It's always Halloween for movies' master monster-maker

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- When it comes to costumes and scary faces, every day is Halloween for Hollywood makeup wizard Rick Baker, whose hobby has turned into an Oscar-winning career.

VIDEO CNN's Jim Moret goes into the lab full of monsters and masks Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

Baker, 49, got his motivation for makeup as a child, while watching the horror classic "Frankenstein" on screen.

"In my little-kid mind, I really wanted to be Dr. Frankenstein," he told CNN. "When I realized that doctors, in fact, didn't sew people together and create monsters, I realized it was a makeup artist, and I changed directions."

Years later, Baker played a zombie in the Michael Jackson "Thriller" video, but it's behind the scenes where he made his mark -- with a mastery of special effects and makeup.

The "Men in Black" aliens are his work. So are the hairy stars in the upcoming remake of "Planet of the Apes," which Baker calls "the ultimate makeup movie."

The next monster to get the Baker touch will be the comical Grinch, played by Jim Carrey, in the holiday release "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," based on the Dr. Seuss story.

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Rick Baker

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