# Greg 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 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

Film performances :
| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1985 | Day of the Dead | Special makeup effects artist |
| 1985 | Invasion U.S.A. | Additional special effects makeup |
| 1987 | Creepshow 2 | Special effects |
| 1987 | Predator | Creature effects crew (uncredited) |
| 1987 | Evil Dead II | Special makeup effects unit crew |
| 1988 | Phantasm II | Special makeup effects constructor and special effects crew |
| 1988 | Monkey Shines | Special makeup effects artist |
| 1989 | The Horror Show | Special effects |
| 1989 | DeepStar Six | Creature supervisor |
| 1989 | Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers | Special effects supervisor |
| 1990 | Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III | Makeup artist |
| 1990 | Tales from the Darkside: The Movie | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 1990 | Bride of Re-Animator | Special makeup effects artist |
| 1990 | Misery | Special makeup effects artist |
| 1990 | Dances with Wolves | Buffalo effects supervisor |
| 1991 | The People Under the Stairs | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 1992 | Army of Darkness | Special makeup effects |
| 1993 | Body Bags (TV film) | Special makeup effects |
| 1993 | Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday | Effects supervisor and special makeup effects artist |
| 1994 | Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 1994 | Pulp Fiction | Special makeup supervisor (uncredited) |
| 1994 | Wes Craven's New Nightmare | Special makeup effects |
| 1995 | Vampire in Brooklyn | Special makeup effects: puppeteer |
| 1995 | In the Mouth of Madness | Special makeup effects |
| 1995 | Lord of Illusions | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 1996 | Eraser | Animatronic crocodiles supervisor |
| 1996 | From Dusk till Dawn | Makeup effects supervisor |
| 1996 | Scream | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 1996 | Jingle All the Way | Turboman costume and special makeup effects |
| 1996 | Black Sheep | Puppeteer |
| 1997 | Spawn | Animatronic creature and special makeup effects |
| 1997 | Boogie Nights | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 1997 | Wishmaster | Special makeup effects |
| 1997 | Scream 2 | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 1998 | Vampires | Special makeup effects |
| 1998 | Very Bad Things | Supervisor |
| 1998 | The Faculty | Special makeup and creature effects |
| 1999 | The Green Mile | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 1999 | The Haunting | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 1999 | House on Haunted Hill | Special makeup effects |
| 2000 | Little Nicky | Special makeup and creature effects supervisor |
| 2000 | Frank Herbert's Dune (TV miniseries) | Lead special effects supervisor |
| 2000 | The Cell | Prosthetics and special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2000 | Unbreakable | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2001 | Spy Kids | Makeup effects supervisor and creature effects |
| 2001 | The Animal | Special makeup effects artist |
| 2001 | Mulholland Drive | Special makeup effects artist |
| 2001 | Ghosts of Mars | Special makeup effects artist |
| 2001 | Thirteen Ghosts | Special makeup effects artist and supervisor |
| 2001 | Vanilla Sky | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2001 | Evolution | Supervisor |
| 2002 | The Time Machine | Supervisor |
| 2002 | Minority Report | Special makeup effects artist (uncredited) |
| 2002 | Austin Powers in Goldmember | Character prosthetics supervisor Special makeup effects artist |
| 2002 | Vampires: Los Muertos | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2002 | The Rules of Attraction | Special makeup effects artist |
| 2002 | Murder by Numbers | Supervisor |
| 2002 | Bubba Ho-tep | Special effects makeup supervisor |
| 2003 | Cabin Fever | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2003 | Hulk | Animatronics effects supervisor/puppeteer |
| 2003 | Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over | Special effects makeup |
| 2003 | The Texas Chainsaw Massacre | Special effects makeup |
| 2003 | Identity | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2003 | Once Upon a Time in Mexico | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2003 | Kill Bill: Volume 1 | Special effects makeup supervisor |
| 2004 | Kill Bill: Volume 2 | Special makeup supervisor |
| 2004 | Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed | Special makeup effects |
| 2004 | Riding the Bullet | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2004 | Ray | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2004 | Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events | Special effects supervisor |
| 2005 | Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist | Special makeup effects designer |
| 2005–2007 | Masters of Horror (TV series) | Special makeup effects artist |
| 2005 | Cursed | Additional special makeup effects supervisor Additional werewolf effects creator |
| 2005 | Sin City | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2005 | The Amityville Horror | Special makeup effects artist, designer and creator |
| 2005 | The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D | Special makeup effects artist |
| 2005 | Land of the Dead | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2005 | The Island | Project supervisor |
| 2005 | Serenity | Special effects makeup supervisor |
| 2005 | Hostel | Special makeup effects designer and creator |
| 2005 | The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | Special makeup and creatures |
| 2006 | The Hills Have Eyes | Special makeup effects designer |
| 2006 | Poseidon | Makeup effects supervisor |
| 2006 | Desperation (TV film) | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2006 | Casino Royale | Effects supervisor |
| 2006 | The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning | Special makeup supervisor |
| 2006 | The Return | Special effects makeup |
| 2006 | Comedy Hell | Special makeup designer |
| 2006 | Dead and Deader | Additional special makeup effects |
| 2007 | Death Proof | Special makeup effects |
| 2007 | The Hills Have Eyes 2 | Special makeup effects designer |
| 2007 | Hostel: Part II | Special makeup effects designer and creator |
| 2007 | The Reaping | Supervisor: K.N.B. EFX Group, Inc. |
| 2007 | Spider-Man 3 | Special effects makeup |
| 2007 | Disturbia | Special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2007 | Grindhouse | Special makeup effects artist |
| 2007 | Transformers | Animatronics supervisor/puppeteer |
| 2007 | Underdog | Supervisor |
| 2007 | Diary of the Dead | Special effects makeup producer |
| 2007 | The Mist | Creature effects |
| 2008 | Fear Itself | Special makeup effects artist |
| 2008 | Mirrors | Special makeup effects designer |
| 2010 | The Book of Eli | Special makeup effects |
| 2010 | Edge of Darkness | Special makeup effects |
| 2010 | Predators | Special makeup and creature effects |
| 2010 | The Pacific (TV miniseries) | Key special makeup effects supervisor (6 episodes) |
| 2010–2022 | The Walking Dead (TV series) | Special makeup effects |
| 2010 | Piranha 3D | Key special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2010 | The Ward | Makeup effects |
| 2010 | The United Monster Talent Agency (short film) | Special makeup effects |
| 2011 | The Boy Who Cried Werewolf (TV film) | Special makeup and creature effects |
| 2011 | Paul | Special makeup effects artist (uncredited) |
| 2011 | I Am Number Four | Special makeup creator/designer |
| 2011 | Water for Elephants | Key special makeup effects supervisor (uncredited) |
| 2011–2012 | Breaking Bad (TV series) | Special makeup effects (2 episodes) |
| 2011 | A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas | Key special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2012 | The Grey | Special makeup effects |
| 2012 | The Odd Life of Timothy Green | Key special makeup effects supervisor |
| 2012 | Seven Psychopaths | Special make-up effects |
| 2012 | The Man with the Iron Fists | Special make-up effects |
| 2013 | Oz the Great and Powerful | Special make-up effects |
| 2013 | The Green Inferno | Special makeup effects artist |
| 2013 | Lone Survivor | Special make-up effects |
| 2014 | Transformers: Age of Extinction | Special effects makeup supervisor |
| 2015 | Fear The Walking Dead | Special make-up effects |
| 2015 | The Hateful Eight | Special make-up effects |
| 2016 | Suicide Squad | Special make-up effects |
| 2019 | Once Upon a Time in Hollywood | Makeup effects designer and supervisor |

### 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)