hollywood make-up artist and part of the third generation of the Westmore family. The granddaughter of Wally Westmore, she has worked on over 50 productions since 1982, including acting as Sandra Bullock's chief makeup artist....
- Mark Westmore, A.C.E.
- Pamela Westmore
-
- Bud WestmoreBud WestmoreBud Westmore was a make-up artist in Hollywood.Son of George Westmore, a member of the Westmore family prominent in Hollywood make-up. He is credited on over 450 movies and television shows, including To Kill a Mockingbird, Man of a Thousand Faces, The Andromeda Strain and Creature from the Black...
(January 13, 1918-June 24, 1973) - Frank C. WestmoreFrank WestmoreFrank Courtney Westmore was a Hollywood make-up artist, part of the Westmore family who were credited with introducing the art of make-up to the Hollywood movie industry. He was born in Maywood, California, and died of a heart ailment in St...
(April 13, 1923-May 14, 1985)
- Monte George Westmore (July 22, 1902-March 30, 1940)
Other family members
- Dorothy (1907-1931), daughter of George with his first wife, Ada, who died following an operation.
- Patricia, daughter of George with his second wife, Anita.
- Norma, daughter of Perc and his first wife, Virginia.
- Virginia, adopted daughter of Perc and his first wife, Virginia.
- Muriel, daughter of Ern and his first wife, Venida.
- Lynn, daughter of Ern and his second wife, Ethelyne.
- James, son of Wally and his wife, Edwina.
- Ann, daughter of Wally and his wife, Edwina.
- Bridget, daughter of Bud and his second wife, Rosemary.
- Robert, son of Bud and his third wife, Jeanne.
- Melinda, daughter of Bud and his third wife, Jeanne.
- Timothy, son of Bud and his third wife, Jeanne.
- Charles, son of Bud and his third wife, Jeanne.
- Alexander, grandson of Bud and his third wife, Jeanne.
- Grace, granddaughter of Bud and his third wife, Jeanne.
- Nargii, granddaughter of Ola and forth husband, Perc.
- Mark, grandson of Wally and his wife, Edwina
- Pamela granddaughter of Ola Westmore
- Sharon, daughter of Muriel Westmore Crawley
- Pauleen, daughter of Muriel Westmore Crawley
- Judy, daughter of Muriel Westmore Crawley
- Robert, Jr., son of Muriel Westmore Crawley