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IMDbPro

Jack Dawn(1890-1961)

  • Make-Up Department
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Jack Dawn
Perhaps the most innovative pioneer in Hollywood make-up artistry was Kentuckian Jack Dawn, responsible for creating numerous iconic images. Already as a youngster in his home state, Jack had shown promise as a sculptor. He began his artistic career as a sign painter in New York City. According to his grandson, he entered the film industry as an extra (for 3$ a day) because he had his own horse! At Mack Sennett's Keystone he helped fellow actors with their make-up. When he returned from wartime service in 1919, he went straight to Hollywood where his expertise was soon rewarded and he began to create his own make-up. After a spell at 20th Century, Jack signed a contract with MGM in 1935. Four years later he was promoted to head the studio make-up department and was put in charge of some thirty personnel. One of the assistants he mentored was the genial William Tuttle who went on to become a singularly prolific make-up artist in his own right. Tuttle is celebrated for his fantastic contrivances which helped make La quatrième dimension (1959) into the single most ground-breaking science fiction/fantasy series of its time.

Jack worked at MGM until his retirement in 1951. During his tenure he conjured up many unique creations, most famously the exotic inhabitants of Oz (for the Le Magicien d'Oz (1939)), with the aluminium paste make-up for the Tin Man, the green skin for the Wicked Witch of the West and the facial appliances for the Cowardly Lion proving the most challenging. Jack also patented a synthetic plastic called Vinilyte to transform a Caucasian cast into Chinese peasants for La terre chinoise (1937). He effectively understated Spencer Tracy's make-up for Dr. Jekyll et Mr. Hyde (1941) in order to mollify the star who was said to have been 'terrified' of looking like Fredric March in the 1931 version. As a designer of prosthetics, Jack volunteered his services to aid disfigured servicemen awaiting plastic surgery at San Diego Naval Hospital from 1943. Sadly, he received no official accolades for any his work. Make-up would not become a category for the Oscars until many years after his death. However, both his sons and a grandson followed in the footsteps of their illustrious ancestor.
BornFebruary 17, 1890
DiedJune 20, 1961(71)
BornFebruary 17, 1890
DiedJune 20, 1961(71)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank

Known for

Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, and Joseph Cotten in Hantise (1944)
Hantise
7.8
  • Makeup Department
  • 1944
Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Frank Morgan, Terry, and Josefine Balluck in Le Magicien d'Oz (1939)
Le Magicien d'Oz
8.1
  • Makeup Department(character makeups, Frank Morgan, uncredited)
  • 1939
Quand la ville dort (1950)
Quand la ville dort
7.8
  • Makeup Department
  • 1950
Judy Garland, Tom Drake, and Margaret O'Brien in Le chant du Missouri (1944)
Le chant du Missouri
7.5
  • Makeup Department
  • 1944

Credits

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IMDbPro

Makeup Department



  • Judy Garland in Ford Star Jubilee (1955)
    Ford Star Jubilee
    7.0
    TV Series
    • makeup artist: archive footage
    • 1956
  • June Allyson, Ricardo Montalban, and Dick Powell in Right Cross (1950)
    Right Cross
    6.0
    • makeup designer
    • 1950
  • Robert Taylor, Edgar Buchanan, Louis Calhern, Anthony Mann, James Mitchell, Nicholas Nayfack, Paula Raymond, and Marshall Thompson in La porte du diable (1950)
    La porte du diable
    7.2
    • makeup creator
    • 1950
  • Hedy Lamarr and John Hodiak in La dame sans passeport (1950)
    La dame sans passeport
    6.1
    • makeup creator
    • 1950
  • Van Johnson, John Lund, and Esther Williams in Jamais deux sans toi (1950)
    Jamais deux sans toi
    6.3
    • makeup artist
    • 1950
  • Fred Astaire, Arlene Dahl, Red Skelton, and Vera-Ellen in Trois petits mots (1950)
    Trois petits mots
    6.9
    • hair stylist
    • 1950
  • Leon Ames, Dean Stockwell, Claudia Barrett, and Margalo Gillmore in Années de jeunesse (1950)
    Années de jeunesse
    6.7
    • makeup designer
    • 1950
  • Cary Grant, José Ferrer, and Paula Raymond in Cas de conscience (1950)
    Cas de conscience
    6.7
    • makeup designer
    • 1950
  • The Skipper Surprised His Wife (1950)
    The Skipper Surprised His Wife
    5.5
    • makeup artist
    • 1950
  • Nancy Reagan, Gary Gray, and James Whitmore in La voix que vous allez entendre (1950)
    La voix que vous allez entendre
    6.3
    • makeup department head (uncredited)
    • 1950
  • Le Mystère de la plage perdue (1950)
    Le Mystère de la plage perdue
    7.2
    • makeup creator
    • 1950
  • Le chevalier de Bacchus (1950)
    Le chevalier de Bacchus
    5.8
    • makeup designer
    • 1950
  • Gigi Perreau, Zachary Scott, and Ann Sothern in L'ombre sur le mur (1950)
    L'ombre sur le mur
    6.7
    • makeup creator
    • 1950
  • Spencer Tracy and Joan Bennett in Le Père de la mariée (1950)
    Le Père de la mariée
    7.1
    • make-up creator
    • 1950
  • Deborah Kerr, Peter Lawford, Mark Stevens, and Robert Walker in J'ai trois amours (1950)
    J'ai trois amours
    5.7
    • makeup designer
    • 1950

Personal details

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  • Born
    • February 17, 1890
    • Fleming, Kentucky, USA
  • Died
    • June 20, 1961
    • Glendale, California, USA(undisclosed)
  • Spouses
      Marla SheltonMay 28, 1937 - February 25, 1943 (divorced, 2 children)
  • Children
      Wes Dawn
  • Relatives
      Jeff Dawn(Grandchild)
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Article

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    Father of sons Robert Dawn and Wes Dawn.

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