For decades, Rick Baker’s mythical beasts, terrifying monsters, and transformative makeup effects have populated the collective cinematic imagination, earning him a legendary record of seven Academy Awards. But as Hollywood’s master of disguise recently proved in the heart of Switzerland, his extraordinary portfolio just gained a brand-new crown jewel. On Wednesday evening at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, Baker was officially honored with the prestigious Vision Award, presenting the legendary creator with a Golden Leopard to add to a lifetime of fantastical achievements.

Talking about his legendary career recently, he pulled out an interesting story from his bag from his time working with Eddie Murphy.

When legendary makeup artist Rick Baker collaborated with Eddie Murphy on classics like Coming to America, the creative process often began long before the cameras started rolling, as he told The Hollywood Reporter in a recent interview. Recalling his experience transforming Murphy into an elderly white Jewish man named Saul, Baker noted his routine of testing prosthetics ahead of production. Although he had not yet applied the full 14-piece appliance kit - leaving the back of the neck unfinished - Baker immediately recognized Murphy's unique collaborative spirit.

As Baker applied a Caucasian-toned cheek piece that initially looked surreal against the actor's skin, Murphy did not recoil or complain about the heavy prosthetics. Instead, he studied his reflection, moving his face to test the appliance's flexibility. Baker realized instantly that Murphy possessed the ideal attitude for prosthetic makeup, noting with relief that the actor was entirely unlike performers who panic and claim they cannot move.

“This is a good sign, because I knew he’s not going to be one of those actors who go, ‘I can’t move,’ when you put something on them,” Baker said about Murphy.

Fascinated by his reflection, Murphy praised the realism of the design, telling Baker that the prosthetic was far superior to his usual comedic impersonations, which he worried were overly stereotypical. Eager to explore the character further, Murphy immediately wanted to improvise a scene with a member of his entourage while still wearing the test makeup, as per what Baker told THR in the same interview. 

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A curious exploration of nuances in a character soon became a working tradition between the makeup artist and the actor.

According to Rick Baker, this spontaneous moment established their creative routine for all future transformations: Eddie Murphy would sit in the makeup chair, experiment with the look on camera, and organically discover the character's voice and mannerisms - a tactile, collaborative approach Baker contrasts sharply with the detached reality of acting in front of a green screen with motion-capture dots.

In the THR interview, he was also asked about the rise of new technology in his field and what it means for him as an artist against the backdrop of the larger AI in films debate. He responded by saying that while his work still remains good today, modern technology has also come too far. He is convinced, though, that the two can live in harmony and the blend of both old and new could lead to something creatively astonishing. 

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What do you think about Rick Baker’s story about working with Eddie Murphy? Do let us know.