Gregory Nicotero

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'' and an Academy Award in 2006 for achievement in makeup for '' The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe''.

He served as an senior producer/executive producer, special make-up effects supervisor, and primary director on the AMC TV series '' The Walking Dead'' and ''Fear the Walking Dead''. Nicotero has directed 37 episodes of ''The Walking Dead'' and is the creator of the webseries ''The Walking Dead: Webisodes''.

Life and career

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." 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, 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 and moved in with Berger and Robert Kurtzman.

He later worked as FX artist on the 2010 film ''Predators'' and created a classic predator figure for the film.

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. He was at San Diego Comic-Con for the show. He was a guest on ''Talking Dead'' on March 24, 2013, October 12, 2014, February 8, 2015, and February 14, 2016. He also supervises the make-up effects for ''Fear the Walking Dead''.

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.

He was a guest on the ''MythBusters'' Zombie Special on October 17, 2013.

He designed a Leatherface skin for the 2023 game - ''The Texas Chain Saw Massacre'' that bears his name, known as "Nicotero Leatherface". It was released October 24th, 2023.

Filmography

Actor

* '' The Walking Dead''
** 1.3 "Tell It to the Frogs" (uncredited) as Walker Eating Deer
** 1.4 "Vatos" (uncredited) as Walker biting Amy
** 3.9 " The Suicide King" (uncredited) as Walker in Woodbury
** 6.3 "Thank You" (uncredited) as Walker in herd
** 11.24 "Rest in Peace" (uncredited) as Walker in final scene before epilogue
* '' The Grey'' (2011) as Duke Chavis
* ''Piranha 3D'' (2010) as Boat Captain
* ''His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th'' (2009) (Documentary) as himself
* ''Inglourious Basterds'' (2009) (uncredited) as Gestapo Major
* '' Gingerdead Man 2: Passion of the Crust'' (2008) as Makeup Effects Guy #3
* ''Diary of the Dead'' (2008) as Zombie Surgeon
* '' Cemetery Gates'' (2006) as Stoner Dude Michael
* ''The Hills Have Eyes'' (2006) as Cyst
* ''Land of the Dead'' (2005) as Bridgekeeper Zombie
* '' Cursed'' (2005) (uncredited) as Man pushing Dracula's coffin
* ''House on Haunted Hill'' (1999) (uncredited) as Rollercoaster technician
* ''From Dusk till Dawn'' (1996) as Sex Machine's Buddy
* ''The Demolitionist'' (1995) as Elevator Punk
* '' Body Bags'' (1993) (TV) as Man with Dog
* ''Intruder'' (1989) as Townie in Car
* '' Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers'' (1988) (uncredited) as Guy in Gas Station
* ''Night of the Creeps'' (1986) (uncredited) as Extra
* ''Day of the Dead'' (1985) as Johnson

Director

* '' The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon'' (2024)
** 2.01 "La Gentillesse des Étrangers"
* '' The Walking Dead'' (2011–2022) (37 episodes)
** 2.11 "Judge, Jury, Executioner"
** 3.05 " Say the Word"
** 3.11 "I Ain't a Judas"
** 3.15 "This Sorrowful Life"
** 4.01 "30 Days Without an Accident"
** 4.09 "After"
** 4.15 " Us"
** 5.01 " No Sanctuary"
** 5.09 "What Happened and What's Going On"
** 5.12 "Remember"
** 5.16 "Conquer"
** 6.01 " First Time Again"
** 6.09 " No Way Out"
** 6.12 "Not Tomorrow Yet"
** 6.16 " Last Day on Earth"
** 7.01 "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be"
** 7.02 "The Well"
** 7.09 "Rock in the Road"
** 7.12 " Say Yes"
** 7.16 "The First Day of the Rest of Your Life"
** 8.01 "Mercy"
** 8.03 "Monsters"
** 8.09 "Honor"
** 8.12 " The Key"
** 8.16 "Wrath"
** 9.01 " A New Beginning"
** 9.05 " What Comes After"
** 9.09 "Adaptation"
** 9.16 " The Storm"
** 10.01 "Lines We Cross"
** 10.02 "We Are the End of the World"
** 10.12 "Walk with Us"
** 10.16 " A Certain Doom"
**11.05 "Out of the Ashes"
**11.06 " On the Inside"
**11.17 "Lockdown"
**11.24 "Rest in Peace"
* '' The Walking Dead: The Oath'' (2013) (3 webisodes)
* '' The Walking Dead: Cold Storage'' (2012) (4 webisodes)
* '' The Walking Dead: Torn Apart'' (2011) (6 webisodes)
* ''The United Monster Talent Agency'' (2010) (short film)

References

External links

*

Interview with Nicotero

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicotero, Greg
1963 births
Living people
American male film actors
American television directors
American make-up artists
Animatronic engineers
Best Makeup BAFTA Award winners
Primetime Emmy Award winners
Male actors from Pittsburgh
Sewickley Academy alumni
American special effects people
Writers Guild of America Award winners