The Westmore's
Hollywood's Make Up Family
The Westmore’s were and still are one of the most famous families
in Hollywood, serving the film industry as makeup artists for 4 generations.
Their story started with George Westmore, a British man who immigrated to the
states with his family.
In 1917 George founded the first ever make up department
in Selig Studios after realising that actors and actresses were damn right awful at
doing their own make up for TV and Film. After the success of his first make up
department he went on to freelance in the makeup and hair industry where he worked
on some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. After George’s death 6 out of his huge
family of 19 children carried on his legacy. Monte, Perc, Wally, Frank, Ern and
Bud went on to work as Makeup artists throughout the Golden age of Hollywood.
In 1921 Monte became actor Rudolph Valentino’s sole makeup
artist after the star had been doing his own makeup for film, then in 1926 Monte,
Perc, Ern and Bud became chief makeup artists in 4 of Hollywood’s major
studios.
In 1923 Perc established an amazing career at Warner Bros
and over a period of 27 years he worked on films creating beauty and special
effects for films such as the Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Private Lives of
Elizabeth and Essex.
Wally and Frank worked
at Paramount studios doing makeup from 1926, here he worked on numerous films
including the incredible transformation of Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde.
The brothers built the house of Westmore salon on Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles. A business that would always be remebered. The salon went on to serve more of the biggest name like Lauren Bacall and Bette Davis. Later generations of the Westmore family have continued with the legacy including Michael and Marvin who specialised in special effects.
The brothers built the house of Westmore salon on Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles. A business that would always be remebered. The salon went on to serve more of the biggest name like Lauren Bacall and Bette Davis. Later generations of the Westmore family have continued with the legacy including Michael and Marvin who specialised in special effects.
Wally Westmore. Audrey Hepburn. Date Anon. Pinterest. Viewed 11/10/14. Available at:http://www.pinterest.com/pin/222083825348008678/
Scott Essman. Westmore Family Tree. Makeupmag. Issue 17. March 1999. [Magazine Image] Viewed 11/10/14. Available at: http://makeupmag.com/article/id/536/
http://via-51.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/cmba-movies-of-1939-blogathon-hunchback.html
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