The Westmore Family is a well-known name in the Hollywood makeup industry. Beginning with patriarch George Westmore, the Westmore family has had four generations actively involved in Hollywood as makeup artists. George Westmore founded Hollywood's inaugural makeup department in 1917.
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Careers
English wigmaker George Westmore, for whom the Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild's George Westmore Lifetime Achievement Award is named, founded the first film makeup department at Selig Polyscope Company in 1917. He also worked at Triangle, but soon began freelancing across the major studios. He understood that cosmetic and hair needs were personal and made up stars such as Mary Pickford (whom he relieved of having to curl her famous hair daily by making false ringlets) and the Talmadge sisters (Norma and Constance) in their homes before they left for work in the morning.
He fathered three generations of movie makeup artists, beginning with his six sons—Perc (pronounced "perss" not "perk"), Ern, Monte, Wally, Bud, and Frank. By 1926, Monte, Perc, Ern, and Bud had become the chief makeup artists at four major studios and all continued to break ground in new beauty and horror illusions throughout their careers. In 1921, after dishwashing at Famous Players-Lasky, Monte became Rudolph Valentino's sole makeup artist. When Valentino died in 1926, Monte went to Selznick International. Thirteen years later, he worked himself to death with the enormous makeup demands for Gone with the Wind (1939).
Together, they built the House of Westmore Salon, which served stars and the public alike. Later generations have continued the name, including brothers Michael and Marvin, who have excelled in special makeup effects, such as in Blade Runner (1982), Mask (1985), and Raging Bull (1980).
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