Gregory "Greg" Nicotero is an american actor and makeup/special effects technician. He learned the craft of special effects from the legends and masters Tom Savini and George A. Romero.
He is one of the founding members of KNB Efx, a special effects company that has won both an Emmy Award and an Academy Award for their work in the special effects field.
Greg currently serves as the co-executive producer, special effects makeup artist, actor, and director on Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead.
Early Life[]
As a child and teenager, Nicotero always wondered how film studios were able to produce the graphic effects that were a central role in horror films. In particular, the film Jaws really fascinated him, along with The Exorcist, Planet of the Apes, and the acclaimed Universal monster movies. He began training for his career as a makeup artist under Tom Savini and George Romero.
Career[]
Nicotero's first big role in both acting and as a makeup artist were on Romero's Day of the Dead. While working on the film, he met Howard Berger, who would later found KNB Efx alongside him.
He later moved to Hollywood and then moved in with Berger and a man named Bob Kurtzman. Together they founded the KNB Efx group and went on to develop makeup and special effects for hundreds of films. In particular, they did work for Land of the Dead, Predators, and Piranha 3D.
In 2010, Nicotero also began his work with the famous television series The Walking Dead. With this television series, Nicotero has demonstrated his expertise in makeup and special effects, as well as in acting and directing. He was also featured as a guest on Talking Dead, the talk show for The Walking Dead, in 2013.
Horror Filmography[]
Greg Nicotero has an extensive filmography within the horror genre, mainly due to his work in special effects.
Acting[]
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1985 | Day of the Dead | Pvt. Johnson | |
1986 | Night of the Creeps | Extra | Uncredited |
1989 | Intruder | Townie in Car | |
1989 | Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers | Guy in Gas Station | Uncredited |
1993 | Body Bags | Man with Dog | |
1996 | From Dusk Till Dawn | Sex Machine's Buddy | |
1999 | House on Haunted Hill | Rollercoaster Technician | Uncredited |
2005 | Cursed | Man pushing Dracula's Coffin | Uncredited |
2005 | Land of the Dead | Bridgekeeper Zombie | |
2006 | The Hills Have Eyes | Cyst | |
2006 | Cemetery Gates | Stoner Dude Michael | |
2008 | Diary of the Dead | Zombie Surgeon | |
2008 | Gingerdead Man 2: Passion of the Crust | Makeup Effects Guy #3 | |
2010 | Piranha 3D | Boat Captain | |
2010-Present | The Walking Dead | Various Walkers | Uncredited, 3 episodes |
Makeup/Special Effects Technician[]
Year | Film | Notes |
---|---|---|
1985 | Day of the Dead | |
1987 | Creepshow 2 | |
1987 | Predator | Uncredited |
1987 | Evil Dead II | |
1988 | Phantasm II | |
1988 | Monkey Shines | |
1988 | The Horror Show | |
1989 | Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers | |
1990 | Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III | |
1990 | Tales from the Darkside: The Movie | |
1990 | Bride of Re-Animator | |
1990 | Misery | |
1991 | The People Under the Stairs | |
1992 | Army of Darkness | |
1993 | Body Bags | |
1993 | Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday | |
1994 | Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings | |
1994 | Wes Craven's New Nightmare | |
1995 | Vampire in Brooklyn | Puppeteer |
1995 | In the Mouth of Madness | |
1995 | Lord of Illusions | |
1996 | ||
1996 | Scream | |
1997 | Wishmaster | |
1997 | Scream 2 | |
1998 | Vampires | |
1998 | The Faculty | |
1999 | The Haunting | |
1999 | House on Haunted Hill | |
2001 | Ghosts of Mars | |
2001 | Thir13en Ghosts | |
2002 | Vampires: Los Muertos | |
2002 | Bubba Ho-tep | |
2003 | Cabin Fever | |
2003 | The Texas Chainsaw Massacre | |
2003 | Identity | |
2004 | Ginger Snaps: Unleashed | |
2005 | Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist | |
2005 | Masters of Horror | Television Series |
2005 | Cursed | |
2005 | The Amityville Horror | |
2005 | Land of the Dead | |
2005 | Hostel | |
2006 | The Hills Have Eyes | |
2006 | The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning | |
2007 | The Hills Have Eyes 2 | |
2007 | Hostel: Part II | |
2007 | The Reaping | |
2007 | Grindhouse | |
2007 | Diary of the Dead | |
2007 | The Mist | Creature Effects |
2008 | Fear Itself | Television Series |
2008 | Mirrors | |
2010 | Predators | |
2010-Present | The Walking Dead | |
2010 | Piranha 3D | |
2010 | The Ward |
Directing[]
Year | Film | Notes |
---|---|---|
2011-Present | The Walking Dead | Television Series, 6 episodes |
2011 | The Walking Dead: Torn Apart | Webisodes, 6 episodes |
2012 | The Walking Dead: Cold Storage | Webisodes, 4 episodes |
2014 | The Walking Dead: The Oath | Webisodes, 3 episodes |