Robin R. Bottin (born April 1, 1959) is an American special make-up effects creator. Known for his collaborations with directors John Carpenter and Paul Verhoeven, Bottin worked with Carpenter on both The Fog and The Thing and with Verhoeven on RoboCop, Total Recall and Basic Instinct. His other film credits include Innerspace, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fight Club.Well respected in his field of prosthetic makeup (better known as special make-up effects), and described in 2013 as a "special effects genius", Bottin was nominated for an Oscar in 1987 for Best Makeup, and was awarded a Special Achievement Award at the 1991 Academy Awards. He has two BAFTA nominations, and won two Saturn Awards with five further nominations.
Make Up Department, Miscellaneous Crew, Special Effects
Awards
Special Achievement Academy Award
Nominations
Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Star Sign
Aries
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Quote
1
I like weird things. I've tried to gravitate toward the incredibly strange.
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Fact
1
When he was 14 years old, Rob Bottin sent his idol Rick Baker a letter containing a picture he drew with the hope of getting his autograph in return. When Baker received the letter, he was so impressed that such a young man could create such a beautiful drawing that he offered to hire Bottin as his apprentice instead.
2
His eye popping, de-pressurized effect for Total Recall (1990) was the original screenplay concept of Palmer (David Clennon's) transformation in The Thing (1982).
Portrayed the zombie ghost of the pirate captain Blake in the end of John Carpenter's The Fog (1980), on which he also provided special make-up effects. Carpenter said it worked out great since Bottin is a fairly tall man.
6
Was originally set to direct Freddy vs. Jason (2003) back in 1998. After several script drafts, the project finally got off the ground, and Ronny Yu directed.
7
Was one of a number of writers who submitted a script for Freddy vs. Jason (2003).
8
During the making of The Thing (1982), Rob lived on the set in Los Angeles, California, where he worked seven days a week for over a year. He slept on set and in laboratories. When the project was completed, John Carpenter sent him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with extreme exhaustion. Rob vowed never to work so hard again.
Make Up Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Game of Thrones
2014
TV Series special make-up effects - 1 episode
Mr. Deeds
2002
special makeup effects artist
Charlie's Angels
2000
special makeup effects
Fight Club
1999
special makeup effects supervisor
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
1998
demon makeup effects / lounge lizards design
Mission: Impossible
1996
special makeup effects
Se7en
1995
special makeup effects
Basic Instinct
1992
special makeup effects creator / special makeup effects designer
Bugsy
1991
special makeup effects
Total Recall
1990
special makeup effects design and creation
The Great Outdoors
1988
special makeup effects artist
RoboCop
1987
special makeup effects
Innerspace
1987
special makeup effects designer and creator
The Witches of Eastwick
1987
special makeup effects designer and creator
Legend
1985
special makeup creator
Explorers
1985
special makeup effects
Twilight Zone: The Movie
1983
special makeup effects artist - segment "3" / special makeup effects designer - segment "3"
The Thing
1982
special makeup effects creator and designer
The Howling
1981
special makeup effects creator
Tanya's Island
1980
makeup artist
Airplane!
1980
makeup artist - uncredited
Maniac
1980
makeup effects - uncredited
The Fog
1980
special makeup
Mistress of the Apes
1979
makeup assistant
Piranha
1978
special makeup
The Fury
1978
assistant makeup artist - uncredited
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
1977
assistant makeup artist - uncredited
King Kong
1976
makeup effects - uncredited
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Deep Rising
1998
creature design
Mimic
1997
creature design
RoboCop
1994
TV Series designer - 5 episodes
RoboCop 3
1993
creator: RoboCop
RoboCop 2
1990
creator: RoboCop
RoboCop
1987
robocop creator / robocop designer
Humanoids from the Deep
1980
humanoids creator & designer
Rock 'n' Roll High School
1979
giant mouse creator
Special Effects
Title
Year
Status
Character
Twilight Zone: The Movie
1983
monster effects - segment "3"
Tanya's Island
1980
special effects
The Fog
1980
effects: Blake
Manbeast! Myth or Monster?
1978
Documentary special effects
Cindy's New Boyfriend
2015
Short special effects
Serving Sara
2002
special animatronic cow and bull effects
Deep Rising
1998
special makeup effects designer and creator: Rob Bottin Studio
RoboCop 3
1993
special effects
Amazing Stories
1986
TV Series special effects - 1 episode
Visual Effects
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Devil's Advocate
1997
visual effects consultant
Basic Instinct
1992
special visual effects: Los Angeles
Total Recall
1990
character visual effects
Silver Bullet
1985
visual effects
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Humanoids from the Deep
1980
Humanoid (uncredited)
The Fog
1980
Blake
Rock 'n' Roll High School
1979
Giant White Mouse / Mrs. Mouse (uncredited)
Animation Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Toys
1992
special character effects: Alsatia
Costume Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
RoboCop 2
1990
costume designer: RoboCop costume
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Howling
1981
associate producer
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
ABCs of Superheroes
2015
Jens thanks
Unleashing the Beast: Making 'The Howling'
2003
Video documentary special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Starz Inside: Fantastic Flesh
2008
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Creating a Myth... the Memories of 'Legend'
2002
Video documentary
Himself
The Thing: Terror Takes Shape
1998
Video documentary
Himself
The 63rd Annual Academy Awards
1991
TV Special
Himself - Winner: Special Achievement Award
The Making of 'Total Recall'
1990
TV Short documentary
Himself
Making a Monster Movie: Inside 'The Howling'
1981
TV Short documentary
Interviewee: Special Effects
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Imagining 'Total Recall'
2001
Video documentary short
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1996
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Make-Up
Se7en (1995)
1991
Special Achievement Award
Academy Awards, USA
Total Recall (1990)
1988
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Make-Up
RoboCop (1987)
1988
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Special Effects
RoboCop (1987)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1991
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Make-Up
Total Recall (1990)
1991
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Special Effects
RoboCop 2 (1990)
1991
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Special Effects
Total Recall (1990)
1989
BAFTA Film Award
BAFTA Awards
Best Special Effects
RoboCop (1987)
1987
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Makeup
Legend (1985)
1987
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Make-Up
Legend (1985)
1986
BAFTA Film Award
BAFTA Awards
Best Make Up Artist
Legend (1985)
1986
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Make-Up
Explorers (1985)
1983
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Special Effects
The Thing (1982)
1981
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Make-Up
The Howling (1981)
Known for movies
Fight Club (1999) as Makeup Department
Se7en (1995) as Makeup Department
Basic Instinct (1992) as Makeup Department
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) as Makeup Department
$600,000
