Trivia

In 1981, he was the very first recipient of the Academy Award for Best Make-Up for An American Werewolf in London (1981) when the category was first introduced.

He attended Northview High School in Covina, California. There he made his own gorilla costume and would sometime be found swinging from the football field goalposts. He also would go to drive-in movies showing Planet of the Apes (1968), secretly change into his ape outfit and sneak up to occupants of cars watching the movie, scaring them out of their wits.

Holds the record for the most Oscar wins and nominations bestowed upon makeup artists. He has been nominated a total of twelve times with seven wins (An American Werewolf in London (1981), Harry and the Hendersons (1987), Ed Wood (1994), The Nutty Professor (1996), Men in Black (1997), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) and The Wolfman (2010)).

Closed his studio and retired from the motion picture industry on May 28, 2015. Received an estimated $1 million from an auction of his collection of props and items he created over the course of his career.

Presented his mentor, Dick Smith with an honorary Academy Award in 2011.

He owns a framed photo of Jack P. Pierce applying the finishing touches to Boris Karloff's famous Frankenstein (1931) make-up; the photo has been doctored by Baker to appear as if he and Pierce are applying the make-up together.

The Michael Jackson song "Threatened" (2001) is dedicated to him. They worked together on Michael Jackson: Thriller (1983) and Captain EO (1986).

When Rick won his first Best Makeup Oscar for An American Werewolf in London (1981), it was presented to him by Vincent Price (Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles / March 29, 1982).

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6764 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on November 30, 2012.

Interesting details about Baker's career, especially his early fascination with gorillas and his work in three movies featuring them, is told in the television documentary "Gorillas: Primal Contact".

Formed the Cinovation Studios in 1981.

Received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California (2008).

Contributes commentaries to the web series Trailers from Hell for trailers about science fiction films and horror films.